Guest Post by Gary N
I like many West Ham fans lived in hope that West Ham turned Arsenal over Sunday, but not without deep down anxiety.
To witness not just this fantastic result away from home, but the style and manner it was achieved in made me not just a happy Hammer, but a very proud one. But the icing on the cake was a sixteen year old performing well above all expectations. Well done Reece Oxford.
This result gave me more pleasure due to the fact that I used to scout and coach at Arsenal and West Ham.
When you find players from a very young age, you take them into a club, coach them and hope they will progress. It’s very frustrating when so called more experienced professional staff decide they are not good enough.
Arsenal are the main culprits at ‘bombing’ kids because the senior coaches have no idea about grass roots football. I have been fortunate enough to have worked alongside Tony Carr and Jimmy Hampson at West Ham, but most of my work was for Arsenal. This is where I discovered players at the tender age of just six years old, players who Arsenal deemed not good enough and let go are. Among them are Jonjo Shelvey, Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, Jamie O’Hara and Dwight Gayle. All are Premier League players now.
Another local boy I found who Arsenal let go is Benik Ofobe who is playing at Wolves. This young player will definitely be playing in the Premier League within the next few seasons. Henry Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel Thomas are two more in the Championship that will come good.
We all make mistakes in life but that is how we learn I suppose. Mine was taking most of my finds to Arsenal where they were rejected and left these kids to pick up the pieces. Gladly those names above were all strong and proved a point and are now doing very well in their professions.
One boy I did manage to pass over to Mr Carr and Mr Hampson during my scouting and coaching days was Mark Noble. He played for me for three years for a local junior team. ‘Marcus’ was also quality last Sunday, playing with enthusiasm and experience in front of Reece. This is the future of West Ham. Local boys playing with their hearts on their sleeves and giving every other local boy the dream that West Ham will give them a chance.
Again well done Reece Oxford. Train, work hard and learn. ‘Marcus’, I am proud of what you have achieved so far. Keep it up and hopefully that England cap will come.