Few former West Ham United players are held in higher regard than Jack Collison.
Collison played 105 games for West Ham, scoring 11 goals, including crucial strikes in the Championship Play-Off semi-final victory over Cardiff City in 2012.
After graduating to the West Ham first team from the club’s famous academy under Alan Curbishley, Collison was one of the hottest prospects around.
But a series of devastating injuries restricted his playing time and he was forced to retire this year aged just 27.
He will forever be remembered for playing for the club in a famous cup win over bitter rivals Millwall just days after his dad had died in a motorbike crash on the way to watching his emerging son against Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham fans themselves have been emotional in the last two years after waving goodbye to their beloved Boleyn Ground home of 112 years to move to the former Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
Many fans are unhappy with the stadium and what they feel are broken promises from the owners.
And while nothing can bring back Upton Park, those supporters will be feeling regretful after an emotional post from Collison on Twitter.
Collison posted a picture of himself holding his young daughter on the pitch at the famous old stadium.
“Sharing a special moment with the princess on the hallowed turf at The Boleyn,” Collison posted on Twitter.
“One of my favourite memories.”
West Ham fans are planning a protest march against the owners on March 10th with the stadium move a major bone of contention.
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