The logo of West Ham United’s principal charity partner DT38 Foundation will appear on the Club’s shirts during the Irons’ pre-season tour to Perth, Australia.
The Club’s principal partner Betway will kindly provide support and help raise awareness for the male cancer charity, which was founded in memory of Perth-born Dylan Tombides, the promising Academy of Football player who passed away in 2014, aged just 20.
Tombides played youth football for the city’s Stirling Lions club before being spotted by the Hammers and moving to east London at the age of 16 in 2010. A prolific centre-forward, the youngster made his first Premier League squad a year later.
The young striker was diagnosed with testicular cancer following a random drugs test at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals, where he was representing Australia, and underwent intense treatment before making his senior West Ham debut in September 2012. Tragically, Tombides’ cancer returned aggressively and, despite his incredible positivity and resilience, he died in April 2014, only three months after playing for his country for the final time at the AFC U-22 Championship.
Following his death, Tombides’ No38 shirt was retired by the Club – an honour only previously bestowed on the late, great Bobby Moore, who was also diagnosed with testicular cancer as a young man – and his family created the DT38 Foundation in February 2015. Just weeks later, Betway made the first of a number of donations to fund the charity’s mission to raise awareness and change the stigma associated with men’s health issues.
Now, thanks to Betway’s generosity, West Ham’s players will proudly wear the DT38 Foundation logo on their new 2023/24 Umbro Home shirts in the pre-season tour fixtures with A-League side Perth Glory (Saturday 15 July, 6pm AWST/11am BST) and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur (Tuesday 18 July, 6pm AWST/11am BST) at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Anthony Werkman, CEO of Betway, said:“We’re very happy to be donating our front our shirt branding to DT38; an incredible charity that raises valuable awareness for testicular cancer, for West Ham United’s upcoming pre-season tour of Australia.
“We’ve been a big supporter of DT38 over the years, but to be able to donate our front of shirt branding that will help them raise further awareness on the other side of the world, is a privilege for us.
“We would also like to wish our partner West Ham United the best of luck in their pre-season tour and for the season ahead.”
“We would like to acknowledge the unwavering support that Betway continues to afford DT38 with such a prominent opportunity to raise awareness for the early detection of testicular cancer and of course our amazing Principal Charity Partner West Ham United,” said Tracylee Tombides, DT38 Founder.
“The Hammers family have always found ways to honour Dylan’s legacy.”
Betway has been West Ham United’s principal partner since 2015. The Betway logo features on the front of all the Club’s senior teams’ playing shirts and training wear. The Club and Betway have also worked hand-in-hand to bring supporters closer to their heroes, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
DT38 Foundation was launched in the UK in February 2015 at West Ham United’s Premier League fixture with Crystal Palace, and Australia in September 2015 when a bronze sculpture of Dylan Tombides was unveiled outside Perth Rectangular Stadium. Since then, the charity has driven self-awareness and education campaigns in both countries to encourage the early detection of testicular cancer.