Head Coach Graham Potter and first-team players Jarrod Bowen, Nayef Aguerd and Ollie Scarles inspired students at Washington Elementary School in Kearny, New Jersey, by engaging in a host of fun, football-based activities.
The West Ham United contingent - out in the US to participate in the Premier League Summer Series, and joined by Club mascot, Hammerhead - were in attendance to help mark the start of the Premier League, the State of New Jersey and the US Soccer Foundation’s three-year partnership to deliver a New Jersey soccer development programme, that was announced earlier this month.
Though a sudden downpour of rain meant the session was largely delivered indoors, spirits remained sky high as coach Nicole Farley led drills and small-sided games, with Bowen, Aguerd and Scarles kicking a ball about with the youngsters, passing on tips and overseeing the action with plenty of laughs.
After Potter and Bowen had spoken to members of the media, it was time for a fun Q&A with the boss and skipper, in which the students were given the opportunity to quiz their Hammers heroes about anything they wanted to know.
With the sun having reappeared, the event then finished outside, with the youngsters taking up the chance to try some traditional East London cuisine from the Pie & Mash truck that had earlier been out and about in the heart of New York, as well as check out our Claret & Blue London taxi. There was of course time at the end for some photographs and autograph signing!
Scarles said: “It was a great event to be part of. We were all school students once, growing up wanting to play football, and it’s nice to know we’ve given them a day to remember.
“At their age, it’s about enjoying football, but I remember going to games, seeing professionals and being inspired to try and do what they did, so hopefully that same sort of feeling has been passed on to those guys who have been here today.
“Community has always been a big thing for me, and I really enjoying doing things like this - going into schools, and giving back to people with the same sorts of dreams I had not that long ago.”
Scarles featured as an 80th-minute substitute as West Ham were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in their Summer Series opener on Saturday, and he is looking forward to the two tests still to come, against Everton in Chicago on Wednesday and AFC Bournemouth in Atlanta next Sunday.
Having experienced a first-team tour for the first time last summer, in Florida, he is embracing the opportunity to be back in the USA, and is excited for what’s still to come off the field, as well as on it.
Scarles added: “This tour, and pre-season, is ultimately about getting fit and getting to understand the manager’s plans for the season, and I’m looking to forward to the remaining games. Any match against Bournemouth is always going to be big for me, because I made my Premier League debut against them last season!
“But we’re also really enjoying building that family environment, and the chance to explore and see America. I was in Florida earlier in the off-season actually, because my partner lives out here, and the US is somewhere I always enjoy.
“I came to New York when I was young - about seven or eight - so I’ve enjoyed being back, and I can’t wait for Chicago and Atlanta, and to see what fun events are lined up for us.”