They say once a Hammer, always a Hammer and Declan Rice has proved that overnight despite being at London rivals Arsenal.
Declan Rice has divided opinion among some West Ham fans since leaving for Arsenal.
Many Hammers supporters were angered by their captain’s decision to snub Man City for London rivals Arsenal.
West Ham fans being mercilessly taunted by some of their Arsenal counterparts about luring their captain away ever since hasn’t helped either.
Rice – as West Ham fans knew would be the case – has been an absolute revelation for the Gunners.
When the Hammers played Arsenal on three occasions last season Rice was given a mixed reception.
He was also goaded with chants of ‘you should have signed for a big club’.
But he refused to celebrate when he scored in a 6-0 win over his old team at the London Stadium and was applauded off the pitch by West Ham fans.
Rice went on to say that Arsenal victory left him with very mixed emotions.
Arsenal star Rice shows he’s West Ham at heart
The vast majority of West Ham fans still hold Rice in high regard.
Whatever your view of him, he has made it clear on several occasions he will always love the Hammers and their fans.
When interviewed at the Euros during the summer, Rice talked in glowing terms about his time at West Ham.
He even suggested Gareth Southgate should use West Ham as the blueprint for the way England approached the final against Spain.
Rice also sent a message to West Ham on the anniversary of helping the club to that Europa Conference League win back in June.
Now Arsenal star Rice shows he’s West Ham at heart with a generous donation to a cancer stricken Hammers Academy goalkeeper.
Rice’s generous donation to Hammers Academy star
West Ham Under 14 Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs is currently fighting against a rare brain cancer.
He’s been at the club since the age of six and is also a lifelong Hammers fan and season ticket holder.
Oscar dreams of reaching the first team and playing for them one day.
His family have set up a GoFundMe page with a £100,000 target to pay towards treatment to try and save his young life so he can reach his dream one day.
Football fans have been donating to the cause since it was highlighted on social media.
And the top donation so far comes from Arsenal’s new hero Rice.
The ex Hammers captain has donated £5,000 to the fund.
Class on and off the pitch as always
The donation has seen Rice universally praised by West Ham fans.
And rightly so.
It’s a classy and generous gesture.
It should be no surprise, though, as it is the kind of behaviour which made Rice such fan favourite at West Ham in the first place.
Rice clearly does care about West Ham regardless of anyone’s opinion on his move to Arsenal.
The important thing here is that Oscar’s fund reaches its target.
But if any West Ham fan feels the urge to boo or deride Rice when the Hammers next face Arsenal, perhaps take a moment to remember this gesture.
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