West Ham United F.C. Under-23s and Academy

The Academy of West Ham United F.C. is recognised as one of the most successful in modern football, hence its nickname the Academy of Football.[2]

West Ham United Under-23s

Full name	West Ham United Football Club (Under-23s)
Nickname(s)	The Irons The Hammers The Academy of Football
Short name	WHU U23s
Ground	Victoria Road, Dagenham, London, England
Capacity	6,078
Owner	David Sullivan (51.1%) David Gold (35.1%) Other Investors (13.8%)[1]
Manager	Dmitri Halajko
League	Premier League 2
2019–20	Premier League 2 Division 2, 1st (promoted)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The introduction of the FA's new Academy system in 1998 has placed even more emphasis on the developing of young homegrown players and today the youth system at West Ham is more important than it has ever been.[3] With the influx of many foreign players in the Premier League during modern times, West Ham United has been regarded as one of the few remaining clubs in top flight to continue producing and playing homegrown English players.

The Under-23 team is the most senior of West Ham's youth squads. The Under-23 team is effectively the club's second-string side, but is limited to three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 23 per game following the introduction of new regulations from the 2012–13 season.[4] They play in Premier League 2 and also compete in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The Academy of Football

"Academy of Football" livery at Upton Park

'The Academy of Football' , or just 'The Academy', is a nickname of West Ham United.[5][6][7] The title pays homage to the success of the club in coaching talented young players.[6][7][8] The title, originally attributed to the club by the press, has since been officially adopted by the club and is displayed in several prominent places around the stadium such as being printed beside the club crest on the artificial surface surrounding the pitch at Upton Park.

The original tribute intended to reference the entire culture of the club, in much the same way as the Liverpool "Boot Room". It was not solely reserved for the education of young players, but also for the development of a modern approach to football from the roots up, as inspired by the success of the Hungarian national team featuring Ferenc Puskás that had humiliated England 6–3, and the great Real Madrid side of the late 1950s that dominated the European Cup.

Academy history

The 'Academy of Football' term was first used in the early years of Ron Greenwood's reign as West Ham manager (1961–1974). Greenwood had inherited a young team of players from Ted Fenton and the club was noted for its reliance on home grown talent with Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, John Lyall, Ronnie Boyce, John Sissons, Alan Sealey and Harry Redknapp all in the first team or periphery. Further foundations had been laid with stalwart Ken Brown at the back, Malcolm Musgrove on the left wing (who was to leave in the second season), and the addition of John "Budgie" Byrne up front.

The true heritage of this side, however, owed its pedigree to the practices put in place by the previous manager.

Fenton was praised as a forward thinking manager. He pushed for the establishment of "The Academy" that brought through a series of young players to augment a side that could not be improved with the limited finances available. Two of the signings he did manage to make were those of John Dick and Malcolm Allison. Other players of the day included John Bond, Dave Sexton, Jimmy Andrews and Frank O'Farrell (later swapped for Eddie Lewis) and Tommy Moroney all part of an original 'Cafe Cassettari' club started by Fenton as a result of the restrictive budget.[9]

There [Cafe Cassettari], Allison would hold court and the players would exchange views on the game and make tactical plans around the dinner table, illustrating their ideas with the use of salt and pepper pots. The culmination of those years of hard work, on and off the field, was the Second Division championship in 1958 – the springboard to great cup successes at a much higher level in the mid-60s ... no one should underestimate the positive influence of Malcolm Allison's earlier role in Hammers' history.

— West Ham Club History, John Hellier[10]

Cassettari's Café sat opposite the Boleyn Ground, and Fenton organised a deal that saw meals and a warm welcome for the players of the club at a price the club could manage. It became a place for routine discussion of the team, and ideas and wisdom freely passed back and forth.[11] The tradition of mentorship lasted long into the 1960s even after Fenton had moved on and saw future managers John Lyall and Harry Redknapp pass through.[10]

Fenton introduced continental ideas to the team, revamping training methods and taking inspiration from higher ranked teams, and even inspiring some. Fenton had been impressed greatly by the all conquering Hungarians of the 1950s led by Ferenc Puskás and the Cassettari program and development of the academy were at the core.[11] Ernie Gregory said (of the 1950s diet) "We'd usually eaten fish or chicken and toast before then, but Dr. Thomas advised us all to eat steak and rice two hours before kick-off. All the other clubs copied us after that".[12] However, not all the changes were strictly down to Fenton, Musgrove attributed much of the training regime to Allison, going so far as to state that once the players were at the club (signed by Fenton) they were pretty much Allisons property.[13] As well as being a student of the game himself, Fenton encouraged all players to take coaching badges and it's notable that many of his former players went on to coaching and managing roles after they retired.[14] The Academy also involved, beyond the routine training and development of the youth and squad, actual tactical discussions between the players.[9]

At this time, three players who had come through the West Ham youth development system were seeing some success in the England squad; they were Bobby Moore who debuted in 1962, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.

In 1966, these players played a part in England's victory in the World Cup.

Moore was the most well-known of the three. He captained the England squad and was later named by Pelé as the "greatest" of all the defenders he had played against.

In the World Cup final against West Germany in which England won 4–2, Hurst scored the only hat-trick ever scored at a World Cup final match, and Peters scored the other goal. This gave rise to the West Ham supporters' partly tongue-in-cheek terrace chant:

I remember Wembley,

When West Ham beat West Germany.
Peters one and Geoffrey three,

And Bobby got his OBE!

A bronze statue of these three players (and Everton defender Ray Wilson) holding the Jules Rimet Trophy aloft was erected in 2003 at the junction of Barking Road and Green Street close to Upton Park.

During the next thirty years West Ham's youth academy produced many professional players. Notable Academy "graduates" during this time include Frank Lampard Sr. and (later Sir) Trevor Brooking, who both featured in the club's 1975 FA Cup win with a team composed solely of English players; no club since has repeated this accomplishment.

Since 1973 the Academy has been managed by Tony Carr, himself a "graduate" but whose career was cut short by injury.

Paul Ince played his first game for West Ham in 1986, and went on to win more trophies than any other Academy "graduate", albeit with Manchester United.

Premier League era

In 1996, the reputation of the Academy began a fresh revival with the arrival of Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard Jnr. That year, the West Ham youth team reached the FA Youth Cup Final, losing to a Liverpool side inspired by Michael Owen. However, both Ferdinand and Lampard would see success in subsequent years.[15][16]

In 1999, the West Ham youth team won the FA Youth Cup, beating Coventry City 9–0 on aggregate. The team featured Joe Cole and Michael Carrick. Ferdinand and Carrick played against Lampard and Cole when Manchester United met Chelsea at the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final.

Recent Academy "graduates" include Glen Johnson, Billy Mehmet, Freddy Eastwood, Anton Ferdinand (younger brother of Rio), Elliott Ward, Mark Noble, Jack Collison and James Tomkins.[17]

Relationship with West Ham United

The Academy is an important part of the club's identity and a regular source of players for the first team. When the club was relegated from the FA Premier League in 2003 the sale of young Academy stars arguably saved the club from financial disaster. It has been argued that if West Ham had kept all of their Academy "graduates" since Rio Ferdinand, they would currently be among the very top English teams.

With their promotion via the Championship Play-Offs in 2005 West Ham have returned to England's top league. Three Academy "graduates" had been key players in this achievement; Anton Ferdinand, Elliott Ward, and Mark Noble. In the 2007–08 season, manager Alan Curbishley handed three graduates, Jack Collison, James Tomkins and Freddie Sears, their debuts.

Gianfranco Zola, who previously worked with the Italy U-21's, stated his desire to continue the club's tradition of using homegrown talent. Noble, Tomkins and Collison all went on to play an important part as West Ham beat relegation to finish 9th in the 2008–09 season. Under him, Zavon Hines and Junior Stanislas have impressed after the August 2009 League Cup match against Millwall where they both scored in a 3–1 win.[18]

West Ham as a 'selling club'

A case may be made that West Ham has been a 'selling club' in recent years, that is, a club that provides quality players to other clubs for profit but does not have the prestige or financial means to keep those players for the benefit of their own team. This reputation probably began with the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Leeds United in 2000. Since then, West Ham have sold six Academy "graduates" for transfer fees totalling over £50 million (including £18 million for Ferdinand, who was later sold on to Manchester United for £30 million).[19] This amount has traditionally been much greater than the club's own spending on players (most of which was financed by the above income), and many of the players found success with financially stronger clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United who are two of the English clubs capable of competing on a different level to most other teams.[20]

Though not a club, the England national team has included various academy apprentices or graduates in recent years, including Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson, as well as John Terry who spent part of his development with the club.[21][22]

Quotes

"The crowds at West Ham have never been rewarded by results but they keep turning up because of the good football they see. Other clubs will suffer from the old bugbear that results count more than anything. This has been the ruination of English soccer." – Ron Greenwood, West Ham manager 1961–1974.[23]

"No way is it all down to me. It's very difficult to say why we've been so successful in youth terms; I suppose it's down to a number of factors but, most importantly, our recruitment area of east London and Essex is really fertile." – Tony Carr, director of Youth Development at West Ham 1973–2010, quoted in an interview published by The Daily Telegraph 14 June 2004.[23]

"Why should we sell Rio Ferdinand? Are we a Premier League club or are we just a feeder club for bigger clubs? If we start selling players like Rio, where is the club going to go?" – Harry Redknapp, West Ham manager 1994–2001.

"The biggest single contributor to the current England national squad is not Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea, but the West Ham Youth Academy." – ITV Football article, 13 September 2004.

Reserve team history

The West Ham United Reserves Team was founded in 1899 as Thames Ironworks Reserves and they changed their name to West Ham Reserves in 1900. They joined London League Division One in the season 1899-00. In 2007–08 they were FA Premier Reserve League Southern Division runners-up on goal difference.[24]

'A' team

Between 1948 and 1956 West Ham entered an 'A' team into the Eastern Counties League.[25] In 1952 they also began playing in the Metropolitan League. After leaving the ECL they remained in the Metropolitan League, winning the League Cup in 1957–58 and the Professional Cup in 1959–60, 1966–67 and 1968–69. They left the league when it merged into the Metropolitan London League in 1971, and instead entered a youth team into the South East Counties League, which they won in 1984–85, 1995–96 and 1997–98, before leaving when the FA Academy system was set up in 1998.[25]

Under-23 team

The West Ham United Reserves competed in the Premier Reserve League South until relegation from the Premier League. The side is now classed as a development squad coached by Dmitri Halajko and Steve Potts. Friendly games were usually played at Chadwell Heath and other clubs training grounds.

Since the 2012–13 season, the team have played in the Professional Development League (now branded Premier League 2) for players under the age of 21 and a restricted number of over age players.[26] Most home matches are played at Dagenham & Redbridge's Victoria Road ground, with three fixtures per season played at the London Stadium.[27][28]

Current squad

Players (excluding scholars) who will qualify as U23s in season 2019–20 and who are outside the first team squad.

As of 09 July 2020[29]

• ^U18 represents an U18 squad player who has represented the U23s in the 2019–20 season.
• ^U16 represents an U16 squad player (a non-scholar) who has represented the U23s in the 2019–20 season.
• ^{1st TEAM} represents an overage first team player, or a first team designated player, that has represented the U23s team in the 2019–20 season.
• Squad numbers represent numbers given to players for first team and EFL Trophy matches only.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 DF  POR Gonçalo Cardoso 32 FW  POR Xande Silva 34 GK  ENG Nathan Trott 36 FW  POR Mésaque Djú 37 MF  ENG Nathan Holland 39 MF  ENG Alfie Lewis 40 FW  ENG Oladapo Afolayan 44 MF  BRA Bernardo Rosa 47 GK  HUN Krisztian Hegyi ^U18 48 MF  ENG Dan Kemp 49 GK  ENG Joseph Anang 53 DF  ENG Ben Johnson 54 MF  IRL Conor Coventry 55 FW  ENG Sean Adarkwa 56 FW  ENG Emmanuel Longelo 58 MF  ENG Kai Corbett ^U18

No. Pos. Nation Player 59 DF  ENG Reece Hannam 61 MF  ENG Kamarai Simon-Swyer ^U18 62 DF  ENG Sam Caiger ^U18 64 DF  ENG Josh Okotcha ^U18 65 MF  ENG Jake Giddings ^U18 66 MF  ENG Keenan Appiah-Forson ^U18 67 MF  ENG Veron Parkes ^U18 68 DF  ENG Will Greenidge ^U18 69 MF  SVK Sebastian Nebyla ^U18 71 MF  ENG Iyiola Adebayo ^U18 72 MF  ENG Daniel Chesters ^U18 73 GK  NGA Daniel Jinadu ^U18 75 DF  ENG Jamal Baptiste ^U16 78 DF  SCO Harrison Ashby ^U18 79 DF  ENG Samuel Nsumbu ^U18 -- DF  ENG Tunji Akinola –– FW  ENG Amadou Diallo ^U18 –– DF  ENG Aji Alese

Under-18 team

The West Ham Under-18s play in the U18 Premier League South. Home games are staged at Little Heath, Hainault Road in Romford, Essex. Tony Carr, a former West Ham player himself, was the youth academy director from 1973 to 2014.[30] They have won the U-19 title twice in 1998–99 and 1999-00, when the Academy League was split into the U-17s and U-21s.[31]

Current squad

As of 31 July 2019[32]

• ^U16 represents an U16 squad player (a non-scholar) who has represented the U18s in the 2019–20 season.
• ^† represents a player who represented the U18s in the 2019–20 season before later leaving the club.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Jacob Knightbridge — GK  NGA Daniel Jinadu — GK  ENG Serine Sanneh — GK  ENG Joshua Roach — DF  ENG Harrison Ashby — DF  ENG Jayden Fevrier — DF  ENG Sonny Perkins — DF  ENG Sam Nsumbu — DF  ENG Brandon Thomas — DF  ENG Junior Robinson — DF  MDA Vlad Sofroni — MF  ENG Iyiola Adebayo — MF  ENG Benicio Boaitey — MF  ENG Archie Woods

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Ros Harvey — MF  ENG Freddie Potts — MF  AUS Kyle McGeachy — MF  ENG Michael Adu — MF  ENG George Earthy — MF  ENG Daniel Chesters — MF  ENG Benjamin Heal — MF  ENG Gael Kileba — MF  ENG Lennon Peake — MF  ENG Divin Mubama — MF  USA Peter Stroud — MF  SVK Christian Veliky — FW  ENG Amadou Diallo — FW  IRL Ademipo Odubeko

Honours

• Premier Academy U19 League: 1999, 2000[31]
• South-East County League: 1985, 1996, 1998[31]
• FA Youth Cup: 1963, 1981, 1999[31]

Notable players

Alongside West Ham's aforementioned representation in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, the club also produced Clyde Best, Ade Coker and Clive Charles through their academy - with the trio making Football League history, by becoming the first three black players to start a game in the competition. Coker second the second in the game against Tottenham Hotspur, on 1 April 1972, securing a 2–0 win for West Ham.[33]

International capped players

Player	Position	West Ham appearances	West Ham goals	International caps	International goals	International representation	Club debut	Manager
Bobby Moore	DF	647	27	108	2	England	Age 17 vs. Manchester United, First Division, 8 September 1958	Ted Fenton
Geoff Hurst	ST	503	249	49	24	England	Age 17 vs. Fulham, Southern Professional Floodlit Cup, 15 December 1958	Ted Fenton
Martin Peters	MF	364	100	67	20	England	Age 18 vs. Cardiff City, First Division, 20 April 1962	Ron Greenwood
Trevor Brooking	MF	643	102	47	5	England	Age 18 vs. Burnley, First Division, 29 August 1967	Ron Greenwood
Frank Lampard Senior	DF	670	22	2	0	England	Age 19 vs. Manchester City, First Division, 18 November 1967	Ron Greenwood
Clyde Best	ST	221	58	2	1	Bermuda	Age 18 vs. Arsenal, First Division, 25 August 1969	Ron Greenwood
Ade Coker	ST	11	3	5	3	United States	Age 17 vs. Crystal Palace, First Division, 30 October 1971	Ron Greenwood
Tony Cottee	ST	336	146	7	0	England	Age 18 vs. Tottenham Hotspur, First Division, 1 January 1983	John Lyall
Paul Ince	MF	95	12	53	2	England	Age 19 vs. Chelsea, Full Members' Cup, 25 November 1986	John Lyall
Frank Lampard	MF	187	38	106	29	England	Age 17 vs. Coventry City, Premier League, 31 January 1996	Harry Redknapp
Rio Ferdinand	DF	158	2	81	3	England	Age 17 vs. Sheffield Wednesday, Premier League, 5 May 1996	Harry Redknapp
Joe Cole	MF	187	18	56	10	England	Age 17 vs. Swansea City, FA Cup, 2 January 1999	Harry Redknapp
Michael Carrick	MF	159	6	34	0	England	Age 17 vs. Jokerit, Intertoto Cup, 2 January 1999	Harry Redknapp

First team graduates since 2000

Since the turn of the century, every permanent first team manager has enabled a player from West Ham's youth teams to represent the first team. The following table shows every player to have made at least one first team appearance in all competitions. Players highlighted in green are still contracted to West Ham.

Player	Position	West Ham appearances	West Ham goals	Current club	Born	International honours	Debut	Manager
Shaun Bryne	DF	3	0	Retired	Taplow	Ireland U21	Age 18 vs. Newcastle United, Premier League, 3 January 2000	Harry Redknapp
Jermain Defoe	ST	105	41	Rangers	Beckton	England	Age 17 vs. Walsall, League Cup, 19 September 2000	Harry Redknapp
Grant McCann	MF	4	0	Hull City (manager)	Belfast	Northern Ireland	Age 21 vs. Middlesbrough, Premier League, 19 May 2001	Glenn Roeder
Richard Garcia	FW	22	0	Retired	Perth	Australia	Age 20 vs. Reading, League Cup, 11 September 2001	Glenn Roeder
Glen Johnson	DF	16	0	Retired	Greenwich	England	Age 18 vs. Charlton Athletic, Premier League, 22 January 2003	Glenn Roeder
Anton Ferdinand	DF	163	5	Free agent	Peckham	England U21	Age 18 vs. Preston North End, Championship, 9 August 2003	Glenn Roeder
Chris Cohen	MF	22	0	Retired	Norwich		Age 16 vs. Sunderland, Championship, 13 December 2003	Alan Pardew
Trent McClenahan	MF	3	0	Rockdale City Suns	Chipping Norton	Australia U23	Age 19 vs. Crewe Alexandra, Championship, 21 August 2004	Alan Pardew
Mark Noble	MF	502	60	West Ham United	Canning Town	England U21	Age 17 vs. Southend United, League Cup, 24 August 2004	Alan Pardew
Elliott Ward	DF	21	0	Chelmsford City	Harrow		Age 19 vs. Southend United, League Cup, 24 August 2004	Alan Pardew
Hogan Ephraim	FW	1	0	Free agent	Archway	England U19	Age 17 vs. Sheffield Wednesday, League Cup, 20 September 2005	Alan Pardew
Tony Stokes	FW	1	0	Grays Athletic	London		Age 18 vs. Sheffield Wednesday, League Cup, 20 September 2005	Alan Pardew
Kyel Reid	FW	9	1	Free agent	Deptford		Age 18 vs. West Bromwich Albion, Premier League, 1 May 2006	Alan Pardew
Jack Collison	MF	121	14	Atlanta United (coach)	Watford	Wales	Age 19 vs. Arsenal, Premier League, 1 January 2008	Alan Curbishley
Freddie Sears	FW	58	3	Ipswich Town	Hornchurch	England U21	Age 18 vs. Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, 15 March 2008	Alan Curbishley
James Tomkins	DF	243	11	Crystal Palace	Basildon	Great Britain	Age 18 vs. Everton, Premier League, 22 March 2008	Alan Curbishley
Zavon Hines	FW	31	3	West Ham United (youth coach)	Kingston	England U21	Age 19 vs. Macclesfield Town, League Cup, 27 August 2008	Alan Curbishley
Junior Stanislas	FW	47	8	AFC Bournemouth	Kidbrooke	England U21	Age 19 vs. West Bromwich Albion, Premier League, 16 March 2009	Gianfranco Zola
Josh Payne	MF	3	0	Free agent	Basingstoke	England C	Age 18 vs. Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, 21 March 2009	Gianfranco Zola
Bondz N'Gala	DF	1	0	Free agent	Forest Gate		Age 20 vs. Bolton Wanderers, League Cup, 22 September 2009	Gianfranco Zola
Anthony Edgar	MF	2	0	Herne Bay	Newham		Age 19 vs. Arsenal, FA Cup, 3 January 2010	Gianfranco Zola
Jordan Spence	DF	10	0	Free agent	Woodford	England U21	Age 19 vs. Manchester City, FA Cup, 9 May 2010	Gianfranco Zola
Marek Štěch	GK	3	0	Luton Town	Prague	Czech Republic	Age 20 vs. Oxford United, League Cup, 24 August 2010	Avram Grant
Callum McNaughton	DF	1	0	Retired	Harlow		Age 19 vs. Aldershot Town, League Cup, 24 August 2011	Sam Allardyce
Dan Potts	DF	13	0	Luton Town	Barking	England U20	Age 17 vs. Barnsley, Championship, 17 December 2011	Sam Allardyce
Robert Hall	FW	7	0	Oxford United	Aylesbury	England U19	Age 18 vs. Derby County, Championship, 31 December 2011	Sam Allardyce
Matthias Fanimo	MF	3	0	Mladost Doboj Kakanj	Lambeth	England U18	Age 18 vs. Crewe Alexandra, League Cup, 28 August 2012	Sam Allardyce
George Moncur	MF	2	0	Luton Town	Swindon	England U18	Age 19 vs. Crewe Alexandra, League Cup, 28 August 2012	Sam Allardyce
Dylan Tombides	ST	1	0		Perth	Australia U23	Age 18 vs. Wigan Athletic, League Cup, 25 September 2012	Sam Allardyce
Elliot Lee	ST	7	1	Luton Town	Durham		Age 18 vs. Manchester United, FA Cup, 16 January 2013	Sam Allardyce
Leo Chambers	DF	3	0	Free agent	Brixton	England U19	Age 18 vs. Cheltenham Town, League Cup, 27 August 2013	Sam Allardyce
Reece Burke	DF	15	1	Hull City	Newham	England U20	Age 17 vs. Nottingham Forest, FA Cup, 5 January 2014	Sam Allardyce
Callum Driver	DF	1	0	Leatherhead	Sidcup		Age 21 vs. Nottingham Forest, FA Cup, 5 January 2014	Sam Allardyce
Sebastian Lletget	MF	1	0	LA Galaxy	San Francisco	United States	Age 20 vs. Nottingham Forest, FA Cup, 5 January 2014	Sam Allardyce
Blair Turgott	MF	1	0	Östersunds	Bromley	England U19	Age 19 vs. Nottingham Forest, FA Cup, 5 January 2014	Sam Allardyce
Josh Cullen	MF	9	0	West Ham United	Westcliff-on-Sea	Ireland	Age 19 vs. Lusitanos, Europa League, 2 July 2015	Slaven Bilić
Reece Oxford	DF	17	0	Augsburg	Edmonton	England U20	Age 16 vs. Lusitanos, Europa League, 2 July 2015	Slaven Bilić
Lewis Page	DF	3	0	Charlton Athletic	Enfield		Age 19 vs. Lusitanos, Europa League, 2 July 2015	Slaven Bilić
Djair Parfitt-Williams	ST	2	0	Rudar Velenje	Hamilton		Age 18 vs. Lusitanos, Europa League, 2 July 2015	Slaven Bilić
Amos Nasha	MF	1	0	East Thurrock United	Finchley		Age 19 vs. Lusitanos, Europa League, 9 July 2015	Slaven Bilić
Jordan Brown	FW	1	0	Cavalry	Brent	England U17	Age 18 vs. Astra Giurgiu, Europa League, 6 August 2015	Slaven Bilić
Kyle Knoyle	DF	1	0	Cambridge United	Newham	England U18	Age 18 vs. Astra Giurgiu, Europa League, 6 August 2015	Slaven Bilić
Marcus Browne	MF	1	0	Middlesbrough	London		Age 18 vs. Astra Giurgiu, Europa League, 18 August 2016	Slaven Bilić
Declan Rice	MF	110	3	West Ham United	Kingston upon Thames	England	Age 18 vs. Burnley, Premier League, 21 May 2017	Slaven Bilić
Conor Coventry	MF	2	0	West Ham United	Waltham Forest	Ireland U21	Age 18 vs. Macclesfield Town, League Cup, 26 August 2018	Manuel Pellegrini
Grady Diangana	MF	21	2	West Ham United	Democratic Republic of Congo	England U21	Age 20 vs. Macclesfield Town, League Cup, 26 August 2018	Manuel Pellegrini
Joe Powell	MF	1	0	Burton Albion	Canning Town		Age 19 vs. Macclesfield Town, League Cup, 26 August 2018	Manuel Pellegrini
Ben Johnson	DF	4	0	West Ham United	Waltham Forest		Age 19 vs. Manchester City, Premier League, 27 February 2019	Manuel Pellegrini
Jeremy Ngakia	DF	5	0	Watford[34]	Deptford		Age 19 vs. Liverpool, Premier League, 29 January 2020	David Moyes

Other players

These players either trained at the Academy but never played for West Ham first team or trained at multiple clubs in their youth.

• Sol Campbell made his debut at Tottenham Hotspur in 1992, and became a regular England player in the late 1990s. In 2001, when his contract ran out, he joined Arsenal. Campbell was a regular player for club and country, and has won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup three times while with Arsenal. He was named in the official Euro 2004 All-Star squad by the UEFA technical group.

Career: 1992–

Caps: 73

• John Terry was schooled by both West Ham's and Chelsea's youth teams at different times. His debut for Chelsea was in 1998 and became captain of the side in the 2003/2004 season. The following season he helped Chelsea set a new record, the side having conceded only 14 goals in the entire league season. He was also voted PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2005.

Career: 1998–

Caps: 72

• John Lyall
• Kieran Richardson started with the West Ham youth academy but was picked up by Manchester United's youth academy as a teenager. He is now at Fulham.

Career: 2002–

Caps: 8

• Freddy Eastwood was previously a trainee at Southend United but moved to the West Ham Academy at age 15. He was unable to break into the first team and was released by then-manager Glenn Roeder. After starting out at non-League side Grays Athletic, he eventually worked his way up the league and is now at Championship side Coventry City. He is now a Wales international, qualifying through his grandmother.

Career: 2003–

Caps: 11 (For Wales)

• Jlloyd Samuel
• Fitz Hall
• Billy Mehmet was signed at the age of 8 years old and remained at the club until he was 19 years of age. He then transferred to Dunfermline Athletic in the SPL, before moving onto St Mirren. During his time at West Ham, Mehmet was given his debut by Harry Redknapp at the age of 16 during a testimonial game. Mehmet was seen as the academies next promising graduate and was rewarded by being handed the captaincy of the reserve and youth team. Mehmet was released by the club at 19 years old by the then manager Glenn Roeder after the club was relegated.
• Jimmy Bullard
• Mitchell Cole

English top division

Alan Curbishley – England U21 International Alan Dickens – England U21 International Anton Ferdinand – England U21 International Bobby Barnes Lee Hodges Shaun Byrne – Rep of Ireland U21 International Simon Clarke Eamonn Dolan – Rep of Ireland U21 International Geoff Pike – FA Cup Winner George Parris Jimmy Bullard Kevin Keen

Kyel Reid – England U17/U18/U19 International Mervyn Day – FA Cup Winner Paul Allen – FA Cup Winner Paul Brush – FA Cup Winner Steve Potts Stuart Slater – England U21/B International Danny Williamson Jlloyd Samuel – England U21 International Fitz Hall Liam Ridgewell – England U19/U21 International Emmanuel Omoyinmi Elliott Ward

Everald La Ronde Greg Campbell Keith McPherson Matthew Rush Leon Britton Junior Stanislas – England U21 international Freddie Sears – England U19/U21 international James Tomkins – England U19/U21 international Grady Diangana – England U19/U21 international

English 2nd tier or below

Billy Lansdowne Dale Banton Lee Boylan Scott Canham Nicky Morgan Paul Kelly Paul Marquis Phil Brignull Simon Livett Steve Banks Stevland Angus Trent McClenahan – Australia U20/U23 International Chris Cohen Michael Ferrante – Australia U17/U20 International

Anwar Uddin Gary Alexander Jamie Victory Joe Widdowson Daryl McMahon Mark Smith Tony Stokes Terrell Forbes Stephen Purches Billy Mehmet Izzy Iriekpen Greg Pearson Ryan O'Neill David Partridge Lee Goodwin Olly Lee

Anthony Edgar Cristian Montaño Steven Clark Ahmed Abdulla Jordan Brown Callum McNaughton Robert Hall Dan Potts Callum Driver Eoin Wearen George Moncur Matthias Fanimo Dylan Tombides Sam Cowler Blair Turgott

Paul McCallum Dominic Vose Leo Chambers Pelly Ruddock Sebastian Lletget Reece Burke Jamie Harney Hogan Ephraim Zavon Hines Josh Payne Anthony Scully

References

1. "ownership West Ham United". whufc corporate information. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
2. West Ham, USL develop partnership USL Soccer
3. West Ham United Academy – History West Ham United FC
4. "Barclays U21 Premier League: Competition Format explained". premierleague.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
5. "Sky Sports profile". Skysports.co.uk.
6. "London Net Club profile". Londonnet.co.uk.
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External links

• Why is West Ham's academy providing diminishing returns? – These Football Times (2017)