As he approaches the one-year anniversary of his arrival at West Ham United, Northern Ireland youngster Callum Leacock reflects fondly on an impressive debut season this side of the sea.
Leacock followed ex-Glentoran starlet Joel Kerr to England last summer. The talented defender joined the Hammers from Linfield and was handed the captain’s armband almost immediately.
Leacock skippered the Under-18 side throughout much of their campaign. As the season progressed, he would force his way into West Ham United’s Under-21 set-up as well. The 17-year-old centre-back made a respectable six Premier League 2 appearances under Greg Lincoln.
Who will be the next breakout star from our academy?
Ezra Mayers and Lewis Orford are developing very nicely… 🌟
Now, speaking to the club’s official website, Leacock looks back on the bolt-from-the-blue talks which took him to West Ham in the first place, as well as his speedy progression from unknown to captain.
Callum Leacock was stunned when he heard of West Ham United’s interest
“I found out while I was in Belfast with my Mum and my little brother. My agent rang my Mum out of nowhere and said West Ham wanted to sign me,” Leacock says. “I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t stop smiling for about a week.
“It was a really proud moment for me and my family. We all know the work that’s gone into it, and I can’t thank my Mum and Dad enough. When I was at Linfield, I had a 45-minute journey to training. It wasn’t easy, but every week they took me without complaint. I owe them everything.
“Coming over to West Ham was tough at first, being away from friends and family. But I’ve settled in now. The boys and the coaches have been brilliant and made me feel at home.”
In what was another impressive year for the academy, West Ham won the Under-17 Cup, reached the National League Cup final, and finished inside the Premier League 2 play-offs. Nuno handed first-team debuts to Mohamadou Kante, Ezra Mayers, Callum Marshall and Finlay Herrick, while Airidas Golambeckis has featured semi-regularly in the matchday squads.
Northern Ireland starlet reflects on Hammers captaincy
Leacock is another success story.
“When I first came over, I thought I might not play much,” he admits. “But in pre-season I made a good impression. I remember my first game, I was vocal and felt comfortable.
What would these new FIFA proposals mean for West Ham? 🤔
Clubs may be forced to have one U21 player on the pitch at all times…
“To then be given the captaincy for the season was an incredible feeling. I couldn’t stop smiling. Moments like that mean even more when you know the work that’s gone into getting there.
“I love leading the boys out. It’s a great group, we enjoy training together and push each other every day. It gives me that extra motivation every time I step onto the pitch.”
Leacock signed professional terms on his 17th birthday last August.
“Signing a professional contract is massive. Some people might overlook how important it is, but for me it’s everything. Since I was seven, I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer. I’m not there yet, but it’s a big step in the right direction.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
