West Ham Academy Visit

CCC attended West Ham’s academy this weekend to observe their U18s fixture with Norwich City featuring CCC client Oser Okpiabhele.

West Ham’s academy has Category One status and a long-standing reputation for producing elite players who have gone on to succeed at the very top of the game including Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole.

One of the most notable recent graduates is Declan Rice, who joined the club’s academy as a teenager after being released by Chelsea. Rice made over 200 first-team appearances, often playing in centre midfield alongside another academy graduate and then club captain, Mark Noble. 

Rice succeeded Noble as captain before moving to Arsenal in 2023 for approximately £105 million. Mark Noble is now West Ham’s Sporting Director.

More recently, Freddie Potts has impressed supporters in midfield during a difficult season for the Hammers. 

In 2022 the club reached a Europa League semi-final before winning the Europa Conference League in 2023.

However, West Ham are enduring a difficult season and are currently in the relegation zone. Relegation to The Championship would have significant sporting and financial consequences.

Should relegation occur, the club may need to prioritise sales of senior players and place more emphasis on promoting academy talent into the first team once again.