The system is more important than ever.

The introduction of the Football Association's new Academy system in 1998 has placed even more emphasis on the development of young homegrown players and today the youth system at West Ham United is more important than it has ever been. That is demonstrated by the emergence into the current first-team set-up of James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Freddie Sears and Jordan Spence.

Many have played internationally at Under-21 and senior level and all are regarded as fine prospects for the future. Wales starlet Collison aside, all will also hope to follow in the footsteps of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe, who came through the Academy system, became established first-team stars and gained England honours. Although no longer with the club, they commanded huge fees when transferred.

In the past few years the club have had youth success at a variety of levels, with the Under-17s winning their FA Premier Academy Group and the Under-19s lifting the FA Youth Cup in 1999. 

It is not just about those that go on to greatness on a world stage. Many former Academy players, such as Gary Alexander, Stephen Bywater, Darren Currie, Darren Blewitt, Steve Banks, Shaun Byrne, Chris Cohen, Chris Coyne, Anthony Edgar, Anton Ferdinand, Richard Garcia, Zavon Hines, Matt Holland, Izzy Iriekpen, Danny Kearns, Joe Keith, Leon Britton, Grant McCann, Billy Mehmet, Bondz N'Gala, Adam Newton, Conor Okus, Josh Payne, Kyel Reid, Junior Stanislas, Anwar U'ddin, Elliott Ward and Joe Widdowson have moved on to pursue successful careers with other clubs.

But it just goes to prove how youth is always given its opportunity at West Ham United - and, further back, illustrious England internationals like the World Cup-winning trio of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst plus names like Frank Lampard senior, Trevor Brooking and Tony Cottee underline this longstanding tradition.

You can understand why the staff at the club are all so proud of the Academy. Also at West Ham United, the club has the rare reputation in football - of loyalty, from the top-level management to the actual Academy staff themselves. Players like Steve Potts, himself a product of the youth system who spent 18 years at the club, are all too rare in the modern game.

West Ham United certainly has the foundations in place, but everybody is aware of complacency and we will continue to look and listen for new ideas to further enhance the Academy set-up. Hopefully, the junior members of our Academy will progress and develop within the system into fine young men and hopefully the next generation of first-team stars.

It is enshrined in Hammers' history that, regardless of the club's status at any given time, it has never sacrificed its long-held football principles. Behind all of this devotion to the 'West Ham way' is the firm commitment to the Academy system, which is going from strength to strength under the guidance of Carr. While results do matter to a degree at youth level, key to everything is the focus on individual development.

The incentives are there for all to believe they can succeed whenever they pull on the claret and blue shirt.