Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand says he'll always be grateful to former club West Ham United.

Ferdinand returns to the Boleyn Ground tomorrow.

Brother Rio also wore the claret and blue and both remain close to their first club despite now plying their trade elsewhere.

"I'll never have a bad word to say to anyone about West Ham," Ferdinand told safc.com. "My mum and dad were the key to my home life and West Ham were the key to my footballing life.

"Not only did I play for the club, I watched them from the stands with the fans when I was younger, so I've seen the game from their point of view.

"I always look out for West Ham's results first after my own games and I always will."