Overview

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.

Full Product Details

9781801509794

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Paul Brand has been a West Ham fan since the age of six. Some of the hopes, highs and heartbreaks of merely following the team are documented in his previous book, Fortune's Always Hiding: From Stratford to Seville (2023). Callum McNaughton is a former player who joined West Ham in his early teens, made his debut in 2011 and had a career in the lower leagues before settling down to a new life in America.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available