West Ham United Ladies has agreed a partnership with Barking Abbey School Specialist Sports College to host the Club’s Academy from the beginning of the 2018/19 season.
The Hammers and the award-winning Barking Abbey Girls Football Academy, which was created in 2009, will join forces this summer to provide technical, vocational and educational training for aspiring female footballers aged between 16-18.
West Ham United Ladies general manager Karen Ray believes the agreement will prove hugely positive for the Club, the school and the dozens of teenage players who will benefit every season.
“We are very excited about this partnership and by the prospect of opening a flourishing and successful Academy,” said Ray, who has guided West Ham United Ladies first-team through a 13-match unbeaten run which included two cup final victories.
“This Academy will enable West Ham United Ladies to provide the additional development training required to increases opportunities for the girls participating in the Academy to become professional footballers.
“Our partnership with Barking Abbey School Specialist Sports College will also enable us to offer a multitude of academic courses – 25 A Level and five Level 3 BTEC National Courses – all of which are important for the holistic well-being of our student athletes and can potentially put them onto our higher education pathway with the University of East London, further enhancing their dual career opportunities.
“Continuing the long-held ethos of West Ham United’s world-famous Academy of Football, this partnership is about not just producing good footballers, but good people. The holistic development of individuals is paramount, with the players’ physical and emotional wellbeing being a top priority.”
We are very excited about this partnership and by the prospect of opening a flourishing and successful Academy
Karen Ray
Barking Abbey head coach Keith Boanas is relishing the prospect of working alongside West Ham United Ladies.
“The aim of both Barking Abbey School and West Ham United Ladies is to develop girls capable of producing elite performance, so this partnership is a great fit for both parties, all in all,” said Boanas, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence and has nearly 20 years of coaching experience in the women’s game.
“Under my predecessor Sharon Brownlie, who now works for the Football Association, Barking Abbey developed a long track record of producing young players who have gone on to secure college scholarships in the United States and play at a high level in the women’s game in both the US and this country.
“In the future, we anticipate that this partnership with West Ham United will enable us to provide a pathway through the Academy to the elite level of the game in this country for players of an international standard, benefiting the player, the school, the club and the England national team.”
Barking Abbey School’s Sports Academy has won widespread acclaim, with OFSTED praising its ‘unique blend of academic study, expert coaching, personalised training and high-quality competition’.
The School’s Girls Football Academy was created in 2009 and provides promising young student-athletes with access to a structured programme of high level training and fixtures, while also providing them with the opportunity to pursue their academic studies and coaching qualifications
West Ham United Ladies striker Kelly Wealthall was on target as Barking Abbey retained the ESFA Schools’ Cup last month again to fire the school through to the ECFA Premier League Cup final. To complete an impressive hat-trick, they are also through to the ECFA Premier League Women’s Play-Off quarter-finals.
*If the West Ham United Ladies/Barking Abbey School Academy could be of interest to you, please email Keith Boanas at [email protected]