The Hammers secured promotion through the play-offs after beating Blackpool 2-1 at Wembley in May and have already completed the signing of Mohamed Diame from Wigan and former Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The vice-chairman is excited to have overseen the club's return to the top flight and says their aims go beyond simply staying there.
She told Sky Sports News: "We hope to bring in a few more significant signings to improve our team and increase our chances of remaining in the Premier League and really 'have a go'.
Compete
"We want to compete and really make a contribution to this league. West Ham are a great club who deserve to play in the greatest league in the world.
"Sam has made a very strategic plan. We have a comprehensive list of players we hope to bring in and we are working to do that."
But Brady refused to comment on reports that Grant Holt is at the top of that list.
She continued: "It's not appropriate to comment on other people's players.
"We prefer to do our business face to face with the chairmen of other clubs, and that's what we'll do."
Dream
West Ham are also hopeful of taking over the Olympic Stadium, and Brady says the club are committed to preserving the venue's legacy.
The former Birmingham City chairman added: "We still have a dream. The Olympic Stadium has been built. Someone has to use it, and provide the jobs.
"Its legacy needs to be preserved. It needs someone to come into that community, ensure supporters come in and use the park, and do that on a global stage -that's what the Premier League provides.
"We're very hopeful and we're working very hard to get it."
Source: www1.skysports.com
Redman, Hughes headlining Wembley prayer event - Christian Today
More than 5,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of sales for the National Day of Prayer event at Wembley Stadium.
Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Noel Robinson, Lara Martin, LZ7, Guvna B and Graham Kendrick are all confirmed to lead the crowds in worship throughout the day.
Christians from across the UK are expected to come to the event at Wembley on 29 September.
"The response has been really encouraging," said Dean Seddon, part of the Connect House Media team overseeing ticket enquiries.
"This is a once in a generation event and to see Christians getting involved now at the very beginning of ticket sales rather than waiting until the last minute has been a huge blessing."
Despite the strong start, NDOP organisers are not resting on their laurels. Their goal is to see the entire 90,000-capacity venue filled on the day.
In terms of the seating, it’s first come, first served, Seddon explains.
"This is an event not to be missed, but also because of the way we're allocating the tickets, the best seats are going first. So the first 30,000 are straight in front of the stage,” he said.
“We're encouraging people to get their bookings in as soon as possible to guarantee the best possible view."
Interest has come from Christians in Jersey in the south right up to Glasgow in the north and even from Indonesia.
The event is welcoming Christians of all denominations and traditions, and will run from 2pm to 6:30pm.
To book your tickets today call +44 800 756 5451 weekday 8:30am - 5pm weekdays or you can book your tickets securely online at www.ndopwembley.com
Source: www.christiantoday.com
Essex firefighters set dates for strike action - ITV
Essex firefighters have set five periods of strike action in a dispute over frontline cuts.
The Fire Brigades Union says that Essex will have lost one in five frontline firefighters since 2008 if the current round of planned cuts go ahead.
The strike dates set:
June 28: 10am to 6pm
July 7: 4am to 5am
July 18: 9am to 9am on July 19
August 18: 5pm to 7pm
October 18: 11am to 4pm
Alan Chinn-Shaw, Essex FBU Chair, said: “This is about cuts to frontline firefighters and changes imposed on firefighters. We’ve had enough and the cuts are now directly impacting on public and firefighter safety.
“The cuts and impositions continue while the fire authority says it wants talks. That simply undermines the talks before they start.
“The recent highly provocative removal of key fire engines and vital rescue equipment contradicts the fire authority claim that it is being reasonable. This two-faced approach has gone on for three years and enough is enough.
“The issues are about cuts and imposed and unjustified changes and these need to be addressed. The fire authority must either address the concerns or there will be strike action."
Essex Fire chiefs have responded by saying they remain confident that the need for strike action can be averted.
Chief Fire Officer David Johnson said that talks with the FBU will go ahead on Monday and he hopes that union officials will accept the offer from senior managers.
Source: www.itv.com
Essex v Kent, FLt20 South Group, Chelmsford - espncricinfo.com
Essex 158 for 6 (Foster 51) beat Kent 155 (Smith 5-17) by 3 runs
Scorecard
Greg Smith took five wickets in two overs in a controversial climax as Essex collected their first Friends Life t20 success of the campaign with a three-run victory against Kent at Chelmsford.
Kent's chase was going steadily until the start of the 17th over, at which point they were 118 for 3. From that point, Essex hoover up seven wickets for the addition of 37 runs, including three sixes with Smith finishing with 5 for 17.
A six-run penalty against Essex for a slow over-rate moved Kent's chase closer but with four runs officially needed to win off the final ball, Graham Napier bowled last man Mark Davies.
Confusion about the score in the closing stages added to the uncertainty with Kent insisting they actually needed two runs from the last ball and Matt Coles saying as he left the ground that he had scored eight runs, not six as shown in the scorecard.
His view was supported by other independent statisticians and left scorers and statisticians anxious to study video evidence.
Prior to the tense finale, Foster's innings was the main attraction. Foster hit four sixes in a top score of 51 in 27 balls as Essex posted 158 for 6, with James Franklin's 39 the next best contribution. He arrived in the 11th over with only 69 on the board and brought much-needed impetus to his side's cause with a swashbuckling knock.
His effort included four sixes and two fours before he departed in an eventful final over sent down by Kent's pace bowler Matt Coles. It cost 24 runs including one delivery that cost eight runs when Foster despatched a no-ball for six. Foster also hit another six in the over, as did Adam Wheater before he was bowled.
Thanks to that onslaught, Essex amassed 53 from the final four overs, Coles conceding 46 from his full allocation.
James Franklin was Essex's other main contributor, striking six boundaries in his 39. He was bowled by Adam Ball after sharing in a stand of 53 in eight overs for the second wicket with Graham Napier, who was run out in the same over for 20.
Kent's hopes of launching their reply on a solid foundation were ruined by David Masters, playing against his former county. In his third over, he bowled Rob Key for five and had Azhar Mahmood leg before with his next delivery. Although Kent reached the halfway stage without further loss, they had progressed to only 61.
Darren Stevens fell for 21 but opener Sam Billings and Brendan Nash brought about an acceleration with a fourth-wicket stand of 54 in seven overs.
Medium-pacer Smith then made a dramatic impact in the 17th over, removing Billings for 59, an innings containing four fours and two sixes and spanning 55 balls, and Nash with successive deliveries.
He then bowled Geraint Jones for a single but Kent made a tremendous effort to reach their target despite the clatter of wickets.
Sam Northeast hit two sixes while compiling 14 before he too became a victim of Smith, who also removed Matt Coles on his way to career-best figures.
Source: www.espncricinfo.com
Fire crews in Essex announce strike days - BBC News
Firefighters in Essex have announced they are to stage five strikes in a dispute over cuts to the service.
The Fire Brigades Union said industrial action will take place on 28 June, 7 and 18 July, 18 August and 18 October.
The union claims Essex will have lost one in five frontline firefighters since 2008 if planned cuts go ahead.
Essex Fire and Rescue said 100 firefighters and dozens of retained crews had declared themselves available during strike periods.
"More than 100 Essex firefighters have signed up to resilience contracts guaranteeing their availability during times of severe staff shortages," the county service said in a statement.
"Added to that are dozens of retained crews determined to continue to provide life-saving cover to their local communities.
"The service has a responsibility to ensure the safety of our communities and that is a responsibility we take seriously and one we are not prepared to leave to chance with the threat of strike action looming."
'Two-faced approach'Alan Chinn-Shaw, chairman of the FBU's Essex branch, said: "This is about cuts to frontline firefighters and changes imposed on firefighters.
"We've had enough and the cuts are now directly impacting on public and firefighter safety.
"The recent highly provocative removal of key fire engines and vital rescue equipment contradicts the fire authority claim that it is being reasonable.
"This two-faced approach has gone on for three years and enough is enough."
Essex firefighters voted by 2-1 in favour of strikes following almost three years of action short of a strike.
Chief Fire Officer David Johnson said Essex Fire and Rescue Service management had moved 95% towards union demands and it was now down to the union to move the other 5%.
"There are only a few points still in dispute - points the service cannot move on, including no changes to anything without prior union agreement," he said.
"The union also wants a reversal of the decision to change Brentwood Fire Station crewing arrangements from two wholetime appliances to one wholetime and one retained."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Wembley FC enlist former stars - SkySports
Venables, who is technical advisor at the semi-professional club, has enlisted the services of Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Graeme Le Saux, Claudio Cannigia and Brian McBride.
The five former internationals have all signed to play for the club, while former England No.1 David Seaman is also on board as the new goalkeeping coach.
The signings have been made to help take Wembley FC as far as they can go in next season's FA Cup, with the support of sponsors Budweiser.
Parlour, former England and Arsenal player, said: "I've always believed grassroots football is essential to the lifeblood of the game so when I got the call asking if I would like to come out of retirement and help raise its profile I jumped at the chance.
"I'm looking forward to working with Terry Venables again and helping a group of talented footballers achieve their dreams of playing in The FA Cup and seeing how far they can go in the tournament."
Opportunity
Ian Bates, Wembley FC manager, added: "The opportunity to learn from ex-professionals like Parlour and Seaman who have been there and done it will give us the best chance possible to go further than we ever have done in next season's FA Cup.
"The initiative shines a light on non-league football reminding people of the importance of amateur football in contributing to the development of the national game."
Former Three Lions stars Seaman, Parlour, Keown and Le Saux have between them won the FA Cup 12 times.
The new additions will add to the club's experience on the pitch starting with the FA Cup extra preliminary round tie on August 11th.
Source: www1.skysports.com
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