COAST League 1 club Robina City have opened a pathway to the English Premier League via the West Ham United Academy in London.

Robina are now officially a partner of the West Ham youth program that could one day produce a local player good enough to play in one of the world’s top-flight competitions.

Robina City president Paul Rushton said the appointment as an official West Ham United International Academy would allow the club to embrace the Hammers’ renowned coaching methods.

“West Ham United Football Club has one of the most respected youth academies in world football, producing many players who have gone on to play at the very top level of professional football,’’ Rushton said.

“Robina City has established the international academy to further develop our players and provide a pathway for their playing futures.”

New City head coach Jason Buchanan, who is also Rob­ina’s technical coach, had been working on the West Ham issue for several months.

Buchanan was with Coast Premier League club Coomera this year. He is a 33-times Scottish age representative who played Scottish Premier League with Dundee and Hibernian.

“We’re the only Coast club with such a partnership with a Premier League club,” he said.

During the season Robina will host a special West Ham United camp and juniors who impress will be invited to a ­national residential camp in July with Tony Carr and the rest of the West Ham United Academy coaches.

“Players who stand out at the national camp will be invited to the experience of a lifetime – 10 days at the West Ham United Academy in London,” Rushton said.

“The advanced player pathway will cost $50 a month and will provide intermediate and advanced coaching levels for the beginner through to more advanced players.”

Rushton said playing numbers at Robina City were up 17 per cent this year.

“New findings from Roy Morgan Research show one in two children, aged between six and 13 years, are now playing soccer,’’ he said. “And for the first time, more girls are now playing football than netball.”