Ex Hammers

[ALANF]

Robert

Thank you for that web site you mentioned concerning Ex Hammers - What memories. Seeing the name of Brian Dear, reminded me of the all conquering youth team he was a part of. To my mind, John Sissons was the star of that team, and although he progressed to the First Team, I don't think he really fulfilled his potential, like Joe Cole, who was a similar type of player. There were many quality players in that youth team, and I could never understand why the First Team did not benefit as these guys got older.

Alan

[DougT]

Alan

I have to agree with you. West ham have reached the final of the FA Youth Cup on seven occasions since 1956/7 winning the trophy 3 times. There are very few of the players that represented West Ham in those finals going on to become regular first team players at West Ham although otheres have made occasional appearances during their time at the club.

From 1956/57 there was Joe Kirkup and John Lyall.
From 1958/59, Jack Burkett, Eddie Bovington, Bobby Moore and Tony Scott.
From 1962/63 Dennis Burnett, John Charles, Harry Redknapp and John Sissons
From 1974/75 Alvin Martin, Alan Curbishley, Geoff Pike and Paul Brush
From 1980/81 Paul Allen
From 1995/96 Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard
From 1998/99 Michael Carrick and Joe Cole

Some others did go on to play for lower league sides but West Ham are not the only club to suffer from the problem of "unfulfilled" talent.

I have no doubt that in recent years the influx of overseas players is a contributory factor to the situation but equally the high earnings, celebrity status and the inability of some players to manage their own lives could also be a reason.

Doug

[Bill Sharpe]

My brother, Terry Sharpe, played number 9 for the youth cup finalists in the 1974/5 season. Terry went on to play for Dagenham and Redbridge and the Met Police. He is now a Detective Superintendent in charge of operation 'violet', you may have seen him on TV last week speaking outside the Old Bailey at the conclusion of the Stratford witchcraft trial of which he was the senior investigating officer. Not bad for a kid who failed his 11 plus and went to Pretoria road school. As you can probably tell, I am very proud of him.

[ALANF]

Bill

And proud you should be.
The East End boy done good.

Alan

[Robert Rogers]

Great to see a Pretoria Boy done good, as anybody know`s who like me went to Pretoria, we were considered at 11 to have failed, and were expected to stay that way, (and yes one or two did end up on the opposite side of the Law to Terry), but of the few I still have contact with (and all flying fast towards 59/60!), were not failures, some of us who `Could do Better`, DID!!! You have the right to be proud Bill.

[Bill Sharpe]

I was there probably a couple of years ahead of you rob - you must have been int he same year as Jango, Johnny Wiseman and Gordon Kerr, all good friends of mine.