Inside the Academy

The Hopes, Highs and Heartbreaks of West Ham United's Youth

Paul Brand author Callum McNaughton author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Pitch Publishing Ltd

Published:13th May '24

Should be back in stock very soon

Inside the Academy cover

Inside the Academy tells the stories of a talented set of footballers spanning a quarter-century, exploring childhood aspirations and what became of them. It lifts the lid on teenage training grounds and what it takes to even come close to being a Premier League player.

From Bobby Moore to Declan Rice, West Ham United has a proud history of cultivating young talent. Yet their 2023 FA Youth Cup triumph came against a backdrop of complaints about congested pathways to first-team football and inflated pay packets quelling ambition. These concerns are not unique to West Ham; they are symptomatic of the modern game.

This book offers an insight into what life as a young footballer is really like, via interviews with people who've lived and breathed the game over the past 25 years. It's a must-read for anyone who wonders why child prodigies don't always become professionals and what happens to those who don't make it to the top.

ISBN: 9781801509794

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

256 pages