Mark Noble’s fourth visit to the United States with West Ham United for the 2025 Premier League Summer Series was a memorable one.
Noble first travelled to the US with the Hammers in 2008, when Alan Curbishley’s side took on MLS club Columbus Crew during a trip that also took them to Canada to face the MLS All-Stars in Toronto. He was also in the squad when the Irons visited Seattle, Washington and Cary, North Carolina, for two pre-season matches in 2016.
In 2024, as Sporting Director, he joined the group in Florida for matches against Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers, then this year he took part in meetings and activations, mentored the Academy players on the trip, attended training and West Ham’s Summer Series matches against Manchester United in New Jersey, Everton in Chicago, Illinois, and AFC Bournemouth in Atlanta, Georgia. At the latter, he was joined by American golfer, Hammers fan and friend Billy Horschel.
Following the Irons’ win over Bournemouth, Noble also spoke to West Ham TV, focusing on the promise shown by the youngsters who Head Coach Graham Potter invited to be part of his travelling party…
Mark, this is the fourth time you’ve been to America with West Ham, twice as a player and now for the last two years as a Sporting Director, and it’s been another special trip?
“It’s actually been really good, we’ve had three really good games. Obviously it’s pre-season so you can’t take nothing out of that [result-wise], but you start looking at the fitness and obviously it’s great to see the young boys here with us. Preston Fearon has come on, Airidas Golambeckis has been here the whole time and Freddie Potts, Kaelan Casey, Lewis Orford and Oli Scarles, they’re all here, so that’s fantastic to see them out here and just see the boys sort of having a good time together. I know our important team spirit is going into the season with the staff, obviously it’s been a really good trip.”