West Ham chairman David Sullivan pays moving tribute to David Gold after Europa Conference League victory

David Sullivan has paid a moving tribute to David Gold after West Ham’s Europa Conference League victory.

Gold, who was his co-chairman and a lifelong Hammers fan, sadly passed away at the age of 86 in January after a short illness.

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He took over the east London club alongside Sullivan in 2010, with the pair becoming co-chairmen after their takeover.

On Wednesday night West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 to lift the Europa Conference League, their first trophy since the FA Cup in 1980.

Sullivan was present for the match in Prague and expressed his sadness that he did not share the celebrations with Gold.

The next morning, he paid a beautiful tribute to his former business partner and Gold’s daughter, Jacqueline, who also passed away this year.

Speaking to talkSPORT Breakfast, he said: “Absolutely delighted, I’m so happy for the supporters.

“The only big sadness for me is that my long-time business partner, David Gold, and his daughter, the lovely Jacqueline, weren’t there to celebrate.

“In life you only have a limited number of football seasons, and the seasons have passed for him, you know.

“I’m lucky that one of my seasons we won something, the manager is exactly the same, you have so many football seasons, he never won anything, but he won something big yesterday evening.

“I’ve looked up many times, I pray to heaven for David Gold every night. I know it sounds corny but every night since he died I’ve prayed to heaven.

“I believe there is someone who looks down on you sometimes and makes you feel good. I have been praying to win this game for weeks and luckily we did.”

Sullivan also confirmed Wednesday night’s win was Declan Rice’s last game for West Ham before the summer window.

As captain, he lifted the trophy in Prague and thus capped off a wonderful spell at the club with silverware.