I wonder if the Villa have one of these....?

[CT]

Last week I discovered that West Ham have a "football academy" in California.

I wondered, since we've had an American owner for some time now, if we had one anywhere in the US, or even have any plans to do such a thing if not.

I'm genuinely interested but wouldn't really know where to start as regards asking anyone at the club about it (I think Nicola Keye has better things to do  )

[Chicago_Villa]

We have a partnership with a club in Ohio called Pacesetters (http://www.toledo.com/news/2013/05/22/frogtown-features/pacesetter-soccer-club-partners-with-aston-villa/)

[ChicagoLion]

We have a partnership with a club in Ohio called Pacesetters (http://www.toledo.com/news/2013/05/22/frogtown-features/pacesetter-soccer-club-partners-with-aston-villa/)

I see they parked the truck

[Simba]

"historically rich......" hmmm.

[Ghost of Pongo Waring]

"historically rich......" hmmm.

I think thats referring to us having a rich history, which we do, rather than being an historically wealthy club.

[Simba]

Yeah, I know you are right, I understood that.

It is just that that in this context 'historically rich' is a carefully chosen compliment. It galls as surely they could have found a favourable statement of our clubs current standing.

Perhaps not. Come to think of it. Oh dear.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

In 1969 not long after Doug arrived and Tommy Doc breezed through, our "academy" was started in Scotland. There were two youth teams from round the Glasgow area called Possil Park and Stanley Star.
We always had plenty of young prospects from north of the border, although I cannot recall any specifically from the above source.
But it did represent a statement of intent to put in place a proper youth policy which had been previously non existent. 
The policy resulted in the winning of the Youth Cup in 1972 - a team which included Brian Little, John Gidman, Bobby McDonald and Jake Findlay.   
 

[Salsa Party Animal]

Think we got partnership with Brad Friedel's school in Colombus or Cleveland.

[Hookeysmith]

Think we got partnership with Brad Friedel's school in Colombus or Cleveland.

Hope not - has it and he not gone bust?

[Mister E]

Last week I discovered that West Ham have a "football academy" in California.

I wondered, since we've had an American owner for some time now, if we had one anywhere in the US, or even have any plans to do such a thing if not.

I'm genuinely interested but wouldn't really know where to start as regards asking anyone at the club about it (I think Nicola Keye has better things to do  )

My son did 10 months as a coach for a Mexico-based business with ties to WHU. The deal was that any talent spotted by the business would go forward to a 2-week development camp in the US, at which coaches from WHU would assess any likely candidates to take back to London. kids from Mexico and at least one other development site in the US were being targetted.