Carlton Cole apologises for hilarious epic fail on meeting West Ham legend Ray Stewart

Cole never truly hit the heights predicted for his prodigious talent as a young striker at Chelsea.

But he found a home at West Ham and there is huge mutual respect between the now retired Hammer and the club’s fans.

There have been some hilarious moments involving Cole over the years.

From donning the curly claret and blue wig at Wembley after West Ham’s play-off final victory over Blackpool to looking like he was on fire in a post-match interview and even inventing the new saying ‘over-chuffed’.

Coley may have topped all that, though, after an epic fail when he met Hammers legend Ray Stewart.

Stewart played 345 games for West Ham over 12 years scoring 62 goals.

He was part of the side that won the 1980 FA Cup and also in the Boys of 86 side which came so close to winning the league.

The Scot is a much-loved figure in West Ham’s history.

So Cole was left embarrassed when he failed to recognise Stewart at the London Stadium during the Burnley game.

Instead Cole thought he was a steward and even asked the Hammers legend to take a picture of him on his phone.

Cole then issued an hilarious public apology to Stewart during some filming for West Ham TV and tried to explain his way out of it.

“Listen, I need to get on camera, I need to make a public apology,” Cole told West Ham TV while Stewart kept telling him ‘not to worry about it’.

“This is a public apology to the legend that is Ray Stewart. I got thrown off by the coat and it’s messed my life up.

“Because I’ve seen so many people today. Earlier I saw Steve Lomas downstairs and he basically battered me. He said ‘flipping hell Coley you’re better than that’. I said ‘Listen mate it was all a rush and the jacket threw me off’.

“Someone said ‘steward’ to me so I looked at him and you initially had your back to me. So I tapped him on the shoulder (Stewart interrupts to say) ‘Can you take a picture mate’.”

Luckily for Coley, Stewart told him he doesn’t hold grudges. You can watch the full video on West Ham TV.