West Ham United are famous for their academy roots and it seems to be in rude health of late.
Yes the Hammers may be the self-styled Academy of Football but it is with good reason.
The club has a long and proud history of producing top professional footballers who have gone on to represent their country, none more famous than World Cup winning trio Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
Under Sam Allardyce in recent years the conveyor belt of talent seemed to have stopped.
Many supporters blamed the manager for failing to develop the club’s promising talents into first team players.
That looked to have changed when he was replaced by Slaven Bilic, who memorably made 16-year-old Reece Oxford the club’s youngest ever player.
Pellegrini embracing West Ham’s academy roots
But that was to prove a false dawn, though, as Bilic rarely used him thereafter.
Things seem to have changed for the academy under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.
The Chilean has proved he is keen to promote youth and it is already paying dividends.
Young defender Issa Diop was signed for £22.5 million in the summer and is one of the first names on the teamsheet alongside fellow youngster Declan Rice.
Pellegrini has also brought through young Grady Diangana this season. And youth striker Xande Silva was drafted into the squad for the win at Fulham last time out.
Bodes well for emerging Browne
That bodes well for another red hot youngster emerging from the academy, Marcus Browne.
The fleet-footed attacker has been in sensational form on loan at Oxford United.
His performances even caught the eye of one of West Ham’s most famous and successful academy graduates Rio Ferdinand.
Commenting on a video of one of Browne’s recent performances, Ferdinand tweeted: “Just seen the clips of Marcus Browne on loan from West Ham for Oxford, (on fire).”
And now Browne’s link to Ferdinand has been explained, by the youngster himself.
Rio Ferdinand link explained
“Rio knows my agent really well, so we work closely,” Browne told the Oxford Mail.
“We’re in constant conversation about how I’m doing and he gives me advice.
“We do message each other and chat to make sure I’m keeping my head down and staying focused.
“He’s a person with a lot of experience, so when people like that try to help then you can’t do anything but listen and take it on board. It does help.”
Browne couldn’t wish for a better mentor
Who better for Browne to learn from than one of West Ham’s finest.
Rio himself was loaned out to Bournemouth before being brought into the West Ham first team under Harry Redknapp.
The Rolls Royce defender was sadly sold to Leeds United as loathed former Hammers owner Terry Brown slowly but surely sold off the club’s crown jewels.
The rise of the likes of Diangana will give Browne huge encouragement that he too can make the breakthrough when he returns to East London next season.
It may also save Pellegrini a small fortune in the summer transfer market.
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