At Pitch Your Skills, we judge our success by what happens to players after they’ve been with us. Finn’s story is one we’re proud of.

Finn first heard about us on Instagram and came to one of our showcase trials. He kept coming back, attending several showcases before joining our first ever residential this summer. At that residential, he was scouted by West Ham United.

At a glance

• First step:a PitchYourSkills showcase trial
• Then:several more showcases
• Next:our first residential
• Result:scouted by West Ham United

Why he came

Finn was drawn in by the chance to be seen somewhere that cared about development, not just results. In his words: “I wanted to test myself, step outside my usual surroundings, and see how I measured up against players from different backgrounds.”

Why he kept coming back

One event wasn’t enough for him. Each showcase gave him something to work on, from the intensity of the day to honest feedback from the coaches. He says he could feel himself improving each time, “not just technically but in how I understood the game.”

A new position

At the residential, Finn, who normally plays left-back or left wing-back, was moved to centre-mid. He says it was unexpected at first, but it “ended up being one of the most valuable experiences.” Playing centrally forced him to “scan more, think faster, and take greater responsibility in possession.”

This is where a residential differs from a one-day showcase. A showcase gives a player a chance to be seen. A residential gives them time, several days to try something new, get direction from coaches and try again, with a full team of professionals around them: coaches, tactical workshops, match analysis, strength and conditioning and physio support. Coming to our showcases had given Finn the confidence to back himself, and the coaching team gave him the direction to play somewhere new.

Scouted by West Ham United

Finn describes finding out as “surreal”, “a mix of pride, excitement, and disbelief.” The scout’s report on him described good vision and an excellent ability to find space.

Finn is at the start of his journey. We’re proud to have played a part in it, and we wish him every success.

In Finn’s own words

I first heard about PitchYourSkills through instagram and was excited by the opportunities they created. What convinced me to attend that first event was the chance to be seen in an environment focused on real development rather than just results. I wanted to test myself, step outside my usual surroundings, and see how I measured up against players from different backgrounds.

After that first experience, I kept coming back. Every showcase challenged me in a new way — the intensity, the honesty from the coaches, and the level of detail in the feedback made a real difference. I could feel myself improving each time, not just technically but in how I understood the game. That consistency in growth is what made me attend several showcases before the residential.

By the time the residential was announced, I knew it was the right next step. I trusted the programme and had already seen how much it had helped me. The idea of spending several days fully focused on football, surrounded by coaches who pushed me and believed in my potential, was exactly what I wanted. I saw it as a chance to develop at a higher level and show what I could do over a longer period.

The residential itself was intense and transformative. We trained daily, took part in tactical workshops, analysed matches, worked on fitness, and played competitive games. Being in that environment helped me grow massively — my decision-making improved, my confidence on the ball increased, and I learned how to adapt quickly to different systems. It also strengthened my communication and my ability to stay switched on throughout long sessions.

One of the biggest challenges was being moved to centre-mid, even though I normally play left-back or left wing-back. At first it was unexpected, but it ended up being one of the most valuable experiences. Playing centrally forced me to scan more, think faster, and take greater responsibility in possession. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me understand the game from a completely different perspective, making me a more versatile and intelligent player.

The moment I found out West Ham had scouted me was surreal. It didn’t feel real at first — it was a mix of pride, excitement, and disbelief. Knowing that a Premier League club had seen something in me was an incredible feeling. It made all the hard work, the showcases, the residential, and the challenges worth it. More than anything, it gave me a huge boost in confidence and strengthened my determination to keep improving.