West Ham United are the only Under-21 side to reach the knockout stages of the 2025/26 EFL Trophy, an achievement captain Airidas Golambeckis describes as ‘amazing’.
Of the 32 teams to progress beyond the group phase, 31 are senior, first-team outfits from the Football League.
Greg Lincoln’s West Ham United youngsters, then, are the only team flying the flag for the Premier League’s reserve sides.
And, a few days after Nuno Espirito Santo called Airidas Golambeckis up to Rush Green and included him in the squad for Saturday’s 3-2 win over Burnley, the captain of the Under-21s is looking to finish what he, Mohamadou Kante, George Earthy, Callum Marshall and co started.
Airidas Golambeckis during Manchester City U21 v West Ham U21 - Premier League 2
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Airidas Golambeckis hails West Ham United’s EFL Trophy achievement
The returning Earthy inspired West Ham’s victory against Ian Holloway’s Swindon Town last time out in the EFL Trophy. In fact, the Hammers starlets would pick up six points from nine in Group D, thrashing MK Dons 5-1 in their tournament opener.
“To be the only U21s team to get through sets the tone of how good we can be,” Golambeckis tells the club’s official website. “Hopefully we can carry that into the other cup competitions and the league as well.
“I think it’s amazing to experience this competition and do well in it. Especially for us, our Under-21s team. For us younger players, it gives us that experience. Swindon and MK Dons are fighting for promotion in League Two. Reading, a League One side.
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“It exposes you to that type of football which I think is very important. It’s probably my favourite competition and I’m delighted we’ve made it into the knockout stages.”
West Ham will face another League Two side in the last-32, Colchester United.
No Under-21 side has ever won the competition either. None has even reached the semi-finals since Manchester City in 2019.