West Ham fan Joe Powell has signed a new contract with his boyhood club
West Ham United are delighted to announce that pacey winger Joe Powell has signed a new three year contract with the Club.
The seventeen-year-old, an avid Hammer himself, proved to play a crucial part of the U18s successful season as they qualified for the top group of the play offs.
Having pledged his future to his beloved Hammers, a delighted Powell said: “It's a great feeling to sign the big contract that you always dreamt about as a kid and it’s a bonus for me as it’s for the club I love.
“A lot of hard work has gone into this moment, the older you get, the harder and the more serious it gets and you have to compete with other players for your place. Of course, my family are very proud of me, especially as they are all big West Ham supporters!
“When I first found out, I was over the moon and the support and praise from everyone was amazing.”
This term, despite suffering injury which limited his game time, the attacker, a set-play specialist, made 15 appearances for the U18s, as well as featuring for the Development Squad.
He reflected: “This season has had its highs and lows. I had a good few games with the U18s, and then got called over to Chadwell to train with the first team.
“I trained really well over there and then made an appearance for the U21s against Brighton.
Unfortunately later that week had a scan on my back and got told I would be out for the next three months which was gutting. But now I believe I've come back to the game as a more intelligent, stronger player.”
Having achieved one of his boyhood dreams, Powell is well aware that the hard work is only just beginning, yet he is looking forward to the challenge.
And with the club’s imminent move to the new stadium just around the corner, what better time to continue his development at the club he loves?
He finished by saying: “It's a fantastic year for me to be signing as we move into the new stadium which is very exciting. From the first team down, the club has done very well this year and I'm very privileged to be a part of that.
“I'm really looking forward to exploiting the opportunity my new contract has given me and I'm hoping to make my way into the first team within the year or two. It would be an absolute pleasure to make my debut at the new stadium and hopefully establish my position in the first team squad.”
The seventeen-year-old, an avid Hammer himself, proved to play a crucial part of the U18s successful season as they qualified for the top group of the play offs.
Having pledged his future to his beloved Hammers, a delighted Powell said: “It's a great feeling to sign the big contract that you always dreamt about as a kid and it’s a bonus for me as it’s for the club I love.
“A lot of hard work has gone into this moment, the older you get, the harder and the more serious it gets and you have to compete with other players for your place. Of course, my family are very proud of me, especially as they are all big West Ham supporters!
“When I first found out, I was over the moon and the support and praise from everyone was amazing.”
This term, despite suffering injury which limited his game time, the attacker, a set-play specialist, made 15 appearances for the U18s, as well as featuring for the Development Squad.
He reflected: “This season has had its highs and lows. I had a good few games with the U18s, and then got called over to Chadwell to train with the first team.
“I trained really well over there and then made an appearance for the U21s against Brighton.
Unfortunately later that week had a scan on my back and got told I would be out for the next three months which was gutting. But now I believe I've come back to the game as a more intelligent, stronger player.”
Having achieved one of his boyhood dreams, Powell is well aware that the hard work is only just beginning, yet he is looking forward to the challenge.
And with the club’s imminent move to the new stadium just around the corner, what better time to continue his development at the club he loves?
He finished by saying: “It's a fantastic year for me to be signing as we move into the new stadium which is very exciting. From the first team down, the club has done very well this year and I'm very privileged to be a part of that.
“I'm really looking forward to exploiting the opportunity my new contract has given me and I'm hoping to make my way into the first team within the year or two. It would be an absolute pleasure to make my debut at the new stadium and hopefully establish my position in the first team squad.”