sport news Declan Rice joins West Ham's pantheon of all-time greats with Conference ... trends now

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Declan Rice sprinted 10 yards, then 20, then 30. He got faster, and faster, and faster. Until finally, West Ham's favourite son was in front of the fans and on his knees, unable to contain his emotions.

He had captained the club he loves to a European title, something they had not managed since 1965. The legend that is Bobby Moore was the skipper then, someone who went on to be immortalised in bronze by West Ham.

It is hardly bad company that Rice is keeping and he too might have his own statue someday, even if he is leaving for a new challenge in this summer's transfer window.

Rice hoped for a great goodbye rather than a sorry swansong. As did the sentimentalists out there who wanted to see one of football's good guys leave West Ham on a high.

As he celebrated with his team-mates at full-time, it felt a deserved reward for the years of service he has given to West Ham.