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Eamonn Dolan 1967-2016

Former West Ham United striker Eamonn Dolan has passed away at the age of 48.

Born in Galway, Ireland on the 20th September 1967, Dolan came through the club’s academy having been brought up in Chelmsford. Capped at Under-21 and youth level for the Republic of Ireland, Dolan made his Hammers debut from the bench as a 19-year-old in a 2-0 home win over Manchester City on the 9th May 1987. The 5’10 forward struggled with injuries but gained some first-team experience with a brief loan stint at Bristol City. His most successful spell in claret and blue came under the management of Lou Macari in the first half of the 1989/90 season – he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-2 home defeat to West Brom in September of that campaign before bagging a brace in a 5-0 demolition of Sunderland the following month. His fourth and final goal for the Irons came in his 21st and last game for the club, a 5-2 home win over Plymouth in the Full Members Cup on 29th November 1989. He left West Ham United for Birmingham in 1990.

After a season at St Andrew’s, Dolan moved on to Exeter but had to retire in 1993 at the age of just 26 due to a battle with cancer. Dolan was granted a testimonial match by Exeter against West Ham in September 1994. He won his cancer fight and went on to serve Exeter for a total of 13 years as community officer, youth coach, caretaker manager and permanent manager in 2003/04. He left the club in September 2004 to join Reading as academy manager where he enjoyed a happy and successful 12 years, even taking on the role of caretaker manager for a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in March 2013.

Eamonn passed away yesterday at the tragically young age of 48 after another courageous battle with cancer. I’m sure all WHTID readers will join me in sending condolences and best wishes to Eamonn’s family and friends.

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