West Ham United are launching a new football academy at Star Meadow Sports Club, the home of Hollands and Blair FC in Gillingham.

Ex Tonbridge Angels manager Tommy Warrilow will be heading the programme having been named football academy manager, working alongside Iconic sports coaching.

The setup will give 16-18 year olds the chance to play football whilst gaining a BTEC diploma in sport and ultimately the aim of playing in the Premier League alongside the likes of Andy Carroll and Stuart Downing.

Whilst ultimately, getting into the Premier League is the goal, this development programme will push the eventual graduates into the professional game.

Tommy Warrilow believes that this development programme will see them training occasionally at West Ham’s Chigwell training base, as well as playing regular games against the academy sides up there.

Trials take place on June 25 and July 30^th at Star Meadow, with Tommy Warrilow hoping to run two squads for the forthcoming season.

To register for the trials, you must register at www.wearescl.co.uk

The programme states that they are not here to nick anyone’s business but having another professional club starting an academy in the area could prove difficult in the future for Gillingham’s academy with more players following the lure of the Premier League.