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West Ham Academy gets new front man to lead the U18 squad

By Jeremiah Carson

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Danny Ings of Southampton is challenged by Grady Diangana of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton FC at London Stadium on May 04, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Danny Ings of Southampton is challenged by Grady Diangana of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton FC at London Stadium on May 04, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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The last 48 hours have had news of potential transfers and new schedules. However maybe one of the more quite headlines has been the one of former gaffer Jack Collison stepping down as Academy under 18s manager and former West Ham man, Kevin Keen, taking over the role.

Collison, now 30, spent the majority of his career at West Ham making 121 appearances between 2008 and 2014. He also progressed through the coaching ranks at West Ham starting with the Under-14s and 16s in 2017 and quickly jumping up with the Under-18s this past season. According to the club, he will be taking up a unique opportunity overseas.

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In the words of Collison himself, “It’s one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make.” He also was quoted today stating, “I couldn’t be leaving the Under-18s to anyone better.” The praise not only came from Jack himself but for others including everyone’s favorite ITK, ExWHUemployee, as he took to Twitter to defend and praise the hire.

If you are a young West Ham fan and aren’t stooped in the history of the club, you might ask who Kevin Keen is. Keen progressed through the ranks in the 1980s accumulating over 300 career appearances for the Hammers. He then went on to coach various youth, reserve, and first team positions from 2002 to 2011. For me and many others, he is West Ham through and through.

Keen also worked with some young Academy legends in the likes of Chris Cohen and now club legend Mark Noble. It is also interesting that Keen will be replacing Collison as he groomed him in the Academy as well. Keen was quoted in an interview by the club stating, “It’s also interesting for me that, as I come in, Jack Collison is going out. Jack was another I helped get through as a young player, a little bit later than Mark.”

I think that sometimes, football Academy’s can be forgotten. However, in a place that is nicknamed The Academy of Football, it should not be forgotten. I love that the collective minds behind this brought in someone with club heritage and with much excitement to keep it going.

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