A new contract for Andre Dike, the arrivals of Callum Leacock and Joel Kerr, plus the signing of Daniel Cummings from Celtic; July has started pretty well in terms of West Ham United’s hopes of a bright future.
As June ended and July begun, bringing with it a new season and a new financial year, Mark Noble was delighted to welcome Daniel Cummings to Rush Green.
A Scotland Under-19 international with 38 goals in 58 appearances for Celtic’s B-team, the West Ham United newbie has a keen admirer already in the shape of their iconic captain-turned-sporting director.n
Cummings trained alongside ex-Paris FC starlet Mohamadou Kante as Mark Robson’s Under-21s started their pre-season preparations a few days ago.
England starlet Andre Dike is tasked with catching Robson’s eye too. The ink still drying on the professional terms signed by the 17-year-old winger on Saturday.
And, after West Ham landed a ‘fantastic young footballer’ in Joel Kerr, another of Northern Ireland’s bright young hopes is also now getting used to life in the English capital. Right-back Callum Leacock joins the Hammers from Linfield.
This, coupled with eleven fresh-faced talents signing full-time scholarship contracts, means it is an exciting time indeed for West Ham United’s next generation.
West Ham United welcome Joel Kerr as Kenny Brown discusses new contracts
Speaking to the club’s official website, academy manager Kenny Brown was on hand to welcome the likes of Kerr, Joe Scanlon and Chukwuemeka Obi into the full-time fold this week.
“A big congratulations to everyone for earning that scholarship and coming into the full-time environment,” Brown smiled during a dinner attended by the players and their parents.
“The level jumps significantly and, although tonight is a celebration, the hard work starts now.
Joel Kerr enjoyed an initial trial period with West Ham all the way back in September, eventually signing his contract nine months later.
Goalkeeper Tommy Goodger is a relative newcomer himself. He joined from Exeter City in January, rapidly progressing through the Hammers’ Academy of Football ranks.
“He’s a tall, athletic goalkeeper who has impressed everyone with his attitude and maturity,” reads a description provided by the Hammers website. “He made his debut for the U18s last season.”
Kerr, meanwhile, is described as a ‘quick, dynamic wide player who is just as comfortable centrally [and] loves to dominate in one-v-one situations’.
Such comments align nicely with those of Andy Mathieson, Head of Player Development at Glentoran. He says Kerr is a ‘natural footballer with real quality’, albeit while explaining that it is ‘his attitude and work ethic that truly sets him apart’.
Chukwuemeka Obi signs deal as older brother Chido makes Manchester United impression
West Ham have also tied down Tomas Jonyla, Jephthah Medine, Harry Montague, Reggie Morris-Agyemang, Tyrone Omotoye, Vinnie Perkins, Martin Peychev and another teenage Irishman in left-back Joe Scanlon.
Chukwuemeka Obi, meanwhile, is the younger brother of Manchester United wonderkid Chido Obi. Like the Red Devils starlet, Chukwuemeka arrived after leaving the Arsenal academy.
Clearly, he shares his older sibling’s eye for goal.
“‘Chucks’ is a tall, powerful striker,” the website says of their Danish youth starlet. “[Obi] was a real focal point for our Under-16s last season, scoring 17 goals.”
“We’ve got some excellent staff here so [the parents] know the boys are in good hands,” adds Brown. “We’ll be looking after them, challenging them and pushing them.
“If they apply themselves in the right way and attack every game, these will be the best years of their lives, because they’ve got their best football ahead of them if they do things right, and that’s what we’re here for. They’ll look back on these days with great fondness.”
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