{"product_id":"9781801509794","title":"Inside the Academy : The Hopes, Highs and Heartbreaks of West Ham United's Youth by Callum McNaughton","description":"Inside the Academy tells the stories of a talented set of footballers spanning a quarter-century, exploring childhood aspirations and what became of them. It lifts the lid on teenage training grounds and what it takes to even come close to being a Premier League player.   From Bobby Moore to Declan Rice, West Ham United has a proud history of cultivating young talent. Yet their 2023 FA Youth Cup triumph came against a backdrop of complaints about congested pathways to first-team football and inflated pay packets quelling ambition. These concerns are not unique to West Ham; they are symptomatic of the modern game.   This book offers an insight into what life as a young footballer is really like, via interviews with people who've lived and breathed the game over the past 25 years. It's a must-read for anyone who wonders why child prodigies don't always become professionals and what happens to those who don't make it to the top.\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307016073589,"sku":"9781801509794","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781801509794.jpg?v=1762802801","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781801509794","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}