SAD news reaches us that Roy Stroud - who was the oldest surviving Hammer - died in his sleep on June 4 at the age of 90.

Roy had been living in sheltered accommodation in Newton Ferrers, Devon and was suffering from dementia.

We featured an interview with Roy's son, Garry, in issue 72 of EX. He explained that his father didn't turn pro until he was 27-years-old.

Roy signed for Ted Fenton’s Hammers in 1952 and it felt like coming home for the young man who had been born in West Ham just a couple of years after the club’s FA Cup Final appearance at Wembley in 1923. Roy earned £12 per week.

Unfortunately, Roy’s time at West Ham was dogged by injury and after a total of 13 league games and four goals he joined Chelmsford City in 1957. His poor luck continued when he broke his ankle whilst playing for the Essex club and a bungled operation forced him to hang up his boots.

His post-playing career saw him work for both Liptons and Safeway as a product buyer.

We will leave the final word with Garry Stroud: “He has always been a very modest man and his only regret was that he didn’t turn professional sooner.”

As far as we know, no Hammer has ever lived longer than the peerless Victor Watson who set yet another record when reaching the grand old age of 90 years and nine months. Both Ken Bainbridge (90 years and five months) and Ernie Gregory (90 years and two months) ran him close. Roy Stroud lived for 90 years and 80 days.

Following Roy's passing, it leaves Frank O'Farrell as the oldest living Hammer. The former wing-half of the 50s will be 88 on October 9.