Fixture Reverse For Hammers First Euro Match

West Ham United will play the first leg of their Europa League campaign at home to Andorran team FC Lusitans on July the 2nd, not July the 9th. This is after the initial schedule was reversed to avoid a fixture clash with Andorra's other representatives, Sant Julia, who were also drawn at home to Denmark's Randers in the first leg. The clear benefit for West Ham is that the tube strike threatened for the original home date will now have no effect! The benefit for the Lusitans is that they can move venues in Andorra to increase revenue, in fact they are entitled to re-locate the match ,for safety and logistical reasons, to virtually any stadium they want, so long as it is in Europe. The venue for the return leg is due to be announced by 18:00Hrs ECT -Ed