Just like their counterparts in the West Ham United men’s team, the West Ham United Foundation’s Player Pathway male squads took a leaf out of first team’s book by embarking on their very own European adventure.
As the men’s team geared up for their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final match-up against KAA Gent, the Foundation's young talents, aged six to 16, set sail to Belgium for an unforgettable trip.
The trip, which included fixtures against Belgian opposition, sightseeing in the historical city of Bruges and attending a training session at Belgian champions Club Brugge KV, provided a unique opportunity for these aspiring footballers to showcase their skills on foreign turf, following in the footsteps of their heroes at West Ham United.
“It was a brilliant experience, they enjoyed it from start to finish!” exclaimed Shane Srikanthan, whose sons play for the Under-9s. “From the training sessions to the matches and the visit to the city of Bruges, it was fantastic! I think it was a great experience for them, not only in the footballing sense, but especially in regard to forming greater bonds with the rest of the team.”
For many of the younger participants, who take part in weekly sessions at the Player Pathway’s Technical Development Centres and Emerging Talent Centres, the four-day trip was a chance to make more meaningful connections with their teammates.
“The social aspect was a massive part of it,” added Srikanthan. “There are a lot of parts to the game of football. I believe forming bonds off the pitch is just as important as making them while playing. My sons only see their Foundation teammates once a week for training on Thursdays, and maybe a game here or there. As a consequence, they’ve got to know each other a lot more, which has definitely raised their spirits.”
In addition to the social benefits of their four-day stint in Flanders, the players were also able to test their skills against foreign opposition by gaining first-hand experience of the different styles of play and tactics employed by teams from a different country.
“It was a unique experience for our Player Pathway squads,” said lead WHUF coach on the trip, Thomas Allison. “There were plenty of learning outcomes to take away having been exposed to new formatting such as 8v8 – with several in-game rules that the boys weren’t familiar with – not to mention navigating the language hurdles!
“The players also had the opportunity to play with new teammates, as some age groups were mixed. They also did fantastically adapting to different coaches and formations, which will undoubtedly benefit them in their future footballing endeavours.”
With teams and age groups being mixed during the trip, it allowed for unique learning experiences for all participants, including Aiman, the youngest member of all the groups who celebrated his eighth birthday during the second day of the trip. Despite playing up two years, he managed to get on the scoresheet, showcasing his talent and determination.
His father, Shane, commented: “It was a great experience for him. For me as a parent, it’s not about the winning or losing, it’s about the development of the participants. Seeing what they’re learning, how they’re being taught. Hence why the Foundation is brilliant. The culture around it is really positive and every member of staff has played their part in making this an unforgettable experience for the lads.”
During the trip, the players were able to put the techniques they had learned in their own development with the Foundation to the test against KSK Steenbrugge and the KV Oostende Academy.
“I think it’s such an important part of our work here at the Foundation to give our players exposure to different footballing cultures,” Allison continued. “The insights gained by observing how these Belgian football clubs are run and the strategies they implement for success are invaluable lessons that will undoubtedly enrich the learning experience of our Player Pathway squads, both on and off the pitch.”
Richard Lines, whose son Adam plays for the U14s Performance Academy, described how facing foreign opposition has been a major learning experience for the team.
“I’ve seen massive progress in him since the last tour in Manchester,” said Lines. "I’m almost certain we’ll see the same level of improvement again after this one too! Psychologically, they see it as something really big, playing foreign teams and beating them on their own turf, it means more to them than winning at home. You could see after the games how delighted they were.”