President-elect Barack Obama has been invited to watch a match at English Premiership club West Ham, it was revealed on Thursday.

Family members took Obama to watch a match at Upton Park in 2003 and he is now believed to be something of a fan.

The east London club are sending him a message of congratulations and an invitation to renew acquaintances with the Hammers on his first visit to Britain.

A club source told PA Sport: “We are delighted that Barack Obama has an association with West Ham and are sending him our congratulations and an invitation to attend a match whenever he is in Britain.”
Obama is well known in the States for his liking for ‘soccer ‘ - his older daughter Malia, 10, is a regular for a girls’ team in Chicago.

West Ham’s American defender Jonathan Spector, who is from Obama’s home state Illinois, said he would love to host a visit from the new president.

Spector said: “From a personal perspective it certainly would be something special to welcome him to West Ham.”