The Academy of Football, or just The Academy, is a nickname of the English football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 club West Ham United

West Ham United F.C.

West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...

.

The title pays homage to the success of the club in coaching talented young players

Youth system

Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...

. 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

Boleyn Ground

The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...

.

The original tribute intended to reference the entire culture of the club, in much the same way as the Liverpool "Boot Room"

The Boot Room

The Liverpool Boot Room was a room at Anfield, home of Liverpool F.C., during the 1960s - early 1990s where the coaching staff would sit, drink whisky and discuss the team, tactics and ways of defeating the next opposing side....

. It was not solely reserved for the education of young players but for also the development of a modern approach to football from the roots up, as inspired by the success of the Hungarian national team featuring Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc Puskás

Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...

 that had humiliated England 6–3 and the great Real Madrid

Real Madrid

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...

 side of the late 1950s that dominated the European Cup.

History

The 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

Ted Fenton

Edward "Ted" Fenton was manager of English football club West Ham United between 1950 and 1961.- West Ham United :...

 and the club was noted for its reliance on home grown talent with Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore

Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...

, Martin Peters

Martin Peters

Martin Stanford Peters, MBE is a former football player and member of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup as well as playing in the 1970 FIFA World Cup....

, Geoff Hurst

Geoff Hurst

Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. He made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West...

, John Lyall

John Lyall

John Angus Lyall was an English footballer and manager of Scottish descent. His mother, Catherine, was from the Isle of Lewis, his father, James, was from Kirriemuir. He was born in Ilford, Essex.- Youth team career :...

, Ronnie Boyce

Ronnie Boyce

Ronnie Boyce is a former footballer who played his entire footballing career for West Ham United, going on to make 282 Football League appearances for them.-Career:...

, John Sissons

John Sissons (footballer)

John Sissons is an English former footballer who played for West Ham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Chelsea....

, Alan Sealey

Alan Sealey

Alan William Sealey was an English football player. Sealey, an outside right, initially played for Leyton Orient in 1960, before moving to West Ham United, in a player exchange for Dave Dunmore, where he played from 1961 to 1967.Sealey celebrated getting married in May 1965 just one week before he...

 and Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp

Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....

 all in the first team or periphery. Further foundations had been laid with stalwart Ken Brown

Ken Brown (footballer)

Kenneth 'Ken' Brown is an English former football player and manager. As player, he made more than 400 appearances in the Football League representing West Ham United, where he spent the majority of his career, and Torquay United, and was capped once for the England national team...

 at the back, Malcolm Musgrove

Malcolm Musgrove

Malcolm Musgrove was an English football player and manager.Musgrove played for his local side, Lynemouth Colliery, before being called up for national service, which he served in the Royal Air Force...

 on the left wing (who was to leave in the second season), and the addition of John "Budgie" Byrne

Johnny Byrne (footballer)

John Joseph "Budgie" Byrne was an English professional football player.Johnny started his career playing for Epsom Town, and then Guildford City Youth, before moving to Football League club Crystal Palace, signing a professional contract on his 17th birthday...

 up front.

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

Cassettari's Cafe

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

John Dick (1930-2000)

John Dick was a Scottish footballer.-Career:Born in Glasgow, he became a prolific goalscorer and became the first West Ham United player to play for the Scottish national team. He joined West Ham from Crittall Athletic while on National Service. Between 1953 and 1962, Dick made 364 appearances...

 and Malcolm Allison

Malcolm Allison

Malcolm Alexander Allison was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.Allison's managerial potential become...

. Other players of the day included John Bond

John Bond (footballer)

John Frederick Bond is an English former professional football player and manager. His son Kevin Bond is also a former footballer.-Playing career:...

, Dave Sexton

Dave Sexton

David "Dave" Sexton OBE is an English former football manager and player.-Playing career:Son of former professional boxer Archie Sexton, he started his playing career with West Ham United in 1948. Playing mainly at inside-forward, he would finish his career with time at Luton Town, Leyton Orient,...

, Jimmy Andrews

Jimmy Andrews

Jimmy Andrews is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left winger.-Career:Andrews was signed by English club West Ham United from Dundee in November 1951 for £4,750. He played his first game for the club on 24 November 1951, against Everton. His final game for West Ham came against...

 and Frank O'Farrell

Frank O'Farrell

Francis 'Frank' O'Farrell is an Irish former football player and manager.-Early:Frank O'Farrell started his playing career with Cork United, but followed his former Cork teammate, Tommy Moroney to West Ham United in January 1948. A quietly spoken, but nonetheless determined and talented wing-half,...

 (later swapped for Eddie Lewis

Eddie Lewis (English footballer)

Edward "Eddie" Lewis was an English footballer who played as a centre-forward and later as a full-back. Born in Manchester, he played for Goslings before joining the now-famous Manchester United Junior Athletic Club...

) and Tommy Moroney

Tommy Moroney

Tommy Moroney is a former Irish soccer and rugby union player. Moroney played soccer for Cork United, West Ham United, Evergreen United and Ireland. In 1949 he was a member of the Ireland team that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home...

 all part of an original 'Cafe Cassettari' club started by Fenton as a result of the restrictive budget.
Cafe Cassettari 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. The tradition of mentorship and lasted long into the 60's even after Fenton had moved on and saw future managers John Lyall

John Lyall

John Angus Lyall was an English footballer and manager of Scottish descent. His mother, Catherine, was from the Isle of Lewis, his father, James, was from Kirriemuir. He was born in Ilford, Essex.- Youth team career :...

 and Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp

Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....

 pass through.

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 50's led by Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc Puskás

Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...

 and the Casseteri program and development of the academy were at the core. Ernie Gregory said (of the 50's 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". 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. 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. The Academy also involved, beyond the routine training and development of the youth and squad, actual tactical discussions between the players.

History – continued

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

Bobby Moore

Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...

 who debuted in 1962, Geoff Hurst

Geoff Hurst

Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. He made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West...

 and Martin Peters

Martin Peters

Martin Stanford Peters, MBE is a former football player and member of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup as well as playing in the 1970 FIFA World Cup....

.

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

Pelé

However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...

 as the "greatest" of all the defenders he had played against.

In the World Cup final against West Germany

Germany national football team

The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....

 in which England won 4–2, Hurst scored the only hat-trick

Hat-trick

A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...

 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

Tongue-in-cheek

Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...

 terrace chant

Football chant

A football chant or terrace chant, is a song or chant sung at association football matches. They can be historic, dating back to the formation of the club, adaptations of popular songs, or spontaneous reactions to events on the pitch. They are one of the last remaining sources of an oral folk song...

:

I remember Wembley

Wembley Stadium

The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...

,

When West Ham beat West Germany.

Peters one and Geoffrey three,

And Bobby got his OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

!

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

Boleyn Ground

The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...

.

During the next thirty years West Ham's youth academy produced many professional players. Notable Academy "graduates" during this time include Frank Lampard Sr.

Frank Lampard Sr.

Frank Richard George Lampard is a former English football player.Lampard was born to Frank Richard Lampard and Hilda D. Stiles . He has a sister Gwendoline, who is a year younger than himself...

 and (later Sir) Trevor Brooking

Trevor Brooking

Sir Trevor David Brooking CBE is a football player turned manager, on-air analyst, and administrator.Brooking attended Ripple Infants School and left Ilford County High School with 11 O-levels and 2 A-levels....

, who both featured in the club's 1975 FA Cup

FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

 win with a team composed solely of English players; no club since has repeated this accomplishment.

Paul Ince

Paul Ince

Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...

 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

Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

.

In 1996, the reputation of the Academy began a fresh revival with the arrival of Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...

 and Frank Lampard Jnr

Frank Lampard

Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...

. That year, the West Ham youth team reached the FA Youth Cup Final, losing to a Liverpool side inspired by Michael Owen

Michael Owen

Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...

. However, both Ferdinand and Lampard would see success in subsequent years.

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

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...

. Ferdinand and Carrick played against Lampard and Cole when Manchester United met Chelsea at the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final

2008 UEFA Champions League Final

The 2008 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place on Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 20:45 CEST . The match was played at the Luzhniki Stadium, in Moscow, Russia, to determine the winner of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League...

.

Recent Academy "graduates" include Glen Johnson, Anton Ferdinand

Anton Ferdinand

Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He is the brother of Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand and the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand and Southend United defender Kane Ferdinand. Like his brother, Anton...

 (younger brother of Rio

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...

), Elliott Ward

Elliott Ward

Elliott Leslie Ward is an English professional footballer currently playing for Norwich City. He signed for the Canaries on a free transfer from Coventry City in May 2010; officially joining them on 1 July....

, Mark Noble, Jack Collison

Jack Collison

Jack David Collison is a Welsh international footballer who plays for West Ham United. Collison is a product of West Ham's youth academy and has quickly progressed from trainee to playing first team football in the Premier League since joining at age sixteen...

 and James Tomkins

James Tomkins (footballer)

James Oliver Charles Tomkins is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team...

.

Since 1973 the Academy has been managed by Tony Carr

Tony Carr

Anthony Carr MBE is an English sports coach, the current Director of Youth Development at the West Ham United football club's youth academy and is recognised as one of the most influential figures in English football. A former graduate of the academy himself, whose footballing career was cut short...

, himself a "graduate" but whose career was cut short by injury.

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

FA Premier League

The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...

 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

Football League Championship

The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...

 in 2005 West Ham have returned to England’s top league. Three Academy "graduates" had been key players in this achievement; Anton Ferdinand

Anton Ferdinand

Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He is the brother of Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand and the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand and Southend United defender Kane Ferdinand. Like his brother, Anton...

, Elliott Ward

Elliott Ward

Elliott Leslie Ward is an English professional footballer currently playing for Norwich City. He signed for the Canaries on a free transfer from Coventry City in May 2010; officially joining them on 1 July....

, and Mark Noble. In the 2007–08

West Ham United F.C. season 2007-08

This 2007–08 season of West Ham United F.C. saw the club compete in the Premier League, where the club finished mid-table in 10th place.- Squad information :-Squad stats:...

 season, manager Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley

Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....

 handed three graduates, Jack Collison

Jack Collison

Jack David Collison is a Welsh international footballer who plays for West Ham United. Collison is a product of West Ham's youth academy and has quickly progressed from trainee to playing first team football in the Premier League since joining at age sixteen...

, James Tomkins

James Tomkins (footballer)

James Oliver Charles Tomkins is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team...

 and Freddie Sears

Freddie Sears

Frederick David "Freddie" Sears is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for West Ham United.-Background:...

, their debuts.

Gianfranco Zola

Gianfranco Zola

Gianfranco Zola, OBE, Ufficiale OMRI is a retired Italian footballer and manager, who most recently managed West Ham United from 2008 to 2010, after having been assistant manager of the Italy U-21 under Pierluigi Casiraghi...

, who previously worked with the Italy U-21's

Italy national under-21 football team

The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...

, 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

Zavon Hines

Zavon Hines is a Jamaican-born, English footballer who currently plays for Championship side Burnley as a striker. Hines was born in Jamaica but has played for England's under-21 team.-West Ham United:...

 and Junior Stanislas

Junior Stanislas

Felix Junior Stanislas , more commonly known as Junior Stanislas is an English footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger in the Championship. He was previously with West Ham United.-West Ham United:...

 have impressed after the August 2009 League Cup match against Millwall where they both scored in a 3–1 win.

West Ham as a "Feeder Club"

A case may be made that West Ham has been a feeder team in recent years, that is, a club that provides quality players to other clubs for profit. Though not a club, the England national team includes various academy apprentices or graduates, including Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...

, Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...

, Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard

Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...

, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe

Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....

.

This reputation probably began with the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Leeds

Leeds United A.F.C.

Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...

 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

Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 for £30 million). This amount is much greater than the club's own spending on players (most of which was financed by the above income), and many of the players are currently finding success with financially stronger clubs such as Chelsea

Chelsea F.C.

Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...

 and Manchester United who are two of four (Arsenal

Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

, Man City

Manchester City F.C.

Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...

) Premiership clubs capable of flexing financial muscle, competing on a different level to most other teams.

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.

"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

Tony Carr

Anthony Carr MBE is an English sports coach, the current Director of Youth Development at the West Ham United football club's youth academy and is recognised as one of the most influential figures in English football. A former graduate of the academy himself, whose footballing career was cut short...

, Director of Youth Development at West Ham 1973–2010, quoted in an interview published by the Daily Telegraph 14 June 2004.

"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

Harry Redknapp

Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....

, 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.

"This next batch of kids won’t go the same way as the last generation – provided we consolidate in the Premiership. We’ve another batch coming through – and it’s important we bring on young players." Terry Brown

Terry Brown (soccer)

Terry Brown is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He was the 1990 MISL Rookie of the Year and was a member of the St. Louis Kutis team which won the 1986 U.S. Open Cup.Brown graduated from Cleveland...

, West Ham United Chairman, quoted in an interview published by The Sun, June 2005.

International capped players

(All Senior Caps for England unless otherwise stated)

• Bobby Moore
  Bobby Moore
  Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
  
  captained West Ham to victories in the 1964 FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   and the 1965 European Cup Winners Cup, then captained England to victory in the 1966 World Cup and to the quarter finals in the 1970 World Cup. He was a key player in both the England and West Ham squads until the early 1970s. The southern stand at Upton Park
  Boleyn Ground
  The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
  
   is named the Bobby Moore stand. Moore was named by Pelé
  Pelé
  However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
  
   as the "greatest" of all the defenders he had played against.

Career: 1958–73

Caps: 108

• Sir Geoff Hurst
  Geoff Hurst
  Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. He made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West...
  
  remains the only player to have scored a hat-trick
  Hat-trick
  A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
  
   in a World Cup final, helping England to victory in this competition in 1966. He was decorated with the MBE
  Order of the British Empire
  The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
  
   in 1977 and knighted in 1998. He played 499 times for West Ham and scored 252 goals for his club.

Career: 1960–72

Caps: 49

• Martin Peters
  Martin Peters
  Martin Stanford Peters, MBE is a former football player and member of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup as well as playing in the 1970 FIFA World Cup....
  
  scored in the 1966 World Cup final and was a regular player for West Ham throughout the 1960s. In 1970 his transfer to Tottenham
  Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
  Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
  
   set a new record at the time of £200,000. With this club he won the League Cup
  Football League Cup
  The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
  
   twice and the UEFA Cup
  UEFA Cup
  The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
  
   once. He played 882 games in his career, scoring 220 goals – a remarkable achievement for a midfielder.

Career: 1962–70

Caps: 67 (includes 34 caps while with Tottenham Hotspur)

• Frank Lampard Sr.
  Frank Lampard Sr.
  Frank Richard George Lampard is a former English football player.Lampard was born to Frank Richard Lampard and Hilda D. Stiles . He has a sister Gwendoline, who is a year younger than himself...
  
  won the FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   twice with West Ham, in 1975 and 1980, and played 660 times for the club.

Career: 1967–85

Caps: 2

• Harry Redknapp
  Harry Redknapp
  Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
  
  , current coach of Tottenham Hotspur
  Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
  Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
  
  , began his playing career at West Ham and went on to make 175 appearances for the first team, playing alongside Bobby Moore. As West Ham manager from 1997–2001, he is widely credited for bringing through one of the finest generation of youth players since the days of Bobby Moore. Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick all got their first team debuts under him.

• Sir Trevor Brooking
  Trevor Brooking
  Sir Trevor David Brooking CBE is a football player turned manager, on-air analyst, and administrator.Brooking attended Ripple Infants School and left Ilford County High School with 11 O-levels and 2 A-levels....
  
  made 636 appearances for West Ham between 1967 and 1984. He won the FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   with the club in 1975 and 1980, scoring the only goal in the 1980 final against Arsenal
  Arsenal F.C.
  Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
  
  . In December 2003, Brooking joined the Football Association
  The Football Association
  The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
  
   as Director of Football Development. He was knighted for his services to sport in 2004.

Career: 1967–84

Caps: 47

• Alan Curbishley
  Alan Curbishley
  Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....
  
  joined West Ham as an apprentice and made his first team debut eight months shy of his eighteenth birthday. He left for Birmingham City
  Birmingham City F.C.
  Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
  
   after only two seasons due to a torrid relationship with manager John Lyall
  John Lyall
  John Angus Lyall was an English footballer and manager of Scottish descent. His mother, Catherine, was from the Isle of Lewis, his father, James, was from Kirriemuir. He was born in Ilford, Essex.- Youth team career :...
  
  . In December 2006, he returned as the new West Ham manager after Alan Pardew
  Alan Pardew
  Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
  
   was sacked but resigned in September 2008 as he was unhappy with the administration's transfer policies.

• Alan Devonshire
  Alan Devonshire
  Alan Devonshire is a retired English footballer and manager of Conference National club Braintree Town. He was a wide midfielder who made his name in the late 1970s playing for West Ham United . He won eight caps for England between 1980 and 1983...
  
  made 358 appearances for West Ham in his career, winning the FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   with the club in 1980.

Career: 1976–90

Caps: 8

• Alvin Martin
  Alvin Martin
  Alvin Edward Martin is a retired English footballer who played as a defender.Playing most of his footballing career for West Ham United he appeared in 598 games for scoring 34 goals...
  
  played 586 times for West Ham and was granted two testimonial
  Testimonial
  In promotion and of advertising, a testimonial or show consists of a written or spoken statement, sometimes from a person figure, sometimes from a private citizen, extolling the virtue of some product. The term "testimonial" most commonly applies to the sales-pitches attributed to ordinary...
  
  s by the club – a very rare honour. He won the FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   with the club in 1980.

Career: 1978–96

Caps: 17

• Tony Cottee
  Tony Cottee
  Anthony Richard "Tony" Cottee is a former football player who now works as a television football commentator...
  
  scored 118 goals in 256 appearances for West Ham, was named PFA Young Player of the Year
  PFA Young Player of the Year
  The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
  
   in 1986 and was transferred to Everton
  Everton F.C.
  Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
  
   two years later for a then-record £2.2 million. Later, he won the League Cup
  Football League Cup
  The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
  
   with Leicester City
  Leicester City F.C.
  Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
  
  . In his entire club career he played for eight clubs (including West Ham in two separate spells), playing 736 games and scoring 307 goals.

Career: 1983–88, 1994–96

Caps: 7 (3 while with West Ham United)

• Paul Ince
  Paul Ince
  Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
  
  played 72 matches with West Ham before an acrimonious transfer to Manchester United
  Manchester United F.C.
  Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
  
   in 1989 for £1 million. Here he became known as "The Guvnor" due to his powerful and dominating presence in midfield. He found great success with the club, winning the Premier League twice, the FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   twice, the Charity Shield
  FA Community Shield
  The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
  
   three times, and the Cup Winners' Cup, the League Cup
  Football League Cup
  The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
  
  , and the European Super Cup
  European Super Cup
  The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
  
   once each. He was a very important player for Manchester United, and made 278 appearances, scoring 28 goals in total, for this club. During this time he became captain of the England squad. After leaving Manchester United he went on to a successful career with Internazionale, Liverpool
  Liverpool F.C.
  Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
  
  , Middlesbrough
  Middlesbrough F.C.
  Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
  
  , and Wolverhampton Wanderers
  Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
  Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
  
  .

Career: 1986– 2007

Caps: 53 (None with West Ham United)

• Rio Ferdinand
  Rio Ferdinand
  Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
  
  signed as a 14 year-old by West Ham, completing a 2-year YTS contract before signing, professionally, aged 17 in 1996 He gained his first international cap in 1998, and in 2000 became the most expensive defender in England following his £18 million transfer to Leeds. He became captain of the club in 2001 and in 2002 was transferred to Manchester United for £30 million. This transfer made him the most expensive British footballer in history, and the most expensive defender in the world.

Career: 1996–

Caps: 72 (29 caps while with West Ham United)

• Frank Lampard Jr.
  Frank Lampard
  Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...
  
  gained his full England debut in 1999, and was transferred to Chelsea
  Chelsea F.C.
  Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
  
   in acrimonious circumstances in 2001, for a fee of £11.5 million. He was voted Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for 2004/2005, and is currently first choice central midfielder for Chelsea and England.

Career: 1995–

Caps: 67 (2 caps while with West Ham United)

• Joe Cole was widely hailed as having potential to be among England's greatest footballing talents while with West Ham, but did not see the success with club or country that many expected due to injuries. He was transferred to Chelsea for approximately £7 million in 2003. Despite almost being loaned to Spartak Moscow
  FC Spartak Moscow
  FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
  
  , he fought for a place at his new club and has since become a regular player for Chelsea and England. He has since been sold to Liverpool.

Career: 1998–

Caps: 53 (10 caps while with West Ham United)

• Michael Carrick
  Michael Carrick
  Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
  
  signed as a youth team player by West Ham in 1998 before making his senior debut in 1999. He had 5 seasons with West Ham before being transferred to Tottenham
  Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
  Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
  
   and became a regular player in that side also, before a big-money move to Manchester United in July 2006 where he has established himself as a regular.

Career: 1998–

Caps: 15 (2 caps while with West Ham United)

• Jermain Defoe
  Jermain Defoe
  Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
  
  started his career with Charlton Athletic
  Charlton Athletic F.C.
  Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
  
  . He did not make any appearances for Charlton and was signed as a youth team player by West Ham in July 1999 at age 16. Here he was considered an excellent young talent and a natural goalscorer. In 2003, he was transferred to Tottenham
  Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
  Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
  
   for £7 million. He is a regular for his club and in the England squad.

Career: 2000–

Caps: 32 (None with West Ham United)

• Glen Johnson was sold to Chelsea for £6 million after only 17 West Ham first team appearances. He was first called up for the England squad in November 2003. He never established himself as first choice Right back at Chelsea and was subsequently sold to Portsmouth. At Portsmouth he received regular first team football and established himself as England's current right back of choice. He is now at Liverpool FC.

Career: 2002–

Caps: 11 (None with West Ham United)

Recent "Graduates"

• Anton Ferdinand
  Anton Ferdinand
  Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He is the brother of Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand and the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand and Southend United defender Kane Ferdinand. Like his brother, Anton...
  
  is the younger brother of former graduate Rio Ferdinand
  Rio Ferdinand
  Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
  
   and is a quick and reliable young defender who is calm on the ball. Many consider his partnership with Elliot Ward (see below) to have played an important part in West Ham's promotion in 2005. He was controversially sold to Sunderland in the summer of 2008.

Career: 2004–

Caps: 0

• Elliott Ward
  Elliott Ward
  Elliott Leslie Ward is an English professional footballer currently playing for Norwich City. He signed for the Canaries on a free transfer from Coventry City in May 2010; officially joining them on 1 July....
  
  is a recent graduate. His central defence partnership with Anton Ferdinand (see above) has shown that both players have a great deal of potential. Ward failed to break into the team on a regular basis in the 2005–2006 season and enjoyed a productive loan spell at Plymouth Argyle, leading to Tony Pulis
  Tony Pulis
  Anthony Richard "Tony" Pulis is a Welsh former football player and is currently the manager of Stoke City. Pulis obtained his FA coaching badge at the age of 19, followed by his UEFA 'A' licence aged 21 – making him one of the youngest professional players ever to have obtained the qualification...
  
   attempting to make his short term stay permanent. Ward was transferred to Coventry City for the fee of £1 Million at the end of the 2005–2006 season.

Career: 2004–

Caps: 0

• Mark Noble is another recent graduate and made his debut in January 2005 when West Ham were still in the Championship
  Football League Championship
  The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
  
  . Along with Ferdinand and Ward, he was instrumental in the club's promotion to the Premier League. After two loan spells in 2006, he has established himself in central midfield and is one of the first-choice corners and set-piece takers. More recently he captained the England U-21 team to a runner-up spot at the 2009 UEFA Under-21 Championship
  2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
  The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
  
  .

Career: 2004–

Caps: 0

• Freddie Sears
  Freddie Sears
  Frederick David "Freddie" Sears is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for West Ham United.-Background:...
  
  , another local-born graduate, made his first team debut on 15 March 2008. After coming on as a second-half substitute, he was only on the pitch for a little over 5 minutes before he scored his first goal in a 2–1 win over Blackburn Rovers
  Blackburn Rovers F.C.
  Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
  
  . Since then he has had a number of substitute appearances and just returned from a loan spell. He has been capped at the U-19 and U-21 levels.

Career: 2008–

Caps: 0

• James Tomkins
  James Tomkins (footballer)
  James Oliver Charles Tomkins is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team...
  
  is a graduate who made his first appearance for the 1st team on 22 March 2008. A defender
  Defender (association football)
  Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
  
  , he made his debut in a 1–1 draw, away
  Goodison Park
  Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
  
  , against Everton
  Everton F.C.
  Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
  
  . Due to injury he got an extended run in the first team at the end of the 2007–08. At the beginning of the 08–09 season he went on loan to Derby before returning and gaining another run of games in the claret and blue, playing at centre and occasionally right back. During the second half of the 2008–09 season, he took advantage of the injury crisis and receiving more playing time. In April, he scored his first ever senior goal against Sunderland
  Sunderland A.F.C.
  Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
  
  . He has recently established himself in the England U-21 team.

Career: 2008–

Caps: 0

• Jack Collison
  Jack Collison
  Jack David Collison is a Welsh international footballer who plays for West Ham United. Collison is a product of West Ham's youth academy and has quickly progressed from trainee to playing first team football in the Premier League since joining at age sixteen...
  
  joined the academy as a sixteen-year-old in 2005 and made his first team debut on 1 January 2008, for the injured Fredrik Ljungberg
  Fredrik Ljungberg
  Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
  
   away at Arsenal
  Arsenal F.C.
  Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
  
  . Widely regarded as one of the most talented youth products since Joe Cole
  Joe Cole
  Joseph John "Joe" Cole is an English footballer who plays for Lille, on loan from Liverpool, and the England national football team as midfielder. He started his career with where he played more than 100 games during five years, until he left for Chelsea in 2003...
  
   and Michael Carrick
  Michael Carrick
  Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
  
  , he made his first start in the away game against Bolton
  Bolton Wanderers F.C.
  Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
  
   on 12 April and scored on his home debut in November. A versatile midfielder, he went on to establish himself as first choice, initially in his preferred left wing. After making his Wales U-21 debut in November 2007, he went on to establish himself in the starting line-up and made his senior debut in March. Although a first-choice pick for the senior team, untimely injuries have prevented him from making his full competitive debut.

Career: 2008–

Caps: 6 (For Wales)

• Junior Stanislas
  Junior Stanislas
  Felix Junior Stanislas , more commonly known as Junior Stanislas is an English footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger in the Championship. He was previously with West Ham United.-West Ham United:...
  
  is another youngster who was promoted to the first team for the 2008–09 season. Following a successful loan spell at Southend United
  Southend United F.C.
  Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
  
  , the winger began to feature more regularly for the first team. On 16 March 2009 in a home game against West Bromwich Albion
  West Bromwich Albion F.C.
  West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
  
   he made his debut, coming on as a substitute. He made his first start in the home game against Sunderland
  Sunderland A.F.C.
  Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
  
  , on 4 April 2009, scoring his first senior goal in the claret and blue shirt and also scored the winner against Middlesbrough
  Middlesbrough F.C.
  Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
  
   on the last matchday of the season. After scoring a brace and setting up Zavon Hines
  Zavon Hines
  Zavon Hines is a Jamaican-born, English footballer who currently plays for Championship side Burnley as a striker. Hines was born in Jamaica but has played for England's under-21 team.-West Ham United:...
  
   in the 3–1 win over Millwall in the League Cup, he has featured in the first team on a more regular basis. He has also been capped at the U-19 and U-21 levels for England.

Career: 2009–

Caps: 0

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
  Sol Campbell
  Sulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell is an English footballer who is currently a free agent. A central defender, Campbell has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, as well as the English national team.Born in East London to Jamaican parents, Campbell's...
  
  made his debut at Tottenham Hotspur
  Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
  Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
  
   in 1992, and became a regular England player in the late 1990s. In 2001, when his contract ran out, he joined Arsenal
  Arsenal F.C.
  Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
  
  . Campbell was a regular player for club and country, and has won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup
  FA Cup
  The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
  
   three times while with Arsenal. He was named in the official Euro 2004
  2004 UEFA European Football Championship
  The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2004, was the 12th European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams. It was hosted in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004, following its selection by UEFA, in...
  
   All-Star squad by the UEFA
  UEFA
  The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
  
   technical group.

Career: 1992–

Caps: 65

• John Terry
  John Terry
  John George Terry is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League...
  
  was schooled by both West Ham's and Chelsea
  Chelsea F.C.
  Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
  
  '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
  PFA Players' Player of the Year
  The Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in English football...
  
   in 2005.

Career: 1998–

Caps: 51

• John Lyall
  John Lyall
  John Angus Lyall was an English footballer and manager of Scottish descent. His mother, Catherine, was from the Isle of Lewis, his father, James, was from Kirriemuir. He was born in Ilford, Essex.- Youth team career :...
  
  

• Kieran Richardson
  Kieran Richardson
  Kieran Edward Richardson is an English footballer currently playing for Sunderland. He is naturally a left winger, but has proven to a extremely versatile; having also played as a left back, right winger, central midfielder and recently as a support striker...
  
  started with the West Ham youth academy but was picked up by Manchester United's youth academy as a teenager. He is now at Sunderland.

• Freddy Eastwood
  Freddy Eastwood
  Freddy Eastwood is an English-born footballer, currently playing for Coventry City. He is a Welsh International, eligible to play for the Wales national football team as his maternal grandfather was born in Llanelli, Wales...
  
  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
  Glenn Roeder
  Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
  
  . After starting out at non-League side Grays Athletic, he eventually worked his way up the league and is now at Championship
  Football League Championship
  The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
  
   side Coventry City
  Coventry City F.C.
  Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
  
  . He is now a Wales international, qualifying through his grandmother.

Career: 2007–

Caps: 7 (For Wales)

• Jlloyd Samuel
  Jlloyd Samuel
  Jlloyd Samuel is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Bolton Wanderers as a defender. He is a Trinidad and Tobago international.-Aston Villa:...
  
  

• Fitz Hall
  Fitz Hall
  Fitz Benjamin Hall is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. He is a central defender who can also play as a central midfielder. His nickname is "One Size" Fitz Hall, a pun on the phrase "one size fits all"...
  
  

• Billy Mehmet
  Billy Mehmet
  Billy Mehmet is an Irish professional football player who plays for Australian A-League club Perth Glory. Born in England, Mehmet is of part English, Irish and Turkish Cypriot descent and has played for the Republic of Ireland U21 team.Mehmet is the youngest ever player to have played in a first...
  
  

• Jimmy Bullard
  Jimmy Bullard
  James Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is a footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town. He played youth football at West Ham before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet in 1998...
  
  

• Mitchell Cole
  Mitchell Cole
  Mitchell James Cole is an English footballer. Cole was forced to retire from professional football in 2011 as a result of a deteriorating heart condition that meant it was dangerous for him to continue playing competitive football....
  
  

Notable graduates (1973–2011)

The West Ham youth system has produced many notable players from the likes of World Cup winners Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore

Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...

 and Geoff Hurst

Geoff Hurst

Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. He made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West...

 to 2008 Champions League

2008 UEFA Champions League Final

The 2008 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place on Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 20:45 CEST . The match was played at the Luzhniki Stadium, in Moscow, Russia, to determine the winner of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League...

 winners Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...

 and Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...

 to players-turned-managers Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp

Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....

 and Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley

Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....

. This is a list of players who have gone to their professional career, playing for West Ham or other clubs.

Current First Team

Jack Collison

Jack Collison

Jack David Collison is a Welsh international footballer who plays for West Ham United. Collison is a product of West Ham's youth academy and has quickly progressed from trainee to playing first team football in the Premier League since joining at age sixteen...

 – Wales international

Mark Noble

Mark Noble

Mark James Noble is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He has played all his youth and first team football for West Ham and made 20 appearances, scoring 3 goals, for the England under-21 team which he captained.Despite his relatively young age, Noble is the longest serving player...

 – England U17/U19/U21 international

Freddie Sears

Freddie Sears

Frederick David "Freddie" Sears is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for West Ham United.-Background:...

 – England U19/U21 international

James Tomkins

James Tomkins (footballer)

James Oliver Charles Tomkins is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team...

 – England U19/U21 international

Full Internationals

Alvin Martin

Alvin Martin

Alvin Edward Martin is a retired English footballer who played as a defender.Playing most of his footballing career for West Ham United he appeared in 598 games for scoring 34 goals...

 – England International

Tony Cottee

Tony Cottee

Anthony Richard "Tony" Cottee is a former football player who now works as a television football commentator...

 – England International

Paul Ince

Paul Ince

Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...

 – England International

Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard

Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...

 – England International

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...

 – England International

Paul Konchesky

Paul Konchesky

Paul Martyn Konchesky is an English footballer who plays as a left back. Currently signed to Leicester City, he has previously played for Charlton, Tottenham, West Ham, Fulham, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, joining his present club in July 2011...

 – England International

Joe Cole

Joe Cole

Joseph John "Joe" Cole is an English footballer who plays for Lille, on loan from Liverpool, and the England national football team as midfielder. He started his career with where he played more than 100 games during five years, until he left for Chelsea in 2003...

 – England International

John Terry

John Terry

John George Terry is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League...

 – England International

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...

 – England International

Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe

Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....

 – England International

Kieran Richardson

Kieran Richardson

Kieran Edward Richardson is an English footballer currently playing for Sunderland. He is naturally a left winger, but has proven to a extremely versatile; having also played as a left back, right winger, central midfielder and recently as a support striker...

 – England International

Glen Johnson – England International

Matt Holland

Matt Holland

Matthew Rhys "Matt" Holland is a former English-born Irish footballer, who represented Republic of Ireland at international level...

 – Rep of Ireland International

Ray Houghton

Ray Houghton

Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...

 – Rep of Ireland International

Richard Garcia

Richard Garcia

Richard Garcia is an Australian association football player who plays for Hull City and internationally for Australia as a winger. He has previously played for West Ham United, Leyton Orient and Colchester United...

 – Australia International

Freddy Eastwood

Freddy Eastwood

Freddy Eastwood is an English-born footballer, currently playing for Coventry City. He is a Welsh International, eligible to play for the Wales national football team as his maternal grandfather was born in Llanelli, Wales...

 – Wales International

Kevin Horlock

Kevin Horlock

Kevin Horlock is an English born Northern Irish football player, currently player/assistant manager of Needham Market. Horlock is a former Northern Ireland international and is most associated with Manchester City, for whom he played in three different divisions including the Premier League...

 – Northern Ireland International

Grant McCann

Grant McCann

Grant Samuel McCann is a Northern Irish international footballer who currently plays for Peterborough United who play in The Championship in England where he is the captain.-Club career:...

 – Northern Ireland International

Adam Newton

Adam Newton

Adam Lee Newton is an English-born Saint Kittitian and Nevisian professional footballer, who currently plays for Woking in the Conference South...

 – St Kitts and Nevis International

Chris Coyne

Chris Coyne

Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:...

 – Australia International

Bobby Zamora

Bobby Zamora

Robert Lester "Bobby" Zamora is an English footballer who plays for Fulham and the England national football team. Zamora began his career at Football League club Bristol Rovers, but was soon signed by Brighton & Hove Albion, where he found first team success...

 – England International

English Top Division

Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley

Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....

 – England U21 International

Alan Dickens

Alan Dickens

Alan Dickens is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He played the majority of his football at West Ham United and Chelsea....

 – England U21 International

Anton Ferdinand

Anton Ferdinand

Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He is the brother of Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand and the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand and Southend United defender Kane Ferdinand. Like his brother, Anton...

 – England U21 International

Bobby Barnes

Lee Hodges

Lee Hodges (footballer born 1978)

Lee Hodges is an English footballer who is unattached. A midfielder, Hodges began his career with West Ham United, and went on to play for eight other league clubs, before dropping into non-league football in 2005....

Shaun Byrne

Shaun Byrne

Shaun Byrne is a professional footballer, a former West Ham United player, he was released in 2004 and currently plays for Slough Town F.C.....

 – Rep of Ireland U21 International

Simon Clarke

Eamonn Dolan

Eamonn Dolan

Eamonn Dolan is an Irish-English ex-professional footballer, now working as a coach. Dolan played as a striker, beginning his career with West Ham, before moving on to Birmingham City and then Exeter City...

 – Rep of Ireland U21 International

Geoff Pike

Geoff Pike

Geoff Pike is an English former footballer midfielder.Pike played his early football in Thurrock and later with Gidea Park Rangers. He joined West Ham United in 1975 and was a member of the side that reached the 1975 FA Youth Cup Final. He made his league debut on 6 March 1976 against Birmingham...

 – FA Cup Winner

George Parris

George Parris

George Michael R. Parris is an English former professional footballer.-Background:Parris was born in Barking, Greater London. He played district, county and national football for Redbridge, Greater London and England Under 15 as a schoolboy...

Jimmy Bullard

Jimmy Bullard

James Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is a footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town. He played youth football at West Ham before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet in 1998...

Kevin Keen

Kevin Keen

Kevin Keen is a football coach, manager and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Wycombe Wanderers, West Ham United, Wolves, Stoke City and Macclesfield Town...

Kyel Reid

Kyel Reid

Kyel Romaine Reid is an English footballer who plays for Bradford City in League Two.-West Ham:Born in South London, Reid joined West Ham United in July 2004 and is a product of the West Ham United academy system...

 – England U17/U18/U19 International

Mervyn Day

Mervyn Day

Mervyn Day is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a goalkeeper for West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Luton Town, Sheffield United and Carlisle United. He later managed Carlisle United...

 – FA Cup Winner

Paul Allen

Paul Allen (footballer)

Paul Kevin Allen is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Luton Town, Stoke City, Swindon Town, Bristol City and Millwall in the 1980s and 1990s...

 – FA Cup Winner

Paul Brush

Paul Brush

Paul Brush is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Southend United...

 – FA Cup Winner

Steve Potts

Stuart Slater

Stuart Slater

Stuart Slater is a former professional footballer who played as a winger and forward for West Ham United, Celtic, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Watford. He also represented England at under-21 and B level....

 – England U21/B International

Danny Williamson

Danny Williamson (footballer)

Daniel 'Danny' Williamson is a retired English professional footballer who was a product of the West Ham United academy and played for West Ham United and Everton in the 1990s. He played in midfield.-Background:...

Jlloyd Samuel

Jlloyd Samuel

Jlloyd Samuel is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Bolton Wanderers as a defender. He is a Trinidad and Tobago international.-Aston Villa:...

 – England U21 International

Fitz Hall

Fitz Hall

Fitz Benjamin Hall is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. He is a central defender who can also play as a central midfielder. His nickname is "One Size" Fitz Hall, a pun on the phrase "one size fits all"...

Liam Ridgewell

Liam Ridgewell

Liam Matthew Ridgewell is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He is primarily a centre half but can also play at left back. Previously a player for Birmingham's arch-rivals Aston Villa, Ridgewell also spent a spell on loan at A.F.C. Bournemouth in 2002.-Early...

 – England U19/U21 International

Emmanuel Omoyinmi

Emmanuel Omoyinmi

Emmanuel 'Manny' Omoyinmi is a Nigerian born English former footballer. He also played for England Schoolboys. He began his career at West Ham United, where he was most noted for an incident in which he played in a League Cup quarter-final game when ineligible; West Ham were later knocked out of...

Elliott Ward

Elliott Ward

Elliott Leslie Ward is an English professional footballer currently playing for Norwich City. He signed for the Canaries on a free transfer from Coventry City in May 2010; officially joining them on 1 July....

Everald La Ronde

Everald La Ronde

Everald La Ronde is an English former footballer who played as a defender.La Ronde started his career at West Ham where he was captain of the team which won the 1981 Youth Cup Final. He played only 7 times for West Ham before signing for Bournemouth in September 1983...

Greg Campbell

Keith McPherson

Keith McPherson

Keith McPherson is an English former footballer who played for Northampton Town and Reading amongst other clubs.-Career:...

Matthew Rush

Matthew Rush (footballer)

Matthew James Rush is a former professional footballer. He played as a winger.-West Ham United:Rush signed apprentice forms with West Ham in 1988 and professional forms in March 1990. He made his debut for the first-team as a substitute in a 7–1 win over Hull City in a Second Division match in...

Leon Britton

Leon Britton

Leon James Britton is an English professional football player, who plays for Swansea City following a short lived spell for Sheffield United.- Youth career :...

Zavon Hines

Zavon Hines

Zavon Hines is a Jamaican-born, English footballer who currently plays for Championship side Burnley as a striker. Hines was born in Jamaica but has played for England's under-21 team.-West Ham United:...

 – England U21 international

Junior Stanislas

Junior Stanislas

Felix Junior Stanislas , more commonly known as Junior Stanislas is an English footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger in the Championship. He was previously with West Ham United.-West Ham United:...

 – England U21 international

Hogan Ephraim

Hogan Ephraim

Hogan Phillip Ephraim is an English football player. He plays for Charlton Athletic on loan from Queens Park Rangers. He is a graduate of the West Ham United Academy and an England Under-19 international. His primary position is as a winger but he can also play as a forward.-Background:Ephraim was...

Josh Payne

Josh Payne

Joshua James "Josh" Payne is an English football player who currently plays for Oxford United.-Early life:Payne was born in Basingstoke and grew up there for the first part of his life. He attended Brighton Hill Community College....

English 2nd Tier or Below

Billy Lansdowne Jr

Dale Banton

Lee Boylan

Lee Boylan

Lee Martin Boylan is an English-born Irish footballer who is currently playing for Conference South side Thurrock. He has made over 400 first-team appearances, almost all in the Football Conference....

Scott Canham

Scott Canham

Scott Walter Canham is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Torquay United, Brentford and Leyton Orient. He went on to play for several years in non-League football.-Career:...

Nicky Morgan

Nicky Morgan (footballer)

Nicholas Morgan was a footballer who played in The Football League for Bournemouth, Bristol City, Exeter City, Portsmouth, Stoke City and West Ham United.-Career:...

Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly may refer to:* Paul Kelly , United States criminal and founder of the Five Points Gang* Paul Kelly , US stage and screen actor* Paul Kelly , US soul singer-songwriter...

Paul Marquis

Paul Marquis

Paul Marquis is an English former football defender.Marquis came through the Schoolboy sides of Cheshunt and made 15 appearances for their first team as an eighteen year-old before moving to the youth squad for West Ham United...

Phil Brignull

Phil Brignull

Phil Brignull is a former English football defender. He started his career as a youth team player at West Ham United. An England schoolboy international, he played just one game in all competitions for West Ham before moving to Bournemouth in August 1981...

Simon Livett

Simon Livett

Simon Livett is a former English football midfielder. He started his career at West Ham United, playing four games in all competitions, before making a free transfer to play for Leyton Orient. He also played for Cambridge United, Southend United, Dover and Boston United.-External links:*...

Steve Banks

Steve Banks

Steven "Steve" Banks is an English footballer playing as goalkeeper and is also goalkeeping coach for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United.-Early career:...

Stevland Angus

Stevland Angus

Stevland Dennis Angus , is an English footballer.-Club career:Angus was born in Essex in 1980 and began his career as a trainee with West Ham United, featuring in their 1999 FA Youth Cup win, and turning professional in August 1999...

Trent McClenahan

Trent McClenahan

Trent McClenahan is an Australian football player, currently signed to A-League club Perth Glory on an eight week injury replacement contract....

 – Australia U20/U23 International

Chris Cohen

Chris Cohen

Christopher 'Chris' David Cohen is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Nottingham Forest. Notionally a midfielder, able to operate equally at centre-midfield or left-midfield, he has also been employed for periods as an emergency left-back...

Michael Ferrante

Michael Ferrante

Michael Ferrante is an Australian football player plays for Richmond.-Biography:He attended St. Joseph's College Melbourne from years 1992-1997 being a star week in week out for his school side. He came through the ranks at the Australian Institute of Sport and from there he moved on to the youth...

 – Australia U17/U20 International

Anwar Uddin

Gary Alexander

Gary Alexander (footballer)

Gary George Alexander is an English footballer who plays for League One side Brentford.-Early career:He began his career with West Ham United, but his first taste of first team football came with a loan spell at Exeter City in the 1999–2000 season...

Jamie Victory

Jamie Victory

Jamie Charles Victory is a former English footballer. He played as a defender and was last attached to Cheltenham Town, where he wore the number three shirt and usually acted as a left full back. He was born in Hackney.-Career:...

Joe Widdowson

Joe Widdowson

Joseph "Joe" Widdowson is an English footballer who plays for League One club Rochdale. His primary position is as a left-sided defender.-West Ham United:...

Daryl McMahon

Daryl McMahon

Daryl McMahon is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Conference South side Boreham Wood....

Mark Smith

Mark Smith (footballer born October 1961)

Mark Smith is a former English footballer who played, as a full-back, for West Ham United.-Career:Smith was a product of West Ham's youth system. He played for Newham, Essex and London Boys and was an England Youth trialist before signing for West Ham in October 1979...

Tony Stokes

Tony Stokes

Anthony Ronald "Tony" Stokes is an English footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Concord Rangers in the Isthmian League Premier Division.-Club career:...

Terrell Forbes

Terrell Forbes

Terrell Dishan Forbes is an English professional footballer who plays for Leyton Orient. He was a member of the West Ham United 1999 FA Youth Cup winning team and gained promotion from Division Two with Queens Park Rangers in 2004.-Club career:Forbes was born in Southwark, London in 1981 and began...

Stephen Purches

Stephen Purches

Stephen Robert Purches is an English footballer who plays for Bournemouth.-Club career:Purches is a defender who can play at centre back, midfield or full back on either side. He was previously a trainee at West Ham United but left in 2000 after failing to make a single appearance for the first team...

Billy Mehmet

Billy Mehmet

Billy Mehmet is an Irish professional football player who plays for Australian A-League club Perth Glory. Born in England, Mehmet is of part English, Irish and Turkish Cypriot descent and has played for the Republic of Ireland U21 team.Mehmet is the youngest ever player to have played in a first...

Izzy Iriekpen

Izzy Iriekpen

Izzy Iriekpen is a retired English footballer who played as a defender-West Ham United:Iriekpen joined West Ham United as a trainee in August 1998 and was part of West Ham's Youth Cup winning team of 1999 that included the likes of Michael Carrick and Joe Cole...

Greg Pearson

Greg Pearson

Greg Pearson is an English footballer who plays for Aldershot Town on loan from Burton Albion in League Two.His previous clubs include West Ham United, Rushden & Diamonds, and more recently Bishop's Stortford....

Ryan O'Neill

Ryan O'Neill (Northern Irish footballer)

Ryan O'Neill is a footballer from Northern Ireland who plays as a defender for Dungannon Swifts.He began his career in the youth team at West Ham United and has represented Northern Ireland at under-21 level, and is a cousin of Barnet team-mate Mark Hughes...

David Partridge

David Partridge

David William Partridge is an English-born Welsh professional footballer who plays for Thurrock. He plays as a defender and has won seven caps for Wales...

Lee Goodwin

Lee Goodwin

Lee Goodwin is an English former footballer who played for West Ham United, Dagenham & Redbridge and Grays Athletic as a defender.-Career:...

Oliver Lee

Oliver Lee (footballer)

Oliver Robert "Olly" Lee born is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Ham United.-Club career:Starting as a youth team player with West Ham, Lee signed professionally in 2009. Playing youth and reserve team football with West Ham, Lee signed on loan for Dagenham & Redbridge in...

Anthony Edgar

Anthony Edgar

Anthony James Edgar is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Yeovil Town.-West Ham United:...

Cristian Montaño

Cristian Montaño

Cristian Alexis Montaño Castillo is a footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Dagenham & Redbridge on loan from West Ham United.-Early life:...

Steven Clark

Steven Clark (footballer)

Steven Clark is a footballer who plays as a midfielder.Clark started as a trainee with West Ham United before moving to Southend United in 2002 for £50,000. After a season at the club he signed on for another year in June 2003...

Ahmed Abdulla

Ahmed Abdulla

Ahmed Mohamed Abdulla , is a Saudi Arabian born footballer who plays as a midfielder for Swindon Town in the English League Two on loan from West Ham United.-Early life:...

Jordan Brown

Jordan Brown (English footballer)

Jordan Brown is an English footballer who plays as a left-back for West Ham United.-Early life:He played football as a schoolboy for Kingsdown Rovers in his hometown of Benfleet and was spotted playing in an under-8 team....

Callum McNaughton

Callum McNaughton

Callum James McNaughton born is an English footballer who plays as a defender for AFC Wimbledon on loan from West Ham United.-West Ham United:...

Robert Hall

Robert Hall (footballer)

Robert Kieran Dennis Hall is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Oxford United on loan from West Ham United.-Club career:Hall started with West Ham in 2003 and signed his first professional contract in October 2010...