Hammers go global

West Ham United's International Academy continues to seek the very best young players from around the world to bring to Upton Park.

The international set-up now enjoys partnerships with a whole host of clubs worldwide and has begun to see the fruits of its labour with the emergence of Dylan Tombides (ex-Stirling Lions FC, Australia) and Sebatian Lletget (ex-Sporting Santa Clara, USA), both of whom have been close to a first team debut in recent months.

The Academy boasts links with more than 25 clubs and organisations across the globe - mostly in the USA - with the youngsters regularly receiving coaching from experts in the field such as West Ham United's Academy Director Tony Carr and coach Paul Heffer, who played for the Irons briefly in the late 1960s.

Speaking about the American set-up recently, Carr said: "The game is global now. Everybody knows the Premier League and English football. We thought we musn't bury our heads in the sand at West Ham and just say 'we're only going to look for local boys'.

"We're trying to spread our wings a little bit and develop relationships with clubs in the US in the hope that we can spread the word of West Ham United and what it means in terms of its coaching and welfare of children.

"Maybe we might find a player on our way and bring him over to the UK. We're sitting here at Santa Clara in San Jose and we've got a young pro who started his career here, Sebatian Lletget. He's now at West Ham as a young professional, so it can happen."

WHUFC International Academy: Partner clubs/associations

Australia
Stirling Lions Soccer Club (Balcatta, Western Australia)

Canada
Erin Mills Soccer Club (Mississauga, Ontario)

Caribbean
Bermuda Football Association
Future Sports Club (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)

Mexico
Sport Concepts S.A. de C.V. (Mexico City; Monterrey; Torreon; Veracruz)

United States
Alpharetta United (Alpharetta, Georgia)
Arsenal Football Club (Oakdale, Pennsylvania)
Barca FC (Temecula, California)
Blues (Roseville, California)
Cape Fear Soccer (Wilmington, North Carolina)
Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (Greenville, South Carolina)
Central Jackson Soccer Organisation (Jackson, Mississippi)
Challenger FC (Medina/Avon, Ohio)
Darlington School Academies (Rome, Georgia)
Euro Soccer Club (Chicago, Illinois)
FC Alliance (Knoxville, Tennessee)
GACS SParta Soccer (Norcross, Goergia)
International School of Indiana (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Keystone Athletic (Sciota, Pennsylvania)
Long Island Rough Riders (Long Island, New York)
Miglietti Soccer Academy (Los Angeles, California))
Minnesota Thunder Academy (Plymouth, Minnesota)
Newport Mesa Soccer Club (Costa Mesa, California)
Northern Virginia FC (Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia)
Port St. Lucie Soccer Club (Port St. Lucie, Florida)
Premier UK Soccer (Youngsville, North Carolina)
Princeton Soccer Association (Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey)
Pure FC (St. Augustine, Florida)
Rio Vista (Montgomery, Nebraska)
Schulz Academy (Boca Raton, Florida)
Sporting Santa Clara (Santa Clara, California)
Super 9 Soccer (Rochester, New York)