Academy

Preview | U18s take on Reading in Premier League Cup final

21st April 2025

Reading U18s v West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League Cup Final, Select Car Leasing Stadium, Tuesday 22 April 2025, 7pm BST

West Ham United U18s prepare for their biggest game of the season as they travel to the Select Car Leasing Stadium to take on Reading in their first-ever Premier League Cup final.

A journey which started in August, Lauris Coggin's side qualified for the knockout stages as one of seven group winners, beating Nottingham Forest and Premier League South leaders Southampton at Little Heath Training Ground and securing a draw away at Everton.

In the quarter-finals, the young Hammers beat last season's U18s Premier League and Cup double winners Manchester United on penalties before defeating Derby County 3-1 away in the semi-finals.

How To Follow…

A live stream of the final will be available across the Club’s website and YouTube channel, followed by highlights and reaction from coach Lauris Coggin and his players.

Tickets...

Only the West Lower Stand of the Select Car Leasing Stadium will be open to supporters. Tickets are available via Reading's official website , with advance tickets available until 3pm on the day of the game, priced as follows:

Category	Advanced Prices	Matchday Prices
Adult	£4	£6
65 and Over	£3	£4.50
18-24	£3	£4.50
17 and Under	£3	£4.50
13 and Under	£1	£2

Opposition…

Reading U18s have found form at just the right time. After winning only one of their first eight games across all competitions this season, the young Royals have since mounted an impressive turnaround.

While their FA Youth Cup campaign ended early with a shock first-round defeat to AFC Dunstable, they have more than made up for it with their Premier League Cup run. Including knockout victories over Everton and Liverpool, Reading have now lost just once in eleven matches, a run stretching back to January.

With several players boasting first-team experience likely to feature on Tuesday evening, the final could prove to be one of the toughest tests yet for Coggin’s side.

Previous Meetings...

The two teams have already met twice this season. In October, Elisha Sowunmi’s hat-trick helped West Ham to a 4-1 away win at Reading’s Bearwood Park Training Ground. Emeka Adiele had earlier given the visitors the lead from the penalty spot before Sowunmi struck once in first-half stoppage time and twice more after the interval to seal a deserved victory.

In their last league meeting however, just over a week ago, Reading came out on top, winning 3-1 at Little Heath Training Ground despite a 28th minute equaliser from in-form striker Josh Landers.

Prior to their last meeting, the last few generations of West Ham U18s had held an impressive record against the Royals, winning each of their previous seven league meetings between the two sides over the past six years, with an aggregate scoreline of 32-5.

Ones To Watch...

Leading the line for West Ham United U18s, Josh Landers and Josh Ajala have been in excellent goalscoring form. In the three games they have played together this season for the U18s, the strike pairing have combined for six goals, including all three of the semi-final goals scored at Derby County.

Ajala, who has spent much of the season with the U21s, boasts eight goals in nine U18s appearances, five of which have come in this competition. January signing Landers has been equally prolific since his arrival from Hibernian, netting nine goals in ten games and scoring against all but one opponent he has faced so far.

Josh Landers & Josh Ajala — Landers (1) & Ajala (2) scored all three goals in West Ham United's 3-1 semi-final win at Derby County

For Reading, Emmanuel Osho is one of a number of young Royals that has been taking steps towards the first team this season. Playing mostly with the U21s in his second year as a scholar, Osho made his senior debut in the EFL Cup first round. The 18-year-old also made his League One debut this campaign and played the final half-hour as Reading bowed out to Championship front runners Burnley in the FA Cup third round. Capable of playing in any position in midfield and attack; when stepping back into the U18s set up, Osho has been deployed as a striker, scoring four times in seven league appearances as well as finding the back of the net in both of their Premier League Cup knockout games against Everton and Liverpool to reach the final.

Another Royal with first-team minutes under his belt is Tyler Sackey. Also spending most of the season competing in Premier League 2 with the U21s, Sackey made his first-team debut against West Ham United U21s in the EFL Trophy, scoring the winner in a 3-1 win. A midfielder with an eye for goal, Sackey’s form in the Reading youth ranks has seen him earn a spot on the first-team bench in League One on ten occasions this season.