Ollie Scarles has been rewarded for his breakthrough campaign at West Ham United by winning the Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year award for the 2024/25 season.
The Academy of Football graduate, who is just 19 years old, started the season in Mark Robson's development team, and his adaptation to the requirements and vigours of U21s football soon saw him earn his chance in the senior side. He made his first Premier League appearance as a substitute against AFC Bournemouth in December, having made his senior bow aged just 16 years and eleven months in a UEFA Europa Conference League win over FCSB in Romania in November 2022, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Scarles has gone on to play 14 Premier League games for the Hammers in addition to the start he made in the FA Cup third round at Aston Villa, producing a series of dazzling displays and crucial defensive moments. Indeed, he put in a heroic performance at left-wing back in our 1-0 win at Arsenal in February, where he was able to keep the free-scoring Gunners quiet and help seal back-to-back victories in the red half of north London for the first time in 18 years.
And as our No57 embarked on the post-match lap of appreciation at London Stadium on Sunday, after the last home game of term against Nottingham Forest, he was applauded off by thrilled West Ham supporters who are as excited as anyone by the prospect of another homegrown first-team star.
The Bromley-born defender says he still has to pinch himself after the year he’s had, and he was keen to thank all our supporters, coaches and his teammates for backing him all the way and showing him so much support as he continues to navigate his way to the top.
But perhaps Scarles’ biggest thank you went to Club legend Aaron Cresswell, as he paid an emotional tribute to our No3, who will bid farewell to West Ham United after eleven seasons and close to 370 appearances when his contract expires in June.
Scarles, who was selected as Young Hammer of the Year by Sporting Director Mark Noble and the coaching staff at the Academy of Football, said: “It's a proud moment for me and my family to win this award, especially considering some of the names that have won it before, such as Declan Rice and Ben Johnson, so I'm happy to be put in that sort of category.
“It's been a good season for me, my breakthrough season, and I've enjoyed every moment of it. This Club means so much to me, and I just want to thank the Club and all of the staff and coaches that have helped me get to this point and helped me become the Premier League player that I am today. Hopefully it's only upwards from here, and I can keep progressing and become a better player.
“You don't really expect it (the opportunity) to come. Obviously, you want it to come, but you don't expect anything, and for it to happen at just 19 years old is an amazing achievement for me. I'm really happy and really proud of myself, and I can say it's been an incredible six months for me and my family.
“The boys are brilliant. We’ve got a great group of lads. They've helped me settle in well, and we all get on really well.
“I'm really sad to see Aaron [Cresswell] go. He's been so good for me and helped me settle into the squad and always been there for advice, for a chat, and even in the games that I've been playing, he's always been behind me and supporting me and talking me through the game. He's an inspiration for me, and hopefully I can keep in touch with him wherever he goes next.
“I’d like to thank the staff and coaches at the Club and everyone who has helped me get to where I am now, and of course my family, especially my Mum and Dad, who have had to cover a lot of miles through my Academy years. You don’t realise the sacrifices they had to make until you get older.
“I’d like to thank Nobes (Mark Noble) as well. Whenever I need advice or anything like that, he's always around for a quick call. He's always supported me and believed in me, and he's been brilliant my whole journey.”
