West Ham United U18s v Grimsby Town U18s
FA Youth Cup Third Round, Blundell Park, Friday 6 December 2024, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U18s start their FA Youth Cup campaign with a third-round away trip to Grimsby Town.
Lauris Coggin’s young Hammers enter the fixture in fine form, unbeaten in six matches, and will aim to emulate the 2023 generation, who lifted the prestigious trophy for the first time in 24 years.
Standing in their way, a not to be underestimated Grimsby Town, eager to make the fourth round for the second successive season. The young Mariners have experience pulling off an upset, having defeated Premier League opposition Nottingham Forest in extra-time at Blundell Park exactly one year ago.
Tickets...
Only the Main Stand will be open at Blundell Park and tickets for the game are priced at £5 for Adults and £2.50 for all Concessions. Groups of ten tickets can be bought for £20.
Tickets can be purchased online via Grimsby Town’s Ticketing Portal or by visiting the Main Stand turnstiles ahead of the game.
How To Follow…
A live stream of the fixture will be available across the Club’s website and YouTube channel. A match report and reaction will also follow shortly after the full-time whistle. Highlights will be available the following day.
What Happened Last Season…
Last season, West Ham United U18s put up a brave defence of their FA Youth Cup title.
In the third round, they beat fellow U18 Premier League South opponents Southampton on penalties. Despite the inclusion of Saints development squad regulars such as Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw, West Ham came from behind thanks to an early second-half goal from Favour Fawunmi and took the game to penalties where Lewis Orford, Ollie Scarles, Liam Jones and Josh Briggs made no mistake in sending the young Hammers to the foruth round.
In the next round, Kevin Keen’s side also took the game to extra-time, but fell to eventual winners Manchester City by 2-0.
Of the players involved in the two matchday squads of West Ham’s 2023/24 FA Youth Cup campaign, Airidas Golambeckis, Ezra Mayers, Emeka Adiele, Josh Ajala, Elisha Sowunmi, Gabriel Caliste, Rayan Oyebade, Chinaza Nwosu and Jethro Medine remain eligible for this year’s edition.