Pards Calls For Youth Support

ALAN Pardew has urged Hammers fans to get behind the Club's Under-18 team, which takes on Southampton in the FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final at Upton Park on Tuesday evening, kick-off 7.00pm.

The young Hammers enjoyed a bumper crowd for the 3-2 win over Leyton Orient and Pards hopes the Club's youngsters are treated to similar support for the visit of the Saints.

"We need all our fans out there supporting the boys," he said. "They enjoyed great support in the last round and hopefully there will be a similar turnout tomorrow.

"There is a wonderful team bond amongst the youth squad and there are some excellent individual players in there as well. We're going to be coming up against one of the best youth team's in the country in Southampton and it should be a great Cup-tie.

"Southampton have a terrific Academy set-up, but we need to focus on our own team and just go out and try to win the game. We're hoping that it's going to be our turn and I have a feeling that we've got a very good chance tomorrow."