Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year 16:24 - Jan 24 with 4029 views | SaffronWaldenBlues | He's not been granted a testimonial by West Ham as the owners don't want to pay out for it due to the stadium costs. I remember Tommy Smith being refused one here by Marcus Evans due to costs. Modern football eh, more money than ever and you can't even get a testimonial game these days, and they are much rarer now than ever. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:26 - Jan 24 with 3767 views | gainsboroughblue | The stadium they were given for free? |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:27 - Jan 24 with 3748 views | DarkBrandon | Hmm. To an extent. But testimonials came about because players weren’t paid much and gave them a little cash to set them up in their post-playing career. A PL regular for a decade doesn’t need that. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:27 - Jan 24 with 3744 views | homer_123 | Weren't testimonials a way of providing some additional funds to the player? Not like they need it these days, not at that level anyway. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:29 - Jan 24 with 3704 views | Zx1988 |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:27 - Jan 24 by homer_123 | Weren't testimonials a way of providing some additional funds to the player? Not like they need it these days, not at that level anyway. |
Have they not morphed in recent years into an opportunity for the player to either raise funds for a specific charity, or aid the setting-up of their own foundation? |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:30 - Jan 24 with 3674 views | bsw72 | How is he ever going to make ends meet? Testimonials are outdated - they were designed as a way for players to earn a lump sum of money ahead of retirement/leaving for them to invest in their retirement "trade". |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:38 - Jan 24 with 3539 views | BloomBlue | He got an extra year contract for basically sitting on a seat watching the games, what more does he want. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:09 - Jan 24 with 3315 views | Marshalls_Mullet | Players don't need testimonials anymore. I guess it's probably a charity that misses out? As most Prem players donate the money raised to good causes. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:16 - Jan 24 with 3263 views | Mookamoo |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:27 - Jan 24 by homer_123 | Weren't testimonials a way of providing some additional funds to the player? Not like they need it these days, not at that level anyway. |
It was basically their deposit to go and buy a pub |  | |  | Login to get fewer ads
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:17 - Jan 24 with 3251 views | Nutkins_Return |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:09 - Jan 24 by Marshalls_Mullet | Players don't need testimonials anymore. I guess it's probably a charity that misses out? As most Prem players donate the money raised to good causes. |
Yes I would think money would go to charity these days so surely it's an opportunity missed. I would think you would generally get a good turn out for that sort of event so surely just cover costs and give the rest to charity. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:22 - Jan 24 with 3185 views | J2BLUE | Is that true about Evans? |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:22 - Jan 24 with 3185 views | monty_radio | They were always a bit of a liability back when, as kids on wall, coins sailed over your head aimed at the grey blanket being carried around the edge of the pitch. Had Health and Safety been a thing back then, the hundred quid raised would have not weighed too heavily against the very likely possibility of an old large penny taking a chunk out of your skull. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:23 - Jan 24 with 3178 views | MK1 |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:27 - Jan 24 by homer_123 | Weren't testimonials a way of providing some additional funds to the player? Not like they need it these days, not at that level anyway. |
Most in the higher league have a testimonial year with a game at the end. They donate a very good chunk of that to a charity of their choice. In some cases it has been a few million quid. I think in the days of players non-loyalty, 10 years is a bit rarer and deserve to be celebrated. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:43 - Jan 24 with 3026 views | MattinLondon |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:22 - Jan 24 by J2BLUE | Is that true about Evans? |
I don’t actually remember that - wouldn’t at all surprise me but his cost-cutting was more due to utter incompetence rather than being inconsiderate to the individual. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 18:13 - Jan 24 with 2835 views | OldFart71 | Whilst it is great to award a player for his service, especially when it's been a decent length of time and number of games I have never been an advocate of testimonials as players get a lot more than your normal Jack and Jill who have to work in some cases 25 years to earn what some players get in a week. I worked for a local Company for 25 years and I got a barbeque that lasted a few years and then rusted away. Players now get signing on fees, cars and watches as part of their enticement. There's the argument that they have a far less length of time career wise. But if they are sensible there's no reason that they shouldn't be set up for life. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 18:37 - Jan 24 with 2683 views | ford6600 | I can only recall going to three testimonial matches:- 2/5/75 Colin Harper....Town v Don Revie All Stars XI. A poor turn out of only about 6k? 14/11/79 Bobby Robson... (10th year testimonial) Town v England XI. Famously George Best played for Town and so an incredible 25k or so turned up.... 3/11/81 Alan Hunter... Town v Celtic. Getting Celtic to turn up for your testimonial was a sure fire way to boost attendance and put more money into your lump sum. About 15k attendance with very large noisy Celtic contingent who were all over the town centre from midday onwards on the day of the match. Seem to recall Town winning then letting Celtic score to win to reward their fans. Hunter threw his shirt into the Celtic hordes to thank them for travelling l presume. As said by others on here in those days a lump sum could help them set up eg buy a pub. Today players earn so much they should be financially secure when they retire so the old fashioned lump sum testimonial is obsolete. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:19 - Jan 24 with 2300 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 18:37 - Jan 24 by ford6600 | I can only recall going to three testimonial matches:- 2/5/75 Colin Harper....Town v Don Revie All Stars XI. A poor turn out of only about 6k? 14/11/79 Bobby Robson... (10th year testimonial) Town v England XI. Famously George Best played for Town and so an incredible 25k or so turned up.... 3/11/81 Alan Hunter... Town v Celtic. Getting Celtic to turn up for your testimonial was a sure fire way to boost attendance and put more money into your lump sum. About 15k attendance with very large noisy Celtic contingent who were all over the town centre from midday onwards on the day of the match. Seem to recall Town winning then letting Celtic score to win to reward their fans. Hunter threw his shirt into the Celtic hordes to thank them for travelling l presume. As said by others on here in those days a lump sum could help them set up eg buy a pub. Today players earn so much they should be financially secure when they retire so the old fashioned lump sum testimonial is obsolete. |
I recall Mich D'Avray's in 1985. Ipswich Town XI vs UEFA Cup team. I think it was the only time I ever saw Clive Woods play and even at that point he was great to watch. Mick Stockwell's in 94 vs Sir Bobby's Porto. I know Warky had a testimonial in 96 vs Arsenal but can't recall it for some reason. Fab's in 2009. Durkin refereed vs Colchester. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:28 - Jan 24 with 2238 views | Giant_Midget | Last game of the season. Sorted. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:29 - Jan 24 with 2226 views | PhilTWTD |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:22 - Jan 24 by J2BLUE | Is that true about Evans? |
I don't think it is. I asked him about it before he signed his last contract here and it hadn't come up at that point. Think any costs are taken from what's raised anyway. Smith Keen to Extend Town Stay 5th Feb 2016 06:00Defender Tommy Smith has stressed his desire to remain an Ipswich player after his present contract expires at the end of the season. 12 |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:41 - Jan 24 with 2136 views | Swansea_Blue |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:22 - Jan 24 by J2BLUE | Is that true about Evans? |
I’m pretty sure it is |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:59 - Jan 24 with 2065 views | baxterbasics |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:19 - Jan 24 by Nthsuffolkblue | I recall Mich D'Avray's in 1985. Ipswich Town XI vs UEFA Cup team. I think it was the only time I ever saw Clive Woods play and even at that point he was great to watch. Mick Stockwell's in 94 vs Sir Bobby's Porto. I know Warky had a testimonial in 96 vs Arsenal but can't recall it for some reason. Fab's in 2009. Durkin refereed vs Colchester. |
Warky's testimonial in 96 was my first match ever. A pretty dull 1-1, I remember being annoyed that I didn't get to see David Seaman play, although Ian Wright did. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 23:06 - Jan 24 with 2033 views | hochiblue |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 22:59 - Jan 24 by baxterbasics | Warky's testimonial in 96 was my first match ever. A pretty dull 1-1, I remember being annoyed that I didn't get to see David Seaman play, although Ian Wright did. |
Fabulous Ray Crawford testimonial match, 1961 championship team versus Youths followed by 1st team versus Wolves 1st team. Bill McGarry was by then Wolves manager “Ray Crawford was the only player he would do this for” |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 10:30 - Jan 25 with 1502 views | Radlett_blue | Testimonials are justifiably rare these days, because players move around so much and are so well paid. However, the tax free status of testimonials is completely wrong & it should be capped at a low level. Ryan Giggs - not everyone's favourite - pocked over £1m tax free from his testimonial game. The same goes for cricketers & "benefit seasons". Again, they made sense when cricketers weren't well paid, but Flintoff picked up £3m+ tax free from his. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 13:27 - Jan 25 with 1271 views | Ryorry |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 16:27 - Jan 24 by DarkBrandon | Hmm. To an extent. But testimonials came about because players weren’t paid much and gave them a little cash to set them up in their post-playing career. A PL regular for a decade doesn’t need that. |
It's not all about the money though is it? It's a chance for fans to show their appreciation of a player they've grown to love, thank him for what he's done for their club; and for him to be able to receive and enjoy that - the support & memory of which I imagine is helpful to the player in adjusting to life away from professional football, notoriously a difficult mental & emotional wrench. |  |
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Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 14:18 - Jan 25 with 1194 views | flykickingbybgunn | Mick Lambert had his testimonial on the Monday after we had won the FA Cup on the Saturday. It was a quiet do. I mean who wants to see the Cup with blue and white ribbons on it paraded around the pitch before the match ? Cant see the attraction myself. |  | |  |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 14:25 - Jan 25 with 1171 views | Sharkey |
Aaron Cresswell - 300 games for West Ham - Testimonial Year on 17:09 - Jan 24 by Marshalls_Mullet | Players don't need testimonials anymore. I guess it's probably a charity that misses out? As most Prem players donate the money raised to good causes. |
I think a lot of people are surprised Tom Eastman (12 years, 400+ games) didn't get a testimonial at Colchester. And he could probably do with the cash boost. Problem, I guess, is getting 'glittery' enough opposition to make it worthwhile, as the big clubs regulate their stars' game time more carefully. |  | |  |
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