Last week, Carlton Cole visited Australia for the very first time to promote West Ham United’s July 2023 Perth tour. But his first experience Down Under might have come some eight years ago, if an A-Leagues transfer link had come to fruition.
In the English summer of 2015, Carlton Cole’s nine-year, 293-game stay at West Ham United came to a close.
Released by the Premier League side, Cole – who bagged 68 goals in all competitions throughout his time at Upton Park – was in search of a new club.
That search almost led him Down Under… not that he knew a thing about it!
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The Isuzu UTE A-League link came in the form of alleged discussions with Tony Popovic’s Western Sydney Wanderers; the red and black had finished ninth in the season prior, and having scored just 29 goals in 27 games were in need of a spearhead for the following campaign.
“No, I don’t remember!” said a surprised Cole, when asked about the transfer rumour by KEEPUP whilst in Perth in mid-March.
It was Cole’s first time in Australia, almost eight years on from the speculated move. The now-retired striker is a West Ham ambassador, and was in Western Australia to promote his former club’s upcoming friendlies against Perth Glory and London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Optus Stadium in July.
“When you’re a footballer, a lot of speculation,” Cole added. “This is news to me, by the way. But a lot of speculation gets said about you. You get linked to a lot of clubs around the world, especially people who just want to make up stories. It might have been true, it might have been an inquiry but I can’t remember it happening.”
At the time, however, the rumour mill was spinning. Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas fanned the flames, saying “we make no secret that our priority is getting a top-quality No. 9 to the club.”
In early July, Fox Sports and the Daily Telegraph reported the club had a keen interest in Cole, capped seven times for England and eager for a new challenge as the 2014-15 Premier League campaign concluded.
It was a purported move that never came to fruition; the Wanderers signed Italian striker Federico Piovaccari as their marquee striker in late July, and Cole joined Scottish giants Celtic.
“I would have come!” Cole said. “I would have definitely come. But in hindsight now, playing in this heat would have been a little bit different! It would have swayed my thoughts of actually coming here.”
Cole spoke to KEEPUP and club media in the aftermath of a media event outside of Optus Stadium in; it was no longer summer, but the Perth sun was beating down brightly in the mid-morning – and Cole was quite literally dripping with sweat as he met government officials, mingled with Tottenham legend Ledley King and met Glory stars Mustafa Amini and Adam Taggart.
“I’ve never been good with the sun anyway,” Cole said. “You’ve got to understand – I’m a fairweather player!
“Actually, I do like a bit of snow. That’s what I’m used to, so this is a totally different environment, different atmosphere for me, and it will be for some of our players as well.”
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West Ham will arrive in Perth in mid-July, 2023, as part of pre-season preparation for the 2023-24 campaign. Cole guarantees the West Ham outfit which ventures out to Western Australia will be one that relishes the challenge against a Glory side “that will be coming out of the traps” – and, of course, the ferocity of a London derby.
“It’s a beautiful, beautiful city Perth,” Cole said. “I’m going to go back with so much high accolades of what I’ve encountered here so far. I’ve been here with Ledley King, archrival Spurs, and he has nothing but good stuff to say as well.
“We’re going to come back here and enjoy it, and make sure the fans get their money’s worth and the city gets its money’s worth as well, and just crack on and have a great time.
“Pre-season games are really difficult to get your fitness. Glory are going to be coming out of the traps, making sure they leave no stones unturned. They’re going to make it hard for the boys. But it will be a great game. Managers (will be) trying stuff, playing different players, players out of position to try and get minutes… just to get fitter quicker.
“You better come down, support, make loads of noise, get that atmosphere going, get the juices flowing – and enjoy the game. I’m sure that the West Ham players will be putting on a great game for the city.”
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