A special connection between Perth and West Ham United is set to be recognised by a change in the Premier League club’s front-of-shirt sponsor for two friendly fixtures Down Under.
West Ham United is set to honour the legacy of the late Dylan Tombides by replacing Betway as its front-of-shirt sponsor with the DT38 foundation logo for two friendly fixtures in the home state of their former player and Australian youth international who tragically lost his life to testicular cancer.
Tombides was 20 when he passed away in 2014; a promising product of West Ham’s academy, the Perth-born Socceroos prospect was rising through the ranks of the Premier League club when his life was cut short just three months after playing for his country at the AFC U22 Championship.
The DT38 Foundation was established in his honour after his death – and as West Ham’s principle charity partner, the English side’s tour of Perth in July was always bound to be a special event to honour the life of a young man lost far too young.
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West Ham’s principle front-of-shirt sponsor Betway has generously agreed to give their sponsorship rights to DT38 for the pre-season tour, allowing the club to place the charity’s logo in pride of place on the front of their 2023-24 Umbro home shirts for games against Perth Glory and Tottenham Hotspur at Optus Stadium.
Joining West Ham on their tour of Perth is club legend Carlton Cole, who spoke glowingly of Tombides as he addressed the media at an open West Ham training session on Thursday aafternoon.
“A young player, a really good player that made our first team. Australian-born. He was a great player and a great person, Dylan Tombides, who passed away due to testicular cancer,” Cole said.
“We’ve been a great supporter of the charity, DT38, and the whole family is linked really closely to our club. He’s got his own part in the academy as well, the education centre where we try and honour him and make sure his memory lives on.
“It’s a memory we’re fond on as well because he was such an influential character. He’s a very big part of West Ham… a big part of West Ham’s history and future.”
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Tombides wore number 38 throughout his time at West Ham. He made his senior West Ham debut in September, 2012, less than a year after his original testicular cancer diagnosis in 2011. Tombides’ cancer returned aggressively prior to his death in 2014.
The number 38 is one of only two numbers that have been retired by the club, along with the number six of World Cup hero Sir Bobby Moore.
Betway CEO Anthony Werkman said handing front-of-shirt sponsorship rights to DT38 for the tour was a fitting tribute to an incredible charity.
“We’re very happy to be donating our front our shirt branding to DT38; an incredible charity that raises valuable awareness for testicular cancer, for West Ham United’s upcoming pre-season tour of Australia,” he said.
“We’ve been a big supporter of DT38 over the years, but to be able to donate our front of shirt branding that will help them raise further awareness on the other side of the world, is a privilege for us.”
Featured image credit: West Ham
Buy tickets to the Perth tour fixtures
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory v West Ham United
Date: Saturday, 15 July 2023
Venue: Optus Stadium
Kick-Off: 8.00pm AEST/ 6.00pm (local)
Broadcast: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
