Canvey Island v West Ham United U21s

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08/08/2023

The Movie Starr Stadium

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Canvey Island v West Ham United U21s
The Movie Starr Stadium, Pre-season fixture, Tuesday 8 August, 7.30pm

West Ham United U21s will end their 2023/24 pre-season preparations with a fixture at Canvey Island on Tuesday evening.

The Hammers head to the south Essex coast to face the Isthmian League Premier Division outfit ahead of their Premier League 2 opener against Arsenal on Friday 11 August.

The young Irons have beaten Colchester United 1-0 and Elche B 2-0, while a narrow defeat came against Ebbsfleet United has seen the U21s compete impressively across their first three pre-season fixtures.

Off the back of a week in southern Spain, Mark Robson’s outfit will look to maintain the momentum ahead of their development league opener.

Read on for a preview from lead coach Robson and goalkeeper Mason Terry as well as all the information you need ahead of Tuesday’s fixture!

Terry: I'm excited for a return to my local club

For Mason Terry, Tuesday’s fixture at Canvey Island will be a bit different to any other.

Born on Canvey, the shot-stopper grew up watching Tuesday’s opponents and has continued to do so, heading down to Park Lane to watch the Isthmian League outfit in action over the last year or so.

Knowing plenty of people in the stands then, the goalkeeper is keen to play his part and is also expecting a bit of stick from the home support too!

“As soon the fixture was announced this year all the West Ham boys were saying I’m gonna get getting a bit from the fans down there,” Terry laughed. “They’ll all be chanting my name, saying this and that.

“I used to go and watch Canvey a lot as a kid. I try to get to as many games as I can but it’s a bit harder now with playing with West Ham, but I know a lot of people down there so any time I can, I try and watch. It’s a great team to go and watch as well.”

Of course, a lot of Canvey Island’s supporters will also follow the Hammers, with the club based along the Thames estuary – and in particular, would have been part of the crowed who followed the U18s' run to the FA Youth Cup title last season, of which Terry more than played his part.

A starter in all six FA Youth Cup ties, the 18-year-old conceded just six goals in the tournament as the young Hammers claimed a fourth Youth Cup trophy in the Club’s history – and first since 1999.

As such, the shot-stopper was rewarded for his fine form with a well-deserved professional contract ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is hoping to kick off his move up to the U21s in front of a set of supporters he knows well.

“Being big West Ham fans as well, a lot of them followed us in the FA Youth Cup last year as well so I expect them to be up for it,” he added.

“The last time West Ham played at Canvey, there were about two thousand and I was one of them!”

“It’s my local team, so I am looking forward to going back and playing! A lot of Canvey fans are also West Ham fans so it should be a good atmosphere on Tuesday.”

Mark Robson seeks momentum for competitive fixtures

A trip to Canvey Island presents a chance for the Hammers to round off a successful pre-season, according to lead coach Mark Robson.

The Hammers have battled well against teams from across the English football pyramid across July, before a 2-0 win over Elche B last week.

For Robson the tour to Murcia was the perfect way to head into the final week of preparations for our Premier League 2 opener and it is vital the Hammers continue that momentum in Essex.

Robson explained: “It is shame that we have ended up having our opening PL2 game on the following Friday as we were hoping it would be played on the Monday and give us a few extra days to prepare.

“But is such a good group so we know they will give it everything and we will make sure we give the players what they need to go into that match on Tuesday so that by the match on Friday they are well prepared and ready to take on Arsenal.”

Opposition

Coached by Brad Wellmen, 2023/24 will be Canvey Island’s second campaign in the Isthmian League Premier Division following their promotion from the North Division in summer 2022.

It was almost a case of rinse and repeat as last year, the Gulls almost achieved back-to-back promotions, although they fell narrowly short, having reached the play-offs, losing on penalties to eventual winners Aveley.

Canvey enjoyed their best moments around 20 years ago, when they won the FA Trophy, earned promotion to Conference National (now the National League) and reached the FA Cup third round in a three-season span between 2000/01 and 2003/04.

West Ham legend Julian Dicks played a brief but fleeting role in that FA Cup success, featuring in the first and second round wins over Football League opponents Wigan Athletic and Northampton Town.

Last time out

Sean Moore’s first goal in Claret and Blue saw West Ham United U21s beat Elche B 2-0 in a pre-season friendly held in Murcia.

Consecutive pre-season wins saw the young Hammers prepare for their Premier League 2 opener in style having beat Colchester United last week.

How to follow?

While there will be no live coverage of Tuesday's game, we will have report, reaction, and highlights on whufc.com shortly after the final whistle.

Tickets

Admission to this game is purchased at the turnstiles. Turnstiles will be open from 5.30pm.

Prices are £10 for Adults, £5 for Concessions (Students with Valid ID/Over-60s) and £2 for Under-16s (Accompanied by an Adult).

Cash and Card payments are available at the gate. Canvey Island recommends cash payments be paid to the exact total required to avoid delays.

More matchday information from Tuesday’s hosts can be found here.

Canvey Island 0-2 West Ham United U21s
The Movie Starr Stadium, Pre-season fixture, Tuesday 8 August, 7.30pm

West Ham United U21s concluded their 2023/24 Premier League 2 preparations with a 2-0 win against Canvey Island.

Against the Isthmian League outfit, the young Hammers battled well, and asserted their early dominance with a flurry of half chances, the best of which saw George Earthy’s deflected shot arrow over the bar.

Canvey threatened to test local lad Mason Terry when Elliot Johnson fired wide of the post from the edge of the area. And although the stopper was relatively untroubled in the first half, he did see Kaelan Casey react quickly though to clear a goal-bound effort off the line, before the young Irons were back on the offensive.

A flowing move saw Keenan Appiah-Forson, Michael Forbes and Ollie Scarles combine to send the Hammers forward, before Gideon Kodua killed the ball with a glorious touch but could only fire over.

A hatful first-year scholars were also part of the action, with Liam Jones, Joshua Ajala and Ryan Battrum entering the field at half-time, before Earthy tricked his way through the yellow and blue shirts and struck wide.

After Billy Bates, Daniel Rigge, Tyron Akpata and Favour Fawunmi were later introduced, Terry was then called into action with a superb stop to keep the game goalless - his final act, before his replacement by Finlay Herrick, in his first action at Under-21 level, for the final 20 minutes.

And it was the younger lads who combined well for the Irons’ first of the night, with Canvey defender Tobi Tinubu getting the final touch after Jones’ delicious cross found Fawunmi at the back post.

Ajala then netted a stunning second from close range to round off the victory and ensure a side, with both U21s and U18s in its ranks, head into the season with a third straight pre-season win under their belts.

West Ham United U21s: Terry (Herrick 75), Robinson (Battrum 46), Tarima, Casey (Akpata 65), Forbes © (Bates 65), Scarles (Jones 46), Forson (Rigge 65), Woods, Moore, Kodua (Ajala 65), Earthy (Rigge 65)
Subs not used: Kelly

Goals: Fawunmi, Ajala

Robson praises U18s who more than stepped up against Canvey

Mark Robson was full of praise for the hatful of first and second-year scholars who featured against Canvey Island.

Billy Bates, Daniel Rigge, Tyron Akpata, Favour Fawunmi, Finlay Herrick, Liam Jones and Joshua Ajala made their mark in the second half, with the latter also finding the net late on the round-off the 2-0 win in Essex.

With a few U21s given the night off ahead of the fixture with Arsenal on Friday evening, the lead coach was delighted by the impact the U18s made from the bench.

Robson stated: “We were trying to get one or two a bit more game time ahead of Friday, but it was also a ready good opportunity to look at a few of the U18s as well.

“I have got to say I thought they freshened it up in the second half and turned the game around for us. And it was really pleasing to see.

“It was the first time I had seen a few play a game, and they did really well. I thought Josh’s goal was outstanding and it was a really good move and well-executed finish with his left foot.”

Results at this stage are of course pleasing heading into the new season, although the second-half performance showed there are plenty of Hammers pushing for U21s action across 2023/24.

The first fixture is on Friday and Robson is pleased to be heading to Arsenal with momentum from a successful pre-season, despite how youthful his side was in their pre-season finale.

“I rested some boys tonight after a lot of games and travelling over the past week," he added. "I think if we can do what we did last season by giving some of the U18s a chance at U21 level, I will be really pleased.

“We are always trying to look for the next player and people are looking to take someone’s place. When you have that competition, it is great for us. As a Club, it is what we need.”

Forbes ready for leadership role as Robson names his skippers

There was a smile on Michael Forbes’ face as he led his teammates out against Canvey Island.

The young defender, who spent nearly six months side-lined at the end of last season due to a mix of ankle ligament and cheekbone injury, has made a welcome return to match action over 2023/24 pre-season and has been named as skipper by Robson for the imminent PL2 campaign.

Vice skippers Gideon Kodua and Regan Clayton show a solid leadership group emerging at the development level, with Forbes thrilled to be given the extra responsibility of being a senior player – and also the armband.

“It was the longest I have been out of football, so it is great to be back playing,” he stated. “It was a nasty one, so I am happy to be around the boys again.

“With a lot of the boys who won the FA Youth Cup last year stepping up, it’s a young group so I have been taking a lot more responsibility, which I am enjoying.

“Being given the armband last week, I am really proud to get that role. Leadership is a huge part of my game and I think I can have a big role in the game with my voice and bring other players into the game too.”

A win in their final pre-season fixture means the Irons head into their PL2 opener with three straight victories under their belt.

Now, the focus is on Friday’s trip to Arsenal. The Hammers want to start as they mean to go on.

Forbes added: “In the first half, we were a bit disappointed with how we played but in the second half it was a lot better and a few of the younger lads did really well.

“Arsenal is a massive game to start the season and it won't be easy. I think if we can put in a performance and win that match, it will be a good platform for us to kick-on.”