West Ham United will play Bolton Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday at the Boleyn Ground.
The 7pm fixture, which has to be played to a finish on the night, is the first match in this season's competition for Tony Carr's Under-18 side. The 2007/08 edition began with the preliminary round back in September before the first and second rounds were played. The winners of the tie will have a home tie against Port Vale in the fourth round, after their 4-0 defeat of Swansea City last week.
The two sides do not meet regularly because Bolton compete in Group C of the Premier Academy League, while West Ham United are involved in the eleven-team Group A. The clubs have met twice in the past ten seasons. West Ham United recording a 2-1 home win in an 1998/99 play-off game and drawing 0-0 in an inter-group game in the 2005/06 season, in a match played at Leyland FC.
West Ham United have won the FA Youth Cup on three previous occasions - 1963, 1981 and 1999. The most recent success saw a 9-0 aggregate defeat of Coventry City, when a team inspired by Joe Cole and Michael Carrick turned on the style - particularly in the 6-0 second-leg win at the Boleyn Ground. Only Manchester United and Arsenal with nine and six triumphs respectively have a better overall record in the competition with West Ham United also finishing as runners-up on four occasions. The competition dates back to the 1952/53 campaign.
Tickets for the Bolton fixture will be £3 for adults and £1 for concessions. Doors open at 6pm, with fans advised to go to Dr Martens Stand Lower turnstiles 13, 14 and 15. Return to whufc.com later for a full match preview.