Conor Coventry is determined to prove the old adage that good things come to those who wait.
Already a regular in West Ham United’s U23s at the age of 17, the central midfielder graduated from the Academy of Football as the Dylan Tombides Award recipient in the summer of 2018. In September of the same year, at 18, Coventry made his first-team debut and made two goals in the record 8-0 EFL Cup win over Macclesfield Town at London Stadium.
A calm and assured presence and a mature and quietly influential character, Coventry helped the U23s win promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 in 2019/20 – the same season he made his senior league debut on loan at EFL League One club Lincoln City.
In 2020/21, he captained the U23s and scored seven goals in 20 appearances, before spending last season gaining valuable experience on loan in League One, initially at Peterborough United, then during an impressive spell playing under his former Academy coach Liam Manning at promotion-chasing MK Dons.
At the same time, Coventry has become an integral captain of Republic of Ireland’s U21 side, winning a record 26 caps and leading his country to within a play-off victory over Israel this September of their first-ever UEFA European U21 Championship finals.
All of that is impressive, but the 22-year-old has also made just two further substitute appearances for the Club he joined as at the age of ten, in EFL Cup second-round wins over Newport County and Charlton Athletic in August 2019 and September 2020 respectively.
With that in mind, the likeable Coventry knew coming into the current pre-season that he needed to impress manager David Moyes and his coaching staff if he is going to earn more opportunities in the future and, through a combination of talent and hard work, he hopes to have done so.
On Saturday, the No32 was given a chance off the bench in the second half of the Irons’ pre-season match at French side Lens, and used his time on the pitch well, breaking up play and passing the ball confidently, most notably in finding Jarrod Bowen with a well-weighted through ball that the England forward fired against the underside of the crossbar.
It was the sort of performance Coventry needs if he is to turn his dream of a long-term future in Claret and Blue into a reality, as he told West Ham TV at the Stade Bollaert-Delellis after the game.
Conor, that was a really impressive cameo, as you came on and made some things happen?
“I enjoyed it when I came on. It’s good to play in a foreign stadium packed with fans and against a really strong side, so I really enjoyed it when I came on and hopefully I can get some more minutes.”
You came so close to assisting a winner for Jarrod, too?
“Ah, obviously it was still a tough chance for him and maybe I could have done a bit more, but that’s what I’ve got to do. I’ve got to look forward and to pass forward as that’s what the gaffer wants us to do and that’s something I’d say I like to do and a strength of mine, so I’m always looking for it, so it was good.”
You’ve been with the first-team squad throughout pre-season and been given minutes by the manager, so do you feel there is an opportunity for you here to make an impact?
“Of course. I feel like I’m ready. I’ve spent some time away from the Club [on loan] and it’s made me miss the Club even more and want to be here even more. I feel like I’m ready and I’ve been here so long and all I want to do is play here. Whenever the gaffer needs me I’m ready and hopefully I can get a chance.”
You went to MK Dons for the second half of last season and finished third in League One, while you also did well individually. That must have done a lot for your confidence?
“It was incredible. As a team we played a really attractive style and we had a young team who were really unlucky not to go up. I really enjoyed it there. The staff were brilliant, the lads were brilliant and I think it was the first time I’d had a real run of games and I feel like I’ve benefitted from it a lot, grown up a lot. You need to go and get games and I feel like I have done that now and I think it’s made me a better player.”
You played under Liam Manning there, who coached you in the U23s here. Did that make things easier, as you knew his philosophy and approach to coaching and management?
“Yeah, definitely. We had a really great relationship anyway, and just the type of coach he is, I can’t speak highly enough of him, the way he had us playing and had everyone improving. It was easy for me as I understood what he wanted and straight away the team started suiting me and hopefully I suited the team. It was amazing to work with him.”
So, now you’re back here, do you feel you’re now more at the Premier League level, after your time away?
“I think so. I feel a lot older, a lot more mature and a lot more ready and I think I’m training well. Obviously it’s a higher level. This is a team that came seventh in the best league in the world last year, so it’s a massive level, but I feel like I’m there, like I’m ready and I’ve just been really enjoying it.”
When you look at your compatriot Josh Cullen, who graduated from the Academy of Football, went out on loan a few times, then joined Anderlecht at 24 and is now back in England with Burnley in the Championship at the age of 26, does that illustrate that, at 22, you are not too old to make your breakthrough?
“I watched the [Burnley] game on Friday night and Josh was top drawer and a well-deserved man of the match, to be fair. I think anyone who knows Josh well will tell you what a great character he is and as one of the younger lads he is one of those to follow attitude-wise and professionalism-wise. Like you say, he’s really come on and blossomed and it just shows that the Academy know what they’re doing and we have got some good lads and good players out of there. I think football is not linear and everyone comes through at different times. When I was younger I was smaller and skinnier and it was going to take a bit longer to get to the level, but I feel at the level now and that I’m ready to go, so I’m looking forward to the season.”
Do you have international ambitions as well?
“Yeah, of course. Obviously I want to help the U21s qualify for the Euros and it’s every boy’s dream to get a senior cap, so that’s what I’d love to do and hopefully I can push on and get some.”
Just finally, it would mean the world to you to make it at West Ham, wouldn’t it?
“Ah, 100 per cent. I’m ten minutes from the stadium, my Mum and Dad worked in East Ham and I’ve been here since I was ten, so I know what it means. It’s hard to say without sounding too cringey, but of course I’d love to play here!”
