CandH’s exclusive blogger and former academy director Terry Westley has seen his former  protegee Declan Rice rise to the pinnacle of national attention over the last week following a brilliant international performance. Here he speaks of a man who has had – and continues to gave – a huge influence on the Hammers crown jewel.

Terry is talking to Hughie Southon

I know people tend to see me as the major influence on Ddclan’s career but I think it’s only right to make them aware of another individual at the club who is responsible for helping him become the player we now see.

Mark mentored Declan – we owe the man

Mark has been up and down to the academy during his career and obviously saw what we all saw in the young man – a huge talent in which he played a part developing.

Hos encouragement and advice to him  on and off the pitch  has been superb, showing himself to be what we always have known –  a man with the club and its future totally in his heart.

That Declan is now such a major name at the club and nationally is as much down to Mark as it is to any of us who oversaw his progress in the academy.

Mark has another year before he pulls the curtain  down and I’m sure one of his major contributions will be to ensure that we have our next captain well and truly developed  after bringing him this far.

Make no mistake Mark Noble will have a colossal effect on his and he future of many other youngsters at west Ham.

How lucky are we to have him !