On a night when Lewis Orford and Mohamadou Kante fired West Ham United’s Under-21s to a dramatic late win over Woking, there was a new wearer of the armband for Mark Robson’s side.
Kaelan Casey captained the young Hammers throughout much of the 2024/25 Premier League two campaign.
But with the central defender now out on loan – Casey is earning rave reviews at Swansea City already, by the way – the armband obviously had to change hands as West Ham United’s next generation kicked off the new campaign with a hard-fought National League Cup victory away at non-league Woking.
Returning from a stint at Dagenham and Redbridge, Regan Clayton was the skipper against Ipswich Town in a recent pre-season clash.
But, despite Clayton starting at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, it was instead Airidas Golambeckis who led the team out, much to Robson’s delight.
West Ham United's Airidas Golambeckis during England v Ukraine: Men's U18 International
Photo by Fran Santiago – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Mark Robson lauds Airidas Golambeckis on landmark night for West Ham United starlet
Described by West Ham’s official website as an ‘elegant, ball-playing centre-back’, this feels like a big season for the England Under-18 international with Lithuanian heritage.
Golambeckis was one of those hailed by Mark Noble, the club’s former captain turned sporting director, after joining Lewis Orford, Preston Fearon and co on the summer tour of the United States.
Back in England, Golambeckis achieved another landmark as Orford and Kante struck with 90 and 97 minutes on the clock respectively.
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This was his first time captaining the Hammers at Under-21 level. And it might not be the last either, given how Robson felt he performed with the armband around his bicep.
“I thought Airidas was excellent,” Robson smiles on an evening in which former Paris FC sensation Mohamadou Kante shone. “Lewis Orford has done really well too. It was a great workout for us and a really tough first game against a good side.
“I really enjoy these games because the players are up against men, and for some of our younger players it’s the first time they’ve encountered that. They looked really good today, really comfortable. Playing against men is the next step for them physically, and we gain a lot from that.
“In terms of the way you play, sometimes you have to move the ball a little bit quicker, you have to be a bit brighter, and you hope the quality is there as well, and I think tonight we showed that.”
Declan Rice - West Ham United v FCSB: Group B - UEFA Europa Conference League
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While Graham Potter has already made Ollie Scarles a key part of his first-team plans, Golambeckis’ obvious ball-playing talents should also stand him in good stead.
Still only 17, Golambeckis is already becoming a regular at Under-21 level; leading by example and standing out alongside players much further along in their development.
He started every game as Josh Ajala fired West Ham to U18 Premier League Cup glory in April, and signed professional terms late in 2024.
If he goes on to make even a fraction of the impact Declan Rice left at senior level – Golambeckis joins the £105 million midfielder in captaining the youngsters at just 17 years of age – the Hammers could have quite the central defender on their hands.
“It’s always a great achievement to be captain,” Golambeckis beams. “When I captained the U18s for the first and only time last year, I didn’t think less than 12 months later I’d be doing it for the U21s!
“To be [captain] at this age, I’m just really proud and even more so that we got the win today. Now we look on to the next game against Nottingham Forest on Monday.”