MARK NOBLE marked 15 years to the day he made his West Ham debut by helping his side beat Watford 3-1 at Vicarage Road.
The 32-year-old appeared for the Hammers in a League Cup win against Southend 5,478 days ago, aged 17 at Upton Park.
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Noble – who is a two-time Hammer of the Year – is the Premier League’s longest-serving player.
Reflecting on his debut, Noble told the club’s website: “Obviously when you grow up in the area you love playing on the street, and to go from playing on the street with my mates to playing at Upton Park is a bit surreal, and 15 years on to still be in the heart of the West Ham midfield is quite good going!”
Before adding: “After 15 years of playing in the West Ham midfield, it becomes normal because it’s your job, but if you’d said that when I started I’d never have believed you.
“I always wanted to be one of the best players in the world like Zinedine Zidane, so it was great that I ended up playing at West Ham against some of the best players in the world.”
And the former Hull and Ipswich loanee made an instant impact against the Hornets in his first game of the season.
Manuel Lanzini was tripped inside the box by Abdoulaye Doucoure, with Noble confidently stepping up and sending the Ben Foster the wrong way in the third minute.
Playing in his 350th top-flight game, Noble gave the ex-Manchester United goalkeeper the eyes, before slotting home in the other corner.
It was the 25th Premier League penalty that the former England youth international has netted in his career.
Only Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have scored more goals from the spot.
West Ham‘s lead lasted just 14 minutes with Andre Gray equalising for the hosts with a clinical finish after being found by Will Hughes.
Sebastien Haller then showed why the Hammers forked out £45million for him as he banged in twice in the second half to seal the victory for Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
