'Gala earns new contract

West Ham United have secured the services of 18-year-old defender Bondz 'Gala on a new contract.

The homegrown youngster from Forest Gate is one of a number of talented centre-backs coming through at the club and has established himself as a reserve-team regular in recent weeks alongside Jordan Spence. Both teenagers are looking to follow Anton Ferdinand and James Tomkins in progressing from the Academy to becoming first-team regulars and Tony Carr sees only positives ahead - especially with the U18s and reserves riding high in their respective league tables.

Of the imposing player known to his team-mates as Bonzo, Carr said: "Bondz has signed a professional contract and at the moment the youth team and the Academy are having a good little spell. We are getting players into the first team and the boys are still getting good results. Things couldn't be better at the moment. I am really pleased with the way things have gone in the last couple of months. We have got Jordan Spence also who is maturing into a fine centre-back. We have got more to come we hope."