West Ham Women launch Player Development Pathway

West Ham United have announced a new, structured route for aspiring young women to go from grassroots football to the top of the game and into the West Ham United women’s academy.

The women’s Player Development Pathway replicates the hugely successful model which the West Ham United Foundation runs for the men’s game, to progress young players into the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath.

Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and most recently Declan Rice, are some of the first-team stars who have been produced using this model in the Premier League era.

Jack Sullivan, Managing Director of West Ham United women’s team said:

“This new pathway gives us the basis for developing girls footballers from grassroots levels and getting them into the first team.

“As the sport grows, we need to offer a structured way for girls to develop their skills, and ensure that whatever their age or ability, they have the best chance to progress to their potential.

“With our first team competing in the WSL, ensuring the Academy of Football is producing the next generation of women’s superstars is vitally important to the Club.”

WHU Foundation Women’s Performance Academy and Development squads are the two new steps in the Pathway which will help to provide an increased amount of opportunities for girls and young women of all abilities.

The Youth Academy consists of U10 to U16 squads with up to 18 players per team. Around 400 girls tried out for the Youth Academy last year, and similar numbers are expected in 2019.

Girls that are unsuccessful in that trial will now go into the Performance Academy or Development Squads, ensuring that West Ham United continues to monitor trialists progress as they get older and develop as footballers.

Run by West Ham United Foundation, in conjunction with the women’s first team management, women’s Development Squads and a separate Performance Academy will now offer more intensive training at least once a week and bridge the gap between grassroots and academy football. At least 140 girls will be part of these teams.

Myles Smith, Head of West Ham United women’s Youth Academy said:

“The addition of two new steps into our restructured women’s Player Development Pathway is an exciting move forward, both for West Ham United and aspiring women’s players in our community.

“This restructure is the next step in building what I am sure will be a successful route from grassroots football to the FA Women’s Super League with West Ham for young girls from our local community and beyond.”

West Ham United women’s Youth Academy are holding trials on Sunday 2 June, and throughout May half-term, soccer school are being run for girls who want to get into football. For more information visit soccerschools.whufc.com.

Young girls in the academy have brilliant role models to look up to in the senior women’s team who will compete against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday 4 May.