Tony: A Good Game Ahead

Tony Carr is looking forward to a good performance from his proteges on Monday evening against Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth cup at Upton Park - and hopes the players can do themselves justice in front of Alan Pardew.

"It will be a tough game and a different kind to the Chester-le Street one, obviously, with them being a non-league side and Forest being a fellow first division side and academy team," says Tony of the game against a Forest side who knocked out Coventry in the last round.

West Ham beat Coventry 9-0 over two legs in the final of the competition in 1999, but of course every year in youth football is a completely different proposition, and Tony adds:

"I am expecting a good tough game and in the last 16 of the Youth cup they don't get any easier.

"It is another home game and hopefully we can push into the quarter-final for the second year running.

"Alan has told me he will be there willing the boys on and all the senior staff will be there; let's hope all the boys can do themselves proud and perform well before the manager.

"It is a great opportunity for them to show all concerned what they can do and that they have futures in the game - and experience-wise it is good to be playing in the stadium which they don't get to do very often.

"It is a win-win situation in that respect so hopefully they will perform as they can; we have played there before and come away very disappointed, Middlesbrough a couple of years ago being one example that springs to mind.

"We were poor and lost 2-0, perhaps through nerves or inexperience, but hopefully we can overcome those obstacles as we are a young side with some very good players.

"It should be a good game."

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* Many Hammers Supporters have been calling the Club to ask if we have any programmes available from Saturday's F A Cup performance against Fulham at Loftus Road. Some fans who attended the beam back at Upton Park and didn't buy one would now like a copy  

Well, we have managed to obtain a certain number of the programmes from Fulham and they are now on sale to our supporters.

If you wish to buy a copy(ies), send your name, address, postcode and a cheque or postal order for £3 each to Sue Page, Commercial Manager, West Ham United, Boleyn Ground, Green Street, Upton Park, London, E13 9AZ or email  [email protected] with your name, address, postcode and credit card details.