Friday 5 August 2016 18:22, UK
West Ham's honorary life president Terry Brown hailed a "truly magical night" in the club's history after they crowned their opening match at London Stadium with a 3-0 victory over NK Domzale in the Europa League.
The Hammers started life at their new home in front of a near 54,000 sell-out crowd on Thursday and did not disappoint, overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit through two goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and one from summer signing Sofiane Feghouli to advance to the play-off round.
Brown believes huge praise must go to West Ham's current owners David Gold and David Sullivan as well as vice-chairman Karren Brady for overseeing the move from the Boleyn Ground and is confident the club can build on their maiden success at London Stadium.
"They deserve enormous credit, they have made the whole thing happen and worked their socks off, all of them have," Brown, who was West Ham's chairman for 15 years between 1991 and 2006, told Sky Sports.
"It was a magical night for the club. It's an enormous platform for the club, we did fantastic last season and now we've got the stadium, the sky is the limit."
Gold and Sullivan completed their takeover of West Ham in 2010 and immediately signalled their intention to move the club to the then Olympic Stadium.
After an arduous bidding campaign, West Ham finally secured a 99-year lease to become the main tenants of the stadium in March 2013 and set about making the necessary reconfigurations to ensure it was fit for football.
Brown added: "They've done an absolutely fantastic job for the club. The two Davids and Karren have been fantastic, we're very lucky they came when they did.
"We've got very ambitious owners and, with the European nights, that's the way they want to go. There's no reason to think they will not be able to do it on a regular basis.
"Everybody is desperate for this to work and there is no doubt that this is going to work. It is a top drawer stadium, that's absolutely certain. It's all very exciting and extremely positive.
"I was overwhelmed and I couldn't really believe it to be honest. It was truly remarkable. There has been so much effort, attention to detail and work that has gone in. It's a club to be proud of.
"I was thrilled and thrilled with the stadium. I think they've done a fantastic job, it's a great stadium and we're all extremely proud of it. I think everybody is."
