On a return to Chadwell Heath, Ben Johnson finds himself back in the Academy canteen where he has spent many an afternoon working hard on his football.
A lot has changed since the now-24-year-old defender first arrived here, following the first team’s move to the Rush Green training ground. The buildings are different, for one, although plenty of faces are the same.
Coaches, staff, and chefs, who more than played their part in Johnson’s progression to senior football, stop for a chat to catch up with the Academy graduate as he looks ahead to this weekend's trip to Nottingham Forest.
The same faces that gave plenty of advice that took the young Hammer from a senior debut in 2017 to just two shy of 100 first-team appearances ahead of a trip to the City Ground are still keen to offer their tips.
"It’s nice to be back,” Johnson laughs. “A lot has changed at Chadwell Heath since I was here. It’s a lot different since the first team moved to Rush Green and buildings changed but it’s great to see a lot of the staff who nurtured me and helped with my game.
“The coaches, the chefs, and everyone else who helped me transition to senior football. It’s good to be back. I don’t come back enough if I am honest.”
Despite results, the 24-year-old has impressed recently in a variety of positions in recent fixtures, picking up minutes on the left-wing, right-wing and also in midfield.
Wherever Johnson plays though, his focus remains the same. From the Academy to the first team, there is a real will to do his best, a selfless attitude learnt in Chadwell Heath. You play for the team.
“It was right-wing against Manchester United, and left-wing against Arsenal,” he explains, on challenging himself against the top sides, having made the starting XI away to Liverpool earlier this season too.
“That’s what I want though, because you want to challenge yourself against the best players and I think a lot of people have the perspective of playing in many positions as a negative, but it is what I did in the Academy.
“I played centre-mid, defence, and on the wing for the U18s and U21s and I think playing in multiple positions it makes you want to learn them all and gives you confidence that you have that trust to perform in different roles.”
On Saturday, Johnson will hope for another chance to push closer to 100 first team appearances as the Hammers resume Premier League duties, with a UEFA Europa League campaign set to continue in March too.
Reflecting on the weekend’s trip to the City Ground, where he could make a 99th outing in Claret and Blue, Johnson believes a quick return to league action is the perfect chance for the Hammers to bounce back following a tricky start to 2024.
“We want to be on the good end of a big result,” Johnson stated. “Maybe, the Arsenal game will be that spark that we needed to push on and see where we can go.
“There have been seasons where we want to get to 40 points but we’re almost there so it’s about where can we go now.
“We have to look at the positives from the season so far and go to Nottingham Forest and get a result. We have to do everything we can to do that and leave no stone unturned with our performance.”
A mindset learnt in the Academy is as clear as ever from Johnson, then. It's one he hopes will return a much-needed three points on Saturday.
