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2025-26 Premier league Under-18 (South)

Manager: Lauris Coggin - Kevin Keen Lead Professional Development Phase Coach

The 2024-25 Under-18 Premier League is the 14th campaign of the top tier of the Under-18 Development League. A total of 26 teams are split regionally into north and south leagues. Teams face their regional opponents both home and away before the top two face each other to determine the national champion. Aston Villa are the defending champions. 

SOUTHAMPTON
Staplewood
0 - 2
16 August 2025

Awesu

Perkins

Scanlon

Jonyla (Unwin)

Leacock

Beckford

Morris-Agyemang (Medine)

Dike

Kamara

Chigwada (Kerr)

Balogun (Brooks)

Two first-half goals condemned West Ham United U18s to defeat in their opening U18 Premier League South match.

Southampton opened the scoring through Leo Umeh’s curling 18-yard strike inside 12 minutes, then Korban McMullan doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time, and although substitute Jephthah Medine came close in the second-half, we tasted defeat at Staplewood.

 

Southampton U18s:

Moloney, Adjei-Afriyie, Vallance, Martin, Sewell, Rohart-Brown (Sainsbury), Umeh (Little), McMullan, Newman (Goremusandu), Rodda (Robinson), Gathercole  

BIRMINGHAM CITY
Little Heath
1 - 1 (Beckford 4')
23 August 2025

Awesu

Perkins

Scanlon

Leacock (Montague)

Jonyla

Nwosu (Balogun)

Dike

Unwin

Kerr (Chigwada)

Beckford

Medine (Peychev)

West Ham United U18s were denied a first victory of the 2025/26 U18 Premier League South season after visiting Birmingham City struck an 88th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Little Heath Training Ground.

It looked like Lewis Beckford’s goal after just three minutes would be enough to see off the newly-promoted Blues, but Kian McCusker snuck in behind late on to ensure it finished honours even on Saturday afternoon.

Beckford, who was impressive throughout, took his goal well, pouncing on a slip from the away side's goalkeeper before rounding Szymon Terenowicz to tap home.

​

Birmingham City U18s:

Terenowicz, Thompson-Jones, Biol, Campbell, Ranson, Martin-Moore, Ugorji, Maddox, Nunes-Wickham (Degtiarev), McCusker, Flavell (Rea)

SUNDERLAND : Premier League Cup (Group E)
Academy of Light Training Ground
3 - 1 (Dike 3 (13' pen, 20', 85')
26 August 2025

Hooper

Brooks (Perkins)

Scanlon

Kamara

Leacock

Nwosu (Jonyla)

Kerr

Morris-Agyemang

Chigwada (Medine)

Beckford (Obi)

Dike

West Ham United U18s began the defence of their Premier League Cup crown in confident fashion, securing a 3-1 victory away at Sunderland thanks to an Andre Dike hat-trick.

Dike struck the outside of the post on eleven minutes after latching onto a pinpoint long pass from goalkeeper Finley Hooper, who impressed throughout with his distribution, both long and short. Moments later, Dike’s persistence brought reward. Having danced past defenders inside the penalty area, he was clipped just as he shaped to shoot. The referee pointed to the spot, and the forward calmly converted to give West Ham a deserved lead.

The winger struck again just eight minutes later. Lewis Beckford picked off a loose pass in Sunderland’s defensive third and showed great awareness to slide the ball across to Dike, who finished with ease into an unguarded net. Hooper then had to be alert at the other end, tipping over a fierce strike from Matthew Burns on 25 minutes, before Sunderland halved the deficit ten minutes later. George Bell’s clever pass released Lewis Campbell, who kept his composure under pressure from Leacock to slot beyond Hooper.

The hosts emerged with greater purpose after the break and came close to an equaliser when Joseph Nield’s dangerous cross was deflected against his own post by Leacock.

In the 76th minute. Sunderland worked a neat move that forced Hooper into a sharp save from Alex Lienard, and just when the match threatened to tilt, West Ham delivered the knockout blow. Chukwuemeka Obi latched onto Joe Scanlon's long throw, hooking a perfect cross towards the back post for Dike to nod home from close range, completing his hat-trick an hour after scoring his second. Lauris Coggin’s side then managed the final stages confidently, closing out the contest to claim three valuable group-stage points and a winning start to their title defence.

​

Sunderland U18s:

Cowan, Bell, Hester, Burns (Lienard), Forsyth, Nield, Scott, Struk (Matadeen), Campbell, Proctor, Dinsdale

LEICESTER CITY
Leicester City Training Ground
1 - 3 (Dike 53')
30 August 2025

Awesu

Perkins

Scanlon (Obi)

Jonyla (Montague)

Leacock

Morris

Dike

Kamara

Kerr

Beckford (Peychev)

Medine (Unwin)

West Ham United U18s were beaten by Leicester City in U18 despite producing a strong performance in the East Midlands. The Hammers enjoyed more possession, out-shot and had five times as many corners as their hosts – 15 to three – but the Foxes were more clinical in clinching a 3-1 home win. Leicester had just four shots on target at their LCFC Training Ground, but three of them found the Irons’ net.

Against the run of play, captain Lorenz Hutchinson put the home side in front on 14 minutes, tapping home Riley Carr’s cross after the winger had advanced into the West Ham penalty area.

Despite looking the more dangerous side, West Ham fell further behind eight minutes before half-time. Joe Corden capitalised on a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Lanre Awesu and calmly finished.

The visitors showed great spirit after the interval and almost halved the deficit soon after the restart. Lewis Beckford stole possession inside the Leicester box and despite beating goalkeeper Freddie Marson with his effort, Adedeji was once again on hand to clear the danger, clearing off the line.

The pressure eventually told in the 53rd minute. Callum Leacock’s disguised pass found Aaron Kamara, who cleverly flicked the ball on to Scanlon. Breaking into the penalty area, the midfielder squared across goal, with Beckford and Kerr drawing defenders away to allow Andre Dike to apply the perfect first-time finish, his fourth goal in two games. But once again, against the run of play, Leicester re-established their two-goal cushion when Bismarck Owusu drilled low inside the near post

 

Leicester City U18s:

Marson, Aideed, Toko, Adedeji (Dignum), Daniels (Fletcher), Lisle, Lawrence, Carr, Corden (Jacklin), Owusu, Hutchinson (Manyumba)

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Little Heath
0 - 5
13 September 2025

Awesu

Perkins

Scanlon (Jonyla)

Kamara

Leacock

Unwin (Montague)

DikeMorris (Peychev)

Obi

Beckford

Medine (Kerr)

West Ham United U18s fell to defeat at Little Heath with Tottenham Hotspur taking their chances to claim a 5-0 victory in U18 Premier League South.

Despite matching their opponents in possession and attempts on goal, our young Hammers were on the wrong end of a harsh scoreline and slipped to consecutive league defeats.

Spurs carved out the first opening inside the opening five minutes when Armend Muslika was played in behind the Hammers’ back line, though he dragged his effort wide of Lanre Awesu’s goal.

The early exchanges developed into a physical contest with clear sights of goal at a premium. Midway through the first half, Miracle Adewole, lively down the left with his pace and trickery, almost found a way through, only for Callum Leacock to produce a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny the Spurs winger.

The visitors did eventually make the breakthrough when they beat the offside trap, creating a three-on-one situation. Muslika was set up inside the area and finished calmly beyond Awesu. Spurs doubled their lead on 36 minutes with a cleverly-worked free-kick. Taken quickly down the left to Adewole, he cut the ball back for Oliver Boast, who swept home a tidy first-time finish. Just moments later, Boast added his second. Goalkeeper Blake Irow launched a long kick forward, and with numbers in attack, Spurs worked it well for Oscar Sandiford to slide in Boast, who finished clinically once again.

West Ham almost reduced the deficit before the break when Jephthah Medine’s cross skipped past Lewis Beckford and fell to Andre Dike, who couldn’t quite connect cleanly. Aaron Kamara also went close, driving through the centre before seeing his shot deflected over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half, Kamara was again at the heart of West Ham’s attacking play. Having been pushed into midfield after the introduction of Harry Montague, he surged forward and played in Dike, who was denied at the last by Elijah Upson just as he shaped to shoot one-on-one with Irow.

With five minutes remaining, Muslika capitalised on a loose pass from goalkeeper Awesu to extend Tottenham’s advantage. Lauris Coggin’s side continued to battle until the final whistle, with Chukwuemeka Obi going close late on, but in stoppage time Frankie Day added a fifth for the visitors to round off the scoring.

​

Tottenham Hotspur U18s:

Irow, Sandiford (Byrne), Thomas, Tingey, Upson, Moncur (Salter), Myrtaj, Feeney (Wellspring), Boast (Day), Muslika, Adewole

FULHAM
Little Heath
2 - 1 (Kerr 32', Obi 41')
20 September 2025

Hooper

Perkins

Scanlon (Jonyla)

Montague

Leacock

Morris-Agyemang

Kerr (Peychev)

Kamara

Obi (Unwin)

Beckford (Medine Jep)

Dike

West Ham United U18s secured a first U18 Premier League South victory of the 2025/26 season with a 2-1 home victory over Fulham. First-half goals from forwards Joel Kerr and Chuk Obi saw Lauris Coggin’s side secure deserved derby honours at Little Heath.

The game started with Fulham having their only goal attempt of the first half, which Bashil Lubega fired wide, before Whites winger Harley Platel was booked for a foul on goalkeeper Finley Hooper. From then on, West Ham dominated, with Obi and Kerr having shots blocked and Aaron Kamara hitting one effort over the crossbar and a second wide of the post in quick succession.

The deadlock was broken on 32 minutes by Northern Ireland U17 international Kerr, who converted a pass from Joe Scanlon. The hosts doubled their lead on 41 minutes when Andre Dike set up Obi, who scored with a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

West Ham’s domination continued early in the second half as Callum Leacock and Dike sent shots wide, and the Irons’ failure to make the game safe almost came back to haunt them when substitute Anand Batra pulled a goal back on 68 minutes with Fulham’s first shot on target. Coggin’s team saw the game out comfortably, though, restricting Fulham to only one further goal attempt when Alfie White’s shot was blocked. Substitute Jephthan Medine missed a chance to add a third in added-time but West Ham had done enough and a first success of the campaign saw the U18s rise four places to tenth in the 15-team table.

​
Fulham U18s:

Mayer, Benchaita, Cooke, Gomins, Schutter, Kondau-Wall (Khan), White, Cavell (Sessegnon), Evans, Platel, Lubega (Batra)

READING
Bearwood Park
1 - 2 (Obi 73')
27 September 2025

Awesu

Perkins (Omotoye)

Scanlon (Unwin)

Montague

Leacock

Morris-Agyemang

Dike (Medine)

Kamara

Obi

Peychev (Beckford)

Kerr

In the first meeting between the sides since last season’s Premier League Cup final, where Lauris Coggins’ side lifted the trophy with a 2-1 victory, our young Hammers fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Bearwood Park Training Ground as a late goal from Raguel Jubilee-Ntege cancelled out Chuk Obi's second-half leveller. The early exchanges saw both sides engage in physical battle, with plenty of half-chances for both sides, as West Ham enjoyed early spells of possession.

The home side began to dominate the ball, with their quick forwards repeatedly trying to get in behind. However, the Hammers’ defence stood firm, with Callum Leacock and Harry Montague winning numerous duels. The first big chance came in the 23rd minute as Obi pressed the Reading defence, won the ball back, and drove into the box. His low effort was saved, but it gave the Hammers confidence.

Then in the 38th minute, Martin Peychev did brilliantly to dribble into the box and evade several Reading challenges and set up Obi with another opportunity, but he was unable to get enough power on his attempt. Minutes later, the deadlock was broken, but for the home side, as Larry Omoregie led a counterattack and played it back to Rabbi Ntege, whose deflected strike looped past Lanre Awesu.

The second-half saw many changes from both teams, and the first chance once again dropped to West Ham after Jephthah Medine, who came on for Andre Dike, who made his U21s debut on Friday against Brighton & Hove Albion, found space down the left flank and delivered a cross to Peychev in the box, but his effort was blocked.

But the Hammers would equalise with 20 minutes to go as Medine got down the left wing, and his cross was cleared into the path of Obi, who volleyed home emphatically. West Ham continued to apply pressure, and thought they had gone ahead when Aaron Kamara converted Medine’s cut-back, only for the goal to be ruled offside. Despite the home side’s pace on the break, a fantastic recovery tackle from Leacock in the 80th minute denied Ntege from getting into the box, showing once again the resilience of the defence. However, with minutes to go, it was heartbreak for our young Hammers as Ntege hit a long-range effort from outside the box, going in off the crossbar.

​

Reading U18s:

Chambers-Borgnis, Zie, St. Louis, Booth, Dove, Richard-Irish, Rabbi Ntege, Beacroft (Martin-Grant), Omoregie (Hunte) Fuller-Thompson (Covus), Jubilee-Ntege

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Premier League Cup (Group E)
Little Heath
2 - 1 (Kerr 13', 22')
4 October 2025

Hooper

Perkins

Scanlon

Jonyla

Leacock

Unwin (Peychev)

Dike

Kamara (Morris-Agyemang)

Kerr (Obi)

Beckford

Medine Jep (Onyeka-Fokujwu)

West Ham United U18s continued their perfect record in their defence of the Premier League Cup title with Joel Kerr’s first-half brace helping his side stay top of the ranks going into the final group game. The first chance of the match fell to Dike, who burst down the right flank in a brilliant solo run. His effort was saved, but it immediately highlighted the threat the side posed down the wings.

It didn’t take long for our young Hammers to open the scoring. Kerr, operating as a striker, pressed the defence to win the ball back and calmly slotted it into the net, giving his side a well-deserved lead after just 13 minutes. However, the home side suffered a setback shortly after, as Aaron Kamara was forced off the pitch after 20 minutes through injury, with Reggie Morris slotting into midfield to replace him. Despite this, Lauris Coggin’s men continued to showcase their attacking prowess. After 22 minutes, they extended their advantage. A brilliant cross from Vinnie Perkins fell to Jephthah Medine, whose shot was blocked off the line, only for Kerr to react quickest and poke the ball home for his second goal of the game. Before half-time, the home side continued to dominate. Dike once again demonstrated his excellent wing play, chasing a long ball down the right before finding Morris. His incisive pass fell to Jonathan Unwin, but his effort struck the post.

The early exchanges in the second half saw both teams applying pressure, but West Ham’s defenders remained composed, winning multiple duels and headers to prevent Forest from breaking on the counter-attack. However, after 70 minutes, the home side were dealt another blow when captain Callum Leacock was shown a red card for a late off-the-ball challenge, leaving our young Hammers to see out the game with ten men. The away side then increased the pressure following the red card, as Frank Djamma was played through on goal after a slick move through midfield. His effort went over the bar, serving as a warning for the home side.

West Ham continued to push for another goal despite being a man down. Lewis Beckford came close to extending the lead when a clearance from a corner fell to him on the half-volley, but his effort drifted just wide. With eight minutes remaining, Nottingham Forest made the most of the extra man as Basima Balagizi kept his balance and played Shakur Samuels through on goal. He placed his shot into the bottom corner to pull one back, setting up a tense final few minutes.


Nottingham Forest U18s:

Grainger, Sanneh, Andrews, Russell (Samuels), Broomes, Davies, Lokote (Balagizi), Djamma, Hamilton, Robinson, Sutton​

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