West Ham is known as "The Academy of Football".
"The biggest single contributor to the current England national squad is not Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea, but the West Ham Youth Academy." -- ITV Football article, 13 September 2004.
*These home-grown players have commanded total transfer fees in excess of £110 million:
Joe Cole (West Ham Academy graduate, current England international)
Rio Ferdinand (West Ham Academy graduate, current England international)
Frank Lampard (West Ham Academy graduate, curent England international)
Michael Carrick (West Ham Academy graduate, current England international)
Jermain Defoe (West Ham Academy graduate, current England international)
Glen Johnson (West Ham Academy graduate, current England international)
East London produces the majority of England's top footballers. Youth policy regulations restrict clubs to nurturing talent that resides within a certain distance, hence West Ham enjoys its pick from the most potent football seedbed in the UK.
Some other England international players born within a short distance of the club:
David Beckham (born Leytonstone, East London; former England team captain)
John Terry (born Barking, East London; current England team captain)
Sol Campbell (born Newham, East London)
Ashley Cole (born Stepney, East London)
Tony Adams (born Romford, East London
Paul Ince (West Ham Academy graduate, born Ilford, East London)
