West Ham United F.C. Reserves and Academy

The West Ham United Academy is recognised as one of the most successful academies in modern football, hence its nickname the Academy of Football. The introduction of the FA's new Academy system in 1998 has placed even more emphasis on the developing of young homegrown players and today the youth system at West Ham is more important than it has ever been. With the influx of many foreign players in the Premier League during modern times, West Ham United has been regarded as one of the few remaining clubs in top flight to continue producing and playing homegrown English players.

The Academy has notably produced England internationals Bobby Moore, Sir Trevor Brooking, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Kieran Richardson, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson. Ferdinand and Lampard were part of the squad that lost the final of the 1996 FA Youth Cup while Cole and Carrick were part of the successful team in the 1999 campaign. Most recent graduates include first team regulars former England U-21 captain Mark Noble, Wales international Jack Collison and England U-21 internationals James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines.

The West Ham United Reserves competed in the Premier Reserve League South until relegation from the Premier League. The side is now classed as a development squad coached by Steve Potts. Friendly games were usually played at Chadwell Heath and other clubs training grounds.

...
Wikipedia