“From East London With Love” – A Farewell I Never Wanted to Make
By Declan Rice
When I first pulled on the claret and blue of West Ham United, I was just a kid with a dream — a boy from London who wanted nothing more than to make his family proud and fight for the badge. I didn’t just join a football club; I found a home. From my debut to leading the team out as captain, every step of my journey was built on loyalty, belief, and love for the Hammers.
I always said I wanted to finish my playing career at West Ham. I meant it with all my heart. In a game that often feels temporary, I wanted to be permanent. I wanted to be one of those players fans talk about decades later — someone who stayed, who fought, who gave everything. Upton Park, the London Stadium, the European nights — those memories are etched into my soul forever.
Lifting a European trophy with this club was one of the proudest moments of my life. To lead the team to glory, to see the smiles on the faces of the supporters who had waited so long — that meant everything to me. Those weren’t just celebrations; they were shared dreams fulfilled. I truly believed it was only the beginning.
But football can be cruel.
The day I knew I would be leaving wasn’t a triumphant moment. It wasn’t excitement. It wasn’t ambition pushing me forward. It was heartbreak. I left in tears. Real tears. Because sometimes decisions in football aren’t as simple as they seem from the outside. There are conversations, pressures, and realities that supporters don’t always see. And while I respect the direction the club chose, I can’t pretend it didn’t hurt.
To walk away from something you love — not because you stopped loving it, but because circumstances changed — is one of the hardest things a person can do. I felt like I was saying goodbye to family. The staff, the players, the fans who sang my name — you shaped me not only as a footballer but as a man.
People will have their opinions. That’s football. Some will understand; some never will. But what cut the deepest was feeling that my desire to stay wasn’t enough. I gave everything on the pitch — every tackle, every sprint, every ounce of energy. I would have continued to do so for the rest of my career.
There are moments in life you can’t fully forgive because they leave a scar. Leaving West Ham left one on me. Not because I regret my journey, but because it ended before I was ready to say goodbye forever. I imagined my final match in claret and blue — older, maybe slower, but still proud. That dream didn’t get its ending.
Still, nothing can erase what we achieved together. I will always carry West Ham with me. The badge, the fans, the roar of the stadium — they’re part of who I am.
No matter where my career takes me, a part of my heart will forever belong in East London.
