Finlay Herrick certainly made a lasting impression on his West Ham United debut, even if that penalty save from Leeds’ Joel Piroe did not translate into an FA Cup semi-final spot.
On the respective youth-team stages for both club and country, the England U20 international made quite the name for himself as something of a penalty-saving specialist.
It speaks to Finlay Herrick’s steely confidence and his lofty, self-imposed standards that the Hammers debutant was disappointed not to save more Leeds spot-kicks on Sunday.
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Finlay Herrick during West Ham's FA Cup quarter-final against Leeds.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Herrick got the shoot-out off to a dream start when denying Piroe from 12 yards. There are worse ways to mark your first save in a West Ham United jersey at senior level.
Finlay Herrick showed great confidence on West Ham United bow
Herrick had already left a mark on Coles Joe and Carlton before extra-time came to a close at the London Stadium, however.
Speaking on the Dressing Room podcast, Joe Cole admits he could not help but let a rather Hollywood-ian narrative wash over him as Herrick readied himself on the sidelines.
Finlay Herrick during West Ham United v Leeds United - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Izzy Poles – AMA/Getty Images
“I’m thinking it’s written [in the stars],” Cole says of his fellow academy graduate, who replaced the injured Alphonse Areola deep into a sprawling, Lord of the Rings-length encounter.
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“This kid, he’s sitting there, he’s been at the club since he was six. Imagine all those nights he would have been dreaming of his debut for West Ham.
“It would have been, ‘I’m coming on with five minutes to go, and I’m going to win the penalty shootout in a big FA Cup task.’ And then the crowd give him a massive big up, like they always do at West Ham.
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Alphonse Areola of West Ham United during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between West Ham United and Brentford on March 09, 2026 in London, England.
“He took his time. A pass back came back to him and he took his time, he looked calm. Calmed himself down. And then the shenanigans started in the penalty shootout,” adds Cole, while namesake Carlton called Herrick ‘brilliant’ in a cameo brimming with personality.
“I thought, ‘This kid’s having himself! I like it!'”
Herrick may fancy his chances of replacing Alphonse Areola
Celebrating wildly, taunting the Leeds players, and teasing Dominic Calvert-Lewin as he waited an age to pick up the ball in a display of brazen time-wasting; no one could accuse Herrick of being over-awed by such an occasion.
There is speculation that West Ham could let Alphonse Areola go this summer. The experienced Frenchman has only one year left on his contract, and recently lost his number one jersey to Mads Hermansen.
If indeed Areola is entering his final few months in East London, Herrick certainly won’t shy away from a greater role in the first-team picture.
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