It’s been a long long time since West Ham could be proud of it’s academy!
Some of us grew up in the days when the club could genuinely lay claim to the title of ‘Academy of Football’ but that was a long long time ago when football could claim to be truly community rather than corporate.
Ok, so no history lessons from the good old days – boring.
Instead lets take a look at what’s been going on over the last two years or so of academy boss Terry Westley’s reign and how pleasant it is to take real pride in our kids again.
That so many forum arguments have been going on about the likes of Quina, Oxford, Martinez, Rice, Holland, Samuelsen and Haksabanovich tells us much.
How long has it been since we’ve have been able to name so many outstanding prospects at that level of the club.
There has been a genuine “play ’em now brigade ” regularly making their voices heard and David Moyes hasn’t been slow to bring them into the squad.
Rice in particular looks nailed-on to become a regular over the next 12 months and but for the unluckiest of injuries Nathan Holland too would have been wowing us at first team level already.
The credit for all of this – along with the under 23s promotion – goes to Westley…a guy who at one time was in the frame to take over the first team.
Instead he remains at the helm of the academy set up and long may it continue following his decision to sign a new deal.
I for one am grateful that the academy is not only back on its feet but thriving for the first time in many years.
It may not have been the greatest season for the first time but with the new manager looking after that and Westley and his team producing some terrific youngsters, West Ham’s future looks bright this Christmas.
COYI
Don’t forget Josh Cullen and Reece Burke
Good point Tony, they are certainly top prospects and look set for a future in the game, it is noticeable since Holland got injured how the results have tailed off in the u23’s, wish him well in his recovery for me he is just as certain as Rice to become a first team regular more so than Quina imho and Moses Makasi aswell as Ben Johnson are others who look to have a bit about them, to be honest the list could be a lot longer which is great news.
also they miss Josh Pask ( injured ), and Rice. They have been very unlucky this season.
Of those mentioned in Hugh’s piece, almost all were aquired from other clubs academies, which shows the strength of our scouting at that level. I’m sure that is the key to our revival at that level. Hopefully local boys like Burke and Cullen will be showing up more in the future.
Ah , the good old days ; what we wouldn’t give to see them return to West Ham .
We have definitely improved and with a bunch of talented youngsters in the pipe there is real optimism for the future . But for right now let’s concentrate on surviving the Premiership.
Well done to Westley & His team at the Academy .
COYHAMMERS .