A section West Ham fans have reacted with warmth and despair after Reece Burke posted a heartfelt farewell message on Twitter.
The defender, 21, joined Hull City on Tuesday for a fee of around £1.5million after quitting his boyhood club to pen a three-year contract with the Championship outfit.
To @WestHamUtd …I achieved my dream of playing in the Premier League for my boyhood club and scoring a winner in front of the home fans, that is a moment I will never ever forget. But I feel right now is the time I need to move on as a player to further my career. pic.twitter.com/h9NZydsDVE
— Reece Burke (@ReeceBurke) July 10, 2018
West Ham fans took to social media in their droves to express their appreciation of Burke’s gesture as well as remark on how disappointed they are that he has left.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
I wish there was another way Reece. I know you’ll succeed. See you back in the Premier League the season after next mate. ?
— ??HammerandTalk?? (@hammerandtalk) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/FumingHammer3/status/1016654254528958464
Good luck Reece hope it takes off for you always be a hammer to me ??
— Lez Redwood (@lezred) July 10, 2018
Gutted you're going. Thank you for everything you've done. I hope the @HullCity fans know what a star they're getting
— Ruthless Exterior (@geezamick) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/Paulmulks/status/1016891212496822272
https://twitter.com/SuzanneClaret/status/1016806166435942400
All the best Reece, gutted to see you leave but understand your reasons, was at the FA Cup game when you scored what turned out to be your last ever goal for the Hammers! Good luck at Hull City!
— ??Stephen???????Smith? (@StephenJESmith) July 10, 2018
Great tweet from @ReeceBurke Hull have got a great player there and a snip at 1.5m. Great young player and shame to see him go but sure it’s right move for all. #WHUFC
— Mark Corner (@MrMarkCorner) July 10, 2018
Good luck,a true east London https://t.co/gUb1RrPERP’ll b back no doubt in the future ?COYI?
— ? ?RUSTYHAMMER? ? (@DeanoTy) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/markeetee/status/1016774914819395584
COMMENTARY:
Judging by the extraordinary warm reaction to Burke’s departure, he is a hugely popular player among the West Ham faithful. Some might consider that odd given he only ever made 15 Hammers senior appearances and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. But Irons respect the 21-year-old’s lengthy association with the club, how he joined as a primary school boy and rose through the youth-team ranks to represent the first team of the team he has supporter his entire life. There’s nothing Hammers like more than a homegrown success story, and the disappointment at his exit is genuine and heartfelt.