If you told Orford this time last year that he’d make his debut in the Premier League at London Stadium, he probably would have – without being arrogant - believed you.
That’s evident when you see how quickly and comfortably the teenager has taken to life in the Premier League.
Orford’s assured displays against Palace and subsequently Chelsea hinted at a bright future for the midfielder. And while the result wasn’t the victory he hoped for, the 18-year-old expressed pride in his performance and is determined to use his debut moment as fuel for more in the weeks, months and years to come.
“It was the culmination of a lifelong dream, making my first team debut in the Premier League against Crystal Palace,” he beamed. “I’m definitely proud of what I've achieved so far in my career, but hopefully this is just the start, and I can keep progressing and make more appearances.
“It was so surreal. I was kind of nervous, but as soon as I got on the pitch, it just felt normal really, in front of the home fans. It was just a big moment for me and my family, and they're very proud of what happened that day. My whole family was there that day, and they are all West Ham fans.
“Being a boyhood West Ham fan just made it that bit more special because I've been coming here since the age of five, and I’ve been to all the games since I was a kid, from the Boleyn Ground to London Stadium.
“I always believed in myself from a young age. I've always played above my specified age groups. I was with the U12s, playing with the U13s, and then made my U18s debut at the age of 14, so I was always progressing above my age group.
“It's [first-team debut] come early at the age of 18, so now I've just got a lot of time to kick on and show everyone what I can do.
“He's [Graham Potter] been brilliant with the young boys. He came in two months ago now, and he's already given me my debut. He's started Ollie in games. It’s not just me and Ollie, it’s everyone that comes up. He's making everyone feel comfortable, and the level of training is also really good for us. We're never left out, and we know what we're doing, so it's a clear vision for everyone at the Club.
“I grew up watching Mark Noble, so he's obviously a massive inspiration for me. I want to get to that level and hopefully just stay here forever, really.”