It is fair to say Ryan Battrum is rather enjoying is role for West Ham United U18s this season.
The versatile youngster, having signed a scholarship with the Club in the summer, has played a key role in Kevin Keen’s young side this campaign.
Top of the Premier League U18s South table, with wins in all five league outings, the young Hammers are flying high.
For Battrum, just the feeling of being involved is something to savour.
“It’s been an incredible year,” Battrum said. “Since the summer, things have been brilliant for me! Every day I wake up excited and ready to go. When I walk into the building, whether it’s at Chadwell Heath or occasionally Rush Green, it’s a reminder of the opportunity that I have.
“There have been some good times, and there have obviously been some difficult times for me over the last few seasons too. It hasn’t always been easy after a loss or a poor performance but nothing beats the feeling of coming home on a Saturday after a big win.
“But football is my job now, it’s what I am paid to do and that is something I have worked really hard for. It’s a great opportunity for me so I just want to enjoy it. I go in every day and play football with my mates. It has just been brilliant.”
The transition into full-time football came after signing his scholarship deal with the Academy of Football at a special presentation evening at the Rush Green Training Ground at the end of last season.
The nine involved youngsters were surprised to meet five-time Hammer of the Year Sir Trevor Brooking at the event, with the West Ham legend offering each player advice on progressing their own careers.
“That was an amazing day. It was very rewarding for me. The day they told me that I would get a scholarship was the day after my birthday which made things even better. I remember going home after receiving the news and having a takeaway, that was my little celebration!
"I had a match a few days after, and we beat Leicester 4-0. I played really well and that was one of my most memorable weeks in football.
“The event at Rush Green was amazing, to share it with my teammates was really special and we were so shocked when Sir Trevor showed up. To have a West Ham legend there whilst we signed our scholarships was incredible, and we were able to ask him a few questions as well.”
By Battrium’s own admission, the step up to regular U18s football has been a tricky one. Having been a regular in the U16s, the 17-year-old is now finding his feet in Keen’s side, starting all but one of the team’s matches this season.
He said: “The transition from U16s football to U18s football is really tough. It is a big step up in several ways. The quality is higher, the physicality is higher, the intensity is higher. You have to approach games slightly differently and you need to adapt a lot quicker at this level.
“I featured for the U18s a couple of times last season, so I’d worked with the coaches and I think that really benefitted me going into this season. I knew the level of the opposition, and I also knew what the coaches expected of us, individually and as a team.
“Even things that we do in training differ from last year. There is a lot more focus on communication and shape, and that is because mistakes at this level are even more costly. It has been a real challenge and a step up, but it is a step up I am really enjoying so far.”
Perhaps the only minor blip for Battrum this season is that he has not held down a regular place in the team in one position. Rather, the youngster has been utilised across the side – from full-back to striker!
Such is Battrum’s viewpoint, though, that such utilisation is a positive. It shows the trust in his ability from Keen and the U18s coaches.
With a long season still to play, the youngster is hoping for even more opportunities to impress.
“We’ve made a positive start to the season and I have been playing every week which has been great. It really helps to be able to play in different positions, and it has given me a lot of opportunities. If a key player isn’t involved and the manager trusts you, then you will be able to fill in.
“Of course, it can be difficult. I’ve played all over the pitch this season, I even played up front for the U17s! It is sometimes hard to adapt when your position changes during a match, but as long as I’m on the pitch and helping the team I am happy.”
Written by Jack Heffer
