Sunday will be an emotional game with so many players departing the club: The danger is – with presentations of the Hammer of The Year award and a ‘special celebration’ of [Aaron Cresswell’s](https://www.claretandhugh.info/aaron-cresswell-a-farewell-to-a-true-hammer/) career _before_ the Nottingham Forest kick off is that there will be an ‘end of term’ feeling with still two games left to play. Some would suggest that the Hammers departed for their summer holidays weeks ago in any case.
Forest will be on their A game as they still need the points to try and stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot: Chelsea won against Manchester United last night to keep above Forest but the Tricky Trees will want to stay in contention for their last fixture against the Blues next weekend.
The presentation for Cresswell is well merited – an eleven year career at one club is very rare indeed these days. As Cresswell said himself, “_Never in a million years did I think I’d be at this fantastic club for eleven years,”_ speaking via the [West Ham](https://www.whufc.com/news/message-west-ham-family-aaron-cresswell) web site.
One of the Hammers’ natural leaders and their current vice captain, Cresswell will be missed in the dressing room and on the pitch. There have been times this season that leadership has been in short supply and his departure comes at a time when the club is undergoing huge change. However, his words provide reassurance that there is a plan afoot for him to provide further service to the Hammers:
_“I really don’t know the right words to end on, but I think the one that stands out is ‘grateful’. To have been on this journey for eleven years, I’d like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who has helped me get this far, and helped me along the way. I am so grateful and appreciative. But I’m not closing the book. I’ll never walk away. Once you’re in the West Ham family, you’re in for life, and I’m sure I’ll be back.”_
Cannot come too soon. Coaching, consultancy or in an ambassadorial role, Aaron Cresswell has been an exemplary professional. We wish him well.