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West Ham sign Sawtry lad
TOP boy Kieran Bywater has realised his lifelong dream after being offered a scholarship at the famous West Ham Academy.
The 16 year-old is currently in his final year of GCSEs at Sawtry Community College but has been with the London club since the age of 10.
During that time Bywater has won an army of admirers in the Hammers’ junior set-up but has also managed to maintain his studies thanks to the help of his head of year at Sawtry College, Paul Baynes, and deputy head Nigel Smith.
Dad Simon said: “Paul and Nigel have worked closely with the club to enable Kieran to concentrate on his studies while focusing on his football. This close liason has enabled Kieran to live at the club’s house away from home while keeping up his studies.
“At the moment Kieran is captaining the Under 16 team and has also featured in a number of this season’s Under 18 matches. He has put lots of time and effort into his football and has been rewarded by a scholarship.
“Above all this though he wants to thank his schoolteachers, especially Paul who has acted as his mentor and a liason between the school and the club.”
Bywater will spend next year at the academy where his career will come under the guidance of West Ham’s director of youth development Tony Carr MBE.
It is the next step to stardom for the young Sawtry ace who was first spotted as a six year-old by former Posh coach Mark Tracy in the Photo Unlimited tournaments held at the Embankment.
However, at the time Posh had no youth set-up and he was snapped up by the Hammers.
And over the past six years Bywater has played for the club in Japan, Italy and France while in 2010 he captained the Under 15s when they won a Premiership cup competion at Warwick University.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Outcast
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:45 AMCongratulations Kieran. You're gonna leave Amber twiddling her thumbs whilst you play with your balls?
feduppete
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:22 AMTraitor lol. Seriously why would he not want to play for his home team. Another gem slipped through the net so it seems. You can see the importance of youth academies though.
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