“I’m carrying on”- Aaron Cresswell Drops Huge Hint About West Ham Exit in Emotional Ipswich Town Revelation!
Aaron Cresswell says it’s ‘fitting’ that his emotional West Ham farewell will take place at Portman Road this weekend.
The Hammers announced earlier this month that the 35-year-old left-back would be leaving when his contract expires, bringing an end to an 11-year stay in East London.
It means his 369th and final appearance for the club will be in Sunday’s season finale against Ipswich, the place where his career really took off.
“You couldn’t have written it,” he said, speaking exclusively to the EADT and Ipswich Star.
“I had a wonderful three years at Ipswich (2011-2014), built a great connection with the club and loved every minute I was down there.
“So for my last ever game for West Ham, after 11 years at the club, to be back at Ipswich is fitting. It couldn’t have worked out any better really.”
Cresswell joined Ipswich from Tranmere Rovers for a tribunal set fee of an initial £240k in 2011, signing under fellow Liverpudlian Paul Jewell.
He went on to score seven goals in 138 appearances for the Blues over a three season spell before making a £3.75m switch to West Ham in 2014.
Reflecting on his time in Suffolk, Cresswell grinned: “We had some fantastic characters, certainly under Paul Jewell – he was one himself! There was Jimmy Bullard, Michael Chopra, Carlos Edwards, Keith Andrews, Daryl Murphy, while Luke Chambers came a little bit later. I’d love to be able to tell you a few Jimmy Bullard stories, but I don’t think you’d be able to put them out! I don’t know how to describe it… it was just a proper group of men.
“That was the first time I’d been away from Liverpool, I was 21 at the time, and I didn’t have a clue what to expect and what to do. I couldn’t have picked a further spot away from home – it was a four-and-a-half, five hour drive from Liverpool – but me and my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, moved down here all that time ago and we loved it.
“I went from Paul Jewell to Mick McCarthy. They were both in that old school manager bracket, but I couldn’t have asked for two better mentors to pass on the right attitudes. Mick’s assistant, TC (Terry Connor), was fantastic with me too.
“I think the moment that stands out for me was the goal against Palace (a swerving top corner finish from outside the area in a 3-0 home win). I also remember scoring a header against Bristol Rovers in the cup. I’d never scored a header in my life and I haven’t scored once since!
“As I say, I had a fantastic three years there and it was just a shame that the club was moving the way it was at that time. I think Roy Keane had just left the year before and they’d spent a lot of money on players. It was going through a bit of a transition.”
Such has been the longevity and impact that Cresswell has had at West Ham that he’s been hailed as a modern day club legend by many.
The defender was named ‘Hammer of the Year’ in 2015, earned three England caps in 2016-2017, was part of the Europa Conference League winning squad in 2022/23, has been part of five top half finishes and also experienced Europa League football. He’ll depart second only to Mark Noble in the ‘most Premier League appearances for West Ham’ list.
“Going back, when I left Ipswich all those years ago, I never would never have thought that all the stuff you’ve just mentioned there was possible. It’s all been beyond my wildest dreams,” he says.
“I have to say I’ll be forever grateful for the faith Ipswich showed in me at the start to help springboard me on the way to the incredible journey I’ve had with West Ham.
“On Sunday, there will be all sorts of emotions. I’ll be looking back and reflecting.”
Asked if he’d kept in touch with anyone from Ipswich, Cresswell replies: “Pretty much everyone’s gone from my time there. There’s only Matt (Byard), the physio, who’s still there I think. But I know Dave Martin, Ben Johnson, Kalvin (Phillips) there, boys that were here at West Ham.
“I’m really close to Dave Martin, the goalkeeping coach, and he said the way the club’s run from top to bottom is incredible.”
He continued: “The new ownership has come in and it looks to be a proper run football club now. I’m delighted for them.
“They had a set-back, dropped down to League One, but I was delighted to see the back-to-back promotions. It’s a shame they haven’t been able to survive this year, but next year they’ll be in a fantastic position. The recruitment looks really good from the outside and there’s no reason why they can’t go straight back up.”
So what next for Cresswell? Out of favour under Julen Lopetegui at the start of the season, he’s been a regular starter since Graham Potter arrived in January. An impressive performance in the recent 2-0 win at Manchester United, playing on the left side of a back three, will have impressed potential suitors.
“First and foremost I’m definitely carrying on, there’s no doubt about that. I still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer on and off the pitch,” he says.
“Towards the back end of the season I’ve managed to play a lot of games under the new manager that’s come in, whether that’s at left-back or left side of a three.
“I’ve certainly learnt a lot from senior players over my career. The mentors I’ve had at West Ham have been Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble, two fantastic leaders. You want to be like a sponge and absorb as much as you can.
“Let’s see what happens in the summer.”
Ipswich currently have two very good senior left-backs for Championship level in Leif Davis and Conor Townsend, though there could yet be interest in the former this summer.
Given how well he’s spoken of Ipswich, would Cresswell like to go full circle and return to Portman Road if the stars aligned?
“As I say, I’ve got no club in the summer, so let’s see what the summer brings,” he replies, playing a straight bat.
One thing’s for sure, Cresswell should get a warm reception from all four sides of the ground this weekend.
