WHU Partner Club Wins at the Disney Showcase Tournament

West Ham United partner club, the Alpharetta Ambush won the U16 Boys

Showcase Division of the prestigious Disney Soccer Showcase Division, securing a top national ranking for the club.

The Ambush team, coached by David Eristavi, defeated Blast FC Red 2-0 in the final to win the prestigious tournament. In addition, Alhaji Toure, one of the Ambush players was selected by ESPN as the player

of the tournament.

Toure attended the West Ham United Elite Player ID Camp in the summer and worked directly with West Ham Assistant Academy Director Paul Heffer.  According to Heffer; "He is a talented player and we have invited him into the club and hope to finalize these arrangements in the coming weeks."

In addition, the captain of the successful Ambush team, left-back Stewart Abrahart,  has been at the club on trial with the West Ham Academy U16 age group.

The West Ham United Football Academy USA program has sent over 40 US and Canadian players into the academy in the past two years and has a group of 15 players attending on trial in March of 2009. According to Paul Heffer; "We hope to be see North American players and perhaps some of these boys in the West Ham first-team in years to come."

The West Ham United International Academy congratulates the Alpharetta Ambush team on their success and continued development as a West Ham United International Academy partner club.

The West Ham United International Academy recently hosted the National ID Camp on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. Around 60 players were invited to attend the camp to see who might “Be The One”. After three days of camp in the grueling high temperatures, 16 players were chosen to receive an offer of traveling to the UK and trying their skills at the West Ham United Academy in London under the keen eyes of Tony Carr and his coaching staff. Good luck boys!

The West Ham United Academy coaching staff and the National Combine finalists - July 26, 2009

West Ham United International Academy Launch Partner Clubs Program

November 20th, 2009 - The West Ham United International Academy announced the launch of its North American Partner Club program with agreed partnerships with some of the USA and Canada’s top youth soccer clubs.

The International Academy will officially unveil its partners at the Annual General Meeting of the United Soccer Leagues to be held in Tampa, Florida on November 20th. West Ham United International Academy is the official Premier League partner of the United Soccer Leagues.

West Ham United initiatives in the USA and Canada formed the basis of the club’s participation in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game in Toronto and a pre-season friendly game with Columbus Crew. Additionally, the club has been active in setting up a scouting and partnership network to cover the 18 million plus soccer players in the USA. Academy Director Tony Carr and his staff have been regular visitors to the USA and Canada over the past few years and as part of the growth of the initiative, the West Ham United International Academy has hired Mike Kelleher, a former FA Premier League Academy staff member to lead its partnership development program in North America.

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Mo Sheta of Northern Virginia Soccer and Jon Conway ,

General Manager of the West Ham United International Academy.