Preview | U18s set for season's final away trip

Norwich City U18s v West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South, Colney Training Centre, Saturday 3 May 2025, 12noon BST

West Ham United U18s make their final away trip of the 2024/25 U18 Premier League South campaign this Saturday as they head to Colney Training Centre to face Norwich City.

The young Hammers will round off their season with two matches in four days, with West Bromwich Albion to visit Little Heath on Tuesday, concluding a year that has seen them lift the Premier League Cup and witness a handful of scholars step up into the U21s environment.

With the U21s also in action over the Bank Holiday weekend in the Premier League 2 play-offs, Saturday’s trip to Norfolk presents another opportunity for some of the younger scholars and U16s to earn more minutes.

How To Follow…

A report, post-match reaction and highlights will be available on the Club’s website and app following the final whistle.

Opposition…

Norwich City U18s have endured a difficult run of results in recent weeks. Despite averaging nearly two goals per game in the league this season, a leaky defence has seen them fall to seven defeats in their last nine outings.

Nevertheless, the Canaries could overtake West Ham in the standings with a win on Saturday. History, however, is on the Hammers’ side. Norwich have not beaten West Ham at U18s level since December 2020, with the Irons winning each of the last seven encounters by an aggregate scoreline of 24-2.

Norwich are coached by former Canaries Academy player Greg Crane, who played non-league football for nearby Lowestoft Town, King's Lynn Town and Norwich United, combining that with coaching at the Academy before returning to Colney full-time in 2014.

Previous Meeting...

The sides last met just four weeks ago in a rearranged fixture at Little Heath Training Ground. Scottish striker Josh Landers' seventh goal of the season gave West Ham the lead in the second half, and a late penalty save from Fin Hooper, denying Norwich’s in-form striker Finley Corke, secured all three points.

Ones To Watch... 

A standout performer for the U16s, Joe Scanlon has really made an impression at left back this season when called up to the U18s squad. Confident in possession and keen to get forward, he netted his first U18s goal in the recent away win at Southampton, adding to his three assists.

Another full-back in good form is Norwich’s Finlay Oligbo. The first-year scholar has started every game for the U18s since the start of the new year. His assist against Chelsea last time out saw him reach ten goal contributions (five goals and five assists), with four of those goals coming directly from free-kicks.

The Story So Far...

West Ham United currently sit eleventh in U18 Premier League South table.

While our FA Youth Cup run ended in the third round at Grimsby Town, the young Hammers made history this season by becoming the first U18s age group to win the Premier League Cup for West Ham.

U18 Premier League South