WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
2025-26 Premier League 2
Manager: Mark Robson : Coaches Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville
The 2025-26 Premier League 2 is the top tier of the Professional Development League. It is an Under-21 league where clubs are permitted to field five 'over-age' outfield players and one 'over-age' goalkeeper. The league operates under the so-called 'Swiss Model' where the 26 teams will be seeded into five pots based on their historical performance in the competition over the preceding three years, meaning each team will play 20 matches in the regular season.
A 21-game week scenario will see teams playing each club in their own pot plus four or five teams in all other pots, either home or away. After this, the combined table will determine play-off positions, with the top 16 teams qualifying for the knockout format. Manchester City are the defending champions.
WOKING : National League Cup (Group C)
Laithwaite Community Stadium
2 - 0 (Orford 90', Kante 90'+7')
13 August 2025
Herrick
Golambeckis
Luizao
Mayers
Robinson
Orford
Fearon (Akpata)
Clayton (Rigge)
Battrum
Adiele
Landers (Kante)
West Ham United U21s were rewarded for an excellent performance with a 2-0 victory over Woking in the National League Cup, their first competitive outing of the new campaign. After dictating much of the contest, two late goals from Lewis Orford and Mohamadou Kanté sealed all three points which sees Mark Robson's side jump to second in Group C.
The young Hammers almost made the perfect start when Orford’s corner found Ezra Mayers unmarked at the back post, but the defender couldn’t quite convert. West Ham’s sharp pressing and intelligent build-up soon created further chances, while Woking’s main threat came through Innih Effiong and Josh Osunde whose early efforts were repelled by resolute defending, Luizão producing one outstanding recovery challenge to deny Osude a clear run on goal.
As the first half unfolded, the visitors grew in confidence. Orford weaved into the area before flashing a shot just wide, and from a corner Mayers’ header was cleared off the line by Caleb Richards. The hosts had their moments, a goalmouth scramble forcing a fine save from Fin Herrick, but West Ham’s attacking play continued to trouble the home defence, Orford again drawing an acrobatic stop from goalkeeper Tom Norcott before the break.
With Woking down to ten men after a second yellow shown to Sam Ashford, the second half saw the young Hammers take almost complete control, moving the ball confidently in the Woking half and patiently probing for an opening. Ryan Battrum’s thunderous strike against the crossbar came closest, while Preston Fearon, Regan Clayton, and debutant Mohammadou Kanté all helped keep the pressure on Woking’s deep-lying defence. Orford twice went close as the minutes ticked away, only to be denied by the home side’s man of the match, goalkeeper Tom Norcott.
That persistence finally paid off in the closing stages. On 90 minutes, Junior Robinson’s low cross was calmly tucked in by Orford to give West Ham the lead they had long threatened. Deep into stoppage time, on his West Ham debut, substitute Kanté stole the ball high up the pitch, galloped into the area and calmly converted to double the advantage and round off an excellent performance from Mark Robson’s young Hammers which puts them in the top two in Group C after matchday one.
Woking:
Norcott, Hinds (Ward), Odusina (Drewe), Tu. Akinola, Richards, Turner, Andrews (Ti. Akinola), Osude (Hyde), Hall, Effiong, Ashford
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Rush Green
0 - 1
18 August 2025
Herrick
Robinson
Mayers
Fearon (Akpata)
Briggs
Golambeckis
Battrum
Kante
Antonio (Landers)
Adiele
Clayton (Rigge)
West Ham United U21s were narrowly beaten by Nottingham Forest U21s on the opening day of their Premier League 2 campaign. Despite enjoying long spells of possession and pressing Forest back for much of the second half, a first-half error in possession ultimately proved decisive as the visitors held firm to take all three points. A bright and competitive start saw Preston Fearon go close with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, before a lapse in possession proved costly on 19 minutes. Mohamadou Kanté was dispossessed inside his own penalty area allowing Archie Whitehall to slot into the far corner after being teed up by Lamin Sillah. The young Hammers looked for an immediate response and went closest from set pieces, with Fearon and Regan Clayton firing narrowly off target from free-kicks. At the other end, goalkeeper Fin Herrick remained alert to deny James Sinclair and keep his side in the contest heading into half-time.
West Ham came out even more determined to turn the game around, enjoying long spells of possession, with the team working hard to prise open a stubborn Forest backline. Despite positive build-up play, flashes of attacking threat, particularly through the wing play of Emeka Adiele and Ryan Battrum, West Ham were unable to find the breakthrough as Forest dug in to protect their slender advantage.
Nottingham Forest U21s:
Campbell, Thompson, Newton, Hanks, Abbott, Hammond, Sinclair, Smith (Anijsko), Sillah (Willows), Whitehall (Bradshaw), Berry
MANCHESTER CITY
VJoie Stadium
1 - 3 (Kante 90'+5')
22 August 2025
Herrick
Robinson
Mayers
Fearon
Briggs
Golambeckis
Battrum (Caliste)
Akpata (Clayton)
Antonio (Kante)
Rigge (Ajala)
Adiele
West Ham United U21s were beaten 3-1 at the home of the defending Premier League 2 champions Manchester City at Joie Stadium. Despite matching the four-time PL2 winners for much of the contest, and a late strike from Mohamadou Kanté, goals either side of half-time from Ryan McAidoo, Reigan Heskey and Justin Oboavwoduo were enough to seal the three points for the home side.
Keeping a disciplined shape, West Ham limited City’s attacking threat for much of the opening half-hour. Goalkeeper Fin Herrick was equal to everything asked of him, producing a smart save to deny Jaden Heskey, while captain Airidas Golambeckis made a crucial block to keep the scores level. Just before half-time, however, City found a breakthrough when McAidoo intercepted on the halfway line and finished clinically at the far post to give the hosts the lead. City doubled their advantage shortly before the hour through Reigan Heskey, and added a third via Oboavwoduo, but the young Hammers refused to let their heads drop.
The closing stages saw some of their best football, with Emeka Adiele and Preston Fearon combining to create an opening that required a last-ditch clearance on the line after Regan Clayton found Gabriel Caliste unmarked in the penalty area. Herrick then showcased his reflexes again with a great double save to keep the scoreline at three.
The young Hammers did find a consolation goal deep into stoppage time when Kanté, lively since his introduction from the bench, intercepted high up the pitch and struck low into the corner for his second goal in Claret and Blue, ensuring West Ham’s efforts were reflected on the scoresheet.
Manchester City U21s:
Wint, Samuel, Noble, Mfuni, McFarlane, Fapetu (Dada-Mascoll), McAidoo (Muir) J. Heskey, Oboavwoduo (Lawrence), Mukasa, R. Heskey (Sangaré)
SUNDERLAND
Eppleton Colliery FC
4 - 2 (Kante 8', Adiele 16', Landers 58', 76')
29 August 2025
Herrick
Robinson (Medine)
Mayers
Fearon
Briggs (Oyebade)
Golambeckis
Battrum (Sowunmi)
Kante
Landers
Adiele
Clayton (Caliste)
West Ham United U21s stormed to their first Premier League 2 win of the season with a commanding 4-2 victory over Sunderland at the Eppleton Colliery Football Ground. Goals from Mohamadou Kanté, Emeka Adiele and a brace from Josh Landers on his full Premier League 2 debut secured a deserved victory on the road for Mark Robson’s men.
The young Hammers made a blistering start in the North East, racing into a two-goal lead inside the opening quarter of an hour. Kanté opened the scoring on eight minutes, calmly slotting home his third goal in four games after Adiele won possession high up the pitch and picked out the French midfielder. Just eight minutes later, the provider turned scorer. Sunderland gifted possession in their own area, and Adiele was on hand to fire beyond Isaac Allen and double the lead. West Ham’s sharp pressing and confidence on the ball looked set to put the game out of sight early on, but the hosts found a way back before the interval. Ethan Moore broke down the right and squared for Timur Tutierov, who finished clinically to halve the deficit.
Undeterred, West Ham carried their attacking threat into the second half and went close through Adiele, who rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike after dancing past defenders and combining with Clayton. That warning soon turned into another breakthrough, with Adiele again at the heart of the move. His clever cross to the back post was met by Landers, who nodded in his first goal at U21 level to restore the two-goal cushion. Landers’ confidence only grew from there, and the forward doubled his tally 15 minutes from time. A superb through ball from Preston Fearon released Ezra Mayers, who had broken forward from centre-half. His perfect low delivery was tucked away by Landers to make it 4-1. The Hammers had chances to extend their advantage further, with substitute Jethro Medine also striking the crossbar late on.
There was late drama as Sunderland were awarded a penalty when, from a corner, the ball struck Rayan Oyebade, who despite having his arms by his side, was deemed to have committed a red card offence on the goal line. In the ensuing chaos however, the referee mistakenly sent off Fearon.
Sunderland U21s:
Allan, Je. Jones, Lett (Lightfoot), Burke (Proctor), Holcroft (Neild), Kindon, Moore (Scott), Middlemas, Whittaker, Ja. Jones, Tutierov
MILTON KEYNES DONS : Vertu Trophy (Group D)
Stadium MK
5 - 1 (Fearon 12', 39', Maguire 43' [og], Marshall 71', 90+8')
16 September 2025
Fabianski
Golambeckis (Colau)
Mayers
Clayton
Battrum
Kante
Potts
Earthy (Caliste)
Fearon (Medine)
Marshall
Adiele
West Ham United U21s recorded their joint-biggest win in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening, running out emphatic 5-1 winners at Stadium MK. It marked the first time the young Hammers have scored five in the competition, surpassing 2023/24 4-0 victories over Cheltenham Town and Colchester United. First-year professional Preston Fearon, who made his senior debut in the Premier League Summer Series in July against Manchester United, netted a first-half brace, his first goals at U21s level. An own goal and a Callum Marshall double added to an impressive scoreline which sees the young Hammers shoot to the top of Southern Group D.
The evening began with a surprise name on the teamsheet, as Łukasz Fabiański returned between the sticks for his first appearance since signing a new one-year deal. His experience behind a young backline proved valuable in a game where the Hammers showed great maturity in both their attacking and defensive play. Academy graduates Freddie Potts, George Earthy and Marshall were also handed important competitive minutes and were instrumental to all of West Ham’s excellent attacking moves.
The opener arrived after just 12 minutes, and it was one to savour. Mohamadou Kanté threaded a precise pass through to Earthy, who drove into the box and backheeled into the path of Fearon. The 18-year-old midfielder rifled home first time into the bottom corner to claim his first goal for the U21s.
Fearon doubled his tally before the interval. Again it was Kanté at the heart of the move, driving down the left and delivering a low ball across goal for the forward to sweep home with confidence. West Ham added a third just before the break when an Emeka Adiele cross caused panic in the MK Dons box, resulting in an unfortunate own goal from captain Laurence Maguire.
The hosts pulled one back early in the second half from the penalty spot, Aaron Collins converting after a contentious decision against Ryan Battrum. But the response from Mark Robson’s side was immediate. Adiele once again burst forward down the flank and picked out Callum Marshall, who flicked the ball beyond Connal Trueman to restore the three-goal cushion. Marshall then struck again in stoppage time to complete the scoring, finishing off a well-worked set piece to seal a resounding 5-1 victory in front of 130 delighted travelling supporters. Their biggest-ever goal tally in the competition sees them shoot to the top of their group, a huge confidence boost ahead of their return to Premier League 2 action on Friday when they face newcomers Birmingham City.
Milton Keynes Dons:
Trueman, Tripp, Sinclair-Linton (Thompson-Summers), Maguire (Domi), Mellish, Collar, Lewis-Burgess, Troso (Guzynski), Leko, Collins, Medwynter
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Rush Green
3 - 0 (Earthy 16', Marshall 24', Souwunmi 79')
19 September 2025
Wooster
Medine (Colau)
Oyebade (Brown)
Fearon (Akpata)
Golambeckis
Mayers
Caliste (Sowunmi)
Kante
Marshall
Earthy
Adiele
West Ham United U21s extended our unbeaten run to three straight matches in all competitions with a deserved 3-0 win over Birmingham City. The Irons never looked back after taking an early lead thanks to George Earthy’s well-taken effort, and he was quickly joined on the scoresheet by Callum Marshall as we went into the break with a commanding lead.
Substitute Elisha Sowunmi added a third in the second half, capping off an outstanding team performance that secured back-to-back league successes. With Birmingham City coming into this game unbeaten in their opening three league matches, this looked to be a difficult encounter against the Blues, but we were dominant throughout and quickly set out our stall.
We nearly had the dream start when an intricate, flowing move, involving Preston Fearon, Gabriel Caliste, Mohamadou Kanté, Jethro Medine and Emeka Adiele, ended with Earthy having his shot saved. But five minutes later, we set the tone for a dominant display when Earthy put us ahead after 16 minutes. After switching the ball effectively from left to right, some brilliant close control from Fearon saw him collect a lofted pass and find Earthy, who got on the wrong side of his marker before firing the ball in the opposite direction past William O’Sullivan to net the opener.
A second goal felt inevitable, and having been denied moments earlier, Marshall then more than made amends as he doubled our lead, when he latched onto Earthy’s slide-rule pass and rifled a left-footed drive beyond O’Sullivan. As the team pushed forward in search of a third, they were only denied by a superb save from O’Sullivan, with the goalkeeper keeping out Medine’s close-range header.
With half-time approaching, though, our trialist goalkeeper had to be at his most alert to snuff out the danger after Daniel Isichei, Menzi Mazwi and Cameron Eubank all tried their luck multiple times. That seemed to take the sting out of West Ham’s intensity, but we clicked into gear soon after the restart when Earthy deftly chipped the ball over the City defence and into the path of Kanté, but as he stretched to poke the ball home, he could only direct it over the crossbar. Despite the two-goal advantage, the young Hammers continued to press for more goals, and after just eight minutes on the pitch, Sowunmi secured the points with his first-ever Premier League 2 goal.
Birmingham City U21s:
O'Sullivan, Da Silva, Quirk, Burrell, Eubank (Ruiz Rente), Mazwi, Tattum (Guernier), Bateman (Boakye), Isichei, Willis, Betteka (Maddox)
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Rush Green
3 - 3 (Landers 7', 8', 24')
30 September 2025
Wooster
Battrum (Sowunmi)
Oyebade
Fearon
Golambeckis
Mayers
Medine
Kante
Landers (Dike)
Caliste (Akpata)
Adiele
West Ham United U21s were made to settle for a point in a crazy Premier League 2 contest at Rush Green Stadium, drawing 3-3 with Brighton & Hove Albion after a lightning start saw Josh Landers hit a 25-minute hat-trick. Against one of the strongest academies in the league and a side in excellent form, the young Hammers exploded into the contest, racing into a three-goal lead inside 25 minutes.
Landers, back in the side after an injury picked up during the international break, wasted no time in announcing his return with two goals inside the opening eight minutes. The first came after a superb move down the left, with Emeka Adiele’s low delivery tucked away following good build-up from Preston Fearon. Moments later, Mohamadou Kanté slid Landers through and the striker coolly found the far corner. If Brighton were shell-shocked, West Ham only turned up the pressure. Landers completed his hat-trick midway through the half, reacting quickest to a spilled save from Jethro Medine’s effort to poke home.
At that point, Mark Robson’s side looked full of confidence, mixing sharp passing with great movement and solid defending to keep Brighton’s usually fluent attack at bay. Even when Harry Howell, who scored his first senior goal in midweek in a 6-0 Carabao Cup win over Barnsley, struck the bar before the break, the young Hammers’ backline held firm to take a commanding lead into half-time. Brighton, however, showed why they are so highly regarded. A quickfire double just after the restart from Shane Nti and Joe Belmont reignited the contest and shifted momentum firmly in favour of the visitors.
Although Fearon went close to restoring the cushion with a low drive just past the post, the Seagulls’ relentless pressure told late on. With five minutes to play, a cross from the right was turned home by Belmont to level things up at 3-3. With both sides unsatisfied with a share of the spoils, it was a frantic nine minutes of injury time, but ultimately the two sides shared the points in what was a classic example of a game of two halves.
Brighton & Hove Albion U21s:
Ramming, Barclay, Keogh, Simmonds, Atom (MacKley), Knight (Owusu), Oriola, Robertson (Mills), Belmont, Howell (Silsby), Nti
READING : Vertu Trophy (Group D)
Select Car Leasing Stadium
1 - 3 (Marshall 9')
30 September 2025
Wooster
Golambeckis
Oyebade
Mayers
Battrum (Caliste)
Kante
Soucek
Scarles (Medine)
Fearon (Landers)
Adiele
Marshall
West Ham United U21s were left to reflect on what might have been after a controversial evening in the Vertu Trophy saw them fall 3-1 to Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. With three points on the board after matchday one, the young Hammers made a bright start and wasted no time in stamped their authority on proceedings. Captain Airidas Golambeckis went direct, Callum Marshall battled to win a loose ball, and when Emeka Adiele’s effort from outside the box was parried, Marshall reacted first to tuck home his third goal of the competition after just nine minutes.
The match, however, turned on its head almost immediately after the restart. A stray pass was seized upon by Reading and, although Tom Wooster made the initial save, the referee awarded a penalty for minimal contact between Mayers and Jeremiah Okine-Peters before showing the defender a red card. Justice seemed served when Wooster dived low to his right to deny Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan from the spot, but the balance of the game was irreversibly changed.
With ten men, West Ham found themselves under sustained pressure and eventually conceded the equaliser on 63 minutes, Jacob Borgnis pouncing from close range after a set piece wasn’t cleared. Yet the young Hammers still threatened on the break, Adiele going close with a shot that whistled past the post and Marshall working tirelessly as the lone striker to give his side a foothold.
Just when it looked as though they might hold firm for penalties, misfortune struck again. With only minutes left, the referee pointed to the spot for a second time, penalising Oyebade after Sean Patton went down in the area. This time Mark O’Mahony converted, leaving the Hammers chasing the game in the closing stages. A third goal in stoppage time from Okine-Peters put a harsh gloss on the scoreline, and even then West Ham came within a whisker of pulling one back when substitute Gabriel Caliste miscued from close range.
The result was a cruel outcome for a side that had looked composed, compact, and threatening until forced to play for the entire second half a man down. For long spells, Robson’s men defended bravely and continued to create chances despite their numerical disadvantage, but ultimately two contentious penalty decisions and a red card proved decisive.
Reading:
Stevens, Abrefa (Beacroft), Elliot, Ehibhatiomhan (Patton), Rushesha (Sackey), O’Mahony, Stickland, Ryan, Okine-Peters, Borgnis (Duah), Spencer (Tuma)
ARSENAL
Mangata Development Stadium, Meadow Park
2 - 2 (Fearon 34', Mayers 54')
4 October 2025
Wooster
Medine
Oyebade
Fearon
Golambeckis
Mayers
Caliste
Kante (Sowunmi)
Landers
Akpata
Adiele
West Ham United U21s twice led away at Arsenal but were forced to settle for a point after Louie Copley’s late equaliser denied them victory in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Meadow Park.
Arsenal controlled most of the possession in the opening exchanges, but our young Hammers showed patience in their press and real threat in transition. Preston Fearon almost made the breakthrough after being picked out by Tyron Akpata, while Josh Landers went close to wriggling through the home defence. At the other end, Tom Wooster and his back line of Airidas Golambeckis, Ezra Mayers and Rayan Oyebade were called upon to make several important interventions as Arsenal threatened.
The opener arrived on 35 minutes from a set-piece. Emeka Adiele’s delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Mayers, and when Arsenal failed to clear, Fearon was first to react, creating his own space before firing in from close range for his third goal of the season. Parity was restored almost immediately as Arsenal’s Max Dowman drove forward down the middle and found the bottom corner from outside the box with his weaker foot, giving Wooster no chance and ensuring the sides went in level at the break.
If the first half had been largely about containment, the second began with a statement. Within nine minutes of the restart, West Ham started the strongest and struck again through Mayers. Adiele was again the provider, lifting a free-kick to the far post where Mayers rose highest to nod home his first goal at U21 level, capping a superb all-round display from the defender.
From there, Arsenal pressed hard for an equaliser, forcing Wooster into a string of saves, but West Ham continued to carry a threat on the counter. Fearon almost added his second when his curling effort was destined for the top corner, only to be denied by Tommy Setford’s flying save. Substitute Elisha Sowunmi also went close with a deflected strike.
It looked as though the visitors had done enough to withstand the pressure, but deep into stoppage time Arsenal found a way through. After Andre Harriman-Annous recycled a scuffed cross at the back post, he stood the ball up for Copley, who nodded home from close range to restore parity for a second and final time.
A frantic end-to-end last few minutes of stoppage time ensued but the full-time whistle confirmed a share of the points, extending our young Hammers’ unbeaten run in the league to four matches.
Arsenal U21s:
Setford, Nichols (Ferdinand), Washington, Salmon, Clarke, Ibrahim, Stevens (Kamara), Copley, Harriman-Annous, Dowman, Sagoe Jr
SUTTON UNITED : National League Cup (Group C)
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