Exclusive: “Westley’s wonders” ready for take-off
West Ham’s academy director Terry Westley is making a pretty fair fist of following the legend that was Tony Carr!
Once dubbed the Academy of Football when Carr was in charge, not many would have backed the likeable and passionate Westley to start challenging for heroic status of his own when succeeding the great man.
There’s a way to go for him but Westley is seeing the fruits of his work start to appear with the arrival of the hugely impressive Declan Rice into the first team.
And at the weekend another academy product, Josh Cullen, was named as “probably our best player” by David Moyes in the less than average FA Cup Tie at Shrewsbury.
Striker Toni Martinez came off the bench to play a part whilst Quina, Martin Samuelsen, Vashon Neufville, Moses Makasi and Sead Haksabanovic were all part of the squad.
The 58 year old Ipswich-born Westley is slow to take credit for a rebirth in academy fortunes which in reality is entirely down to him and his coaching staff.
But his pride is evident as great kids emerge after the academy entered a 10 year wilderness following Mark Noble and James Tomkins’ first team arrivals.
When one recalls that in England’s 2010 World Cup squad Carr and his team were responsible for the training of no less than six internationals – Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson, Terry can’t be accused of exaggeration.
But he has his own history to carve out and Declan Rice is leading the way with a series of displays that have Hammers fans justifiably boasting of the academy once again.
Westley said: “He’s so level headed and listens to absolutely everything he’s told. He’s a terrific prospect but his mentality is as important as his ability.
“He had to get himself right up for the game against Spurs where he was terrific but then comes Shrewsbury and where some might relax, Declan knew he had to be careful and guard against that.
“The outcome was that he produced a great performance down the left side which certainly isn’t his natural position. He’s a great lad and is a real listener. It’s sometimes easy for youngsters to be forgotten by managers if they give an average performance.
“I have preached at all of them they must be right on it every time the opportunity comes along and Declan has now established himself in the first team squad as a result.”
Twenty-one-year old Southend born midfielder Josh Cullen is another who has listened to the academy boss’ mantra and had no hesitation in returning to the east end from a Bolton loan when manager David Moyes decided he wanted to take a look at him and Reece Burke.
Westley said: “He’s Hammers mad along with all his family and he couldn’t get back fast enough. He did really well against Shrewsbury and is aiming to ensure the manager has a decision to make.”
Cullen lost two teeth to a high boot but after changing his bloodied shorts and returning he continued to show the passion which will have the Irons fans puffing out their “he’s one of ours” chests.
Said Westley: “He can go back to Bolton at the end of the month or stay with us. Personally I hope he gets his chance to stay around the first team here – we’ll see!
“If you remember he was very good in the prestige friendly we played against Juventus to open the London Stadium. He’s a prospect.”
Defender Reece Burke too impressed despite, like Rice, being out of position against Shrews and will no doubt get another chance in the replay next Tuesday.
And injured right winger Nathan Holland is another who was a close to the first team squad as it gets before a training ground injury ruled him out until next month,
Said Westley: “I’m sure he would have had games by now had that not happened. Great young player who has it all before him.”
Westley is transforming the club at the grass roots and should take enormous credit although it remans a work in progress.
No doubt some bright spark somewhere will soon be talking about “Westley’s Wonders.”
Let me be the first !