Maidenhead United v West Ham United U21

KO:19:30

24/07/2024

York Road Stadium

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Maidenhead United v West Ham United U21s
Pre-Season Match, York Road, Wednesday 24 July 2024, 7.30pm BST

West Ham United U21s continue their pre-season campaign with an away trip to Maidenhead United on Wednesday evening.

Having kickstarted their summer schedule against the Magpies’ National League rivals Ebsfleet United at the weekend, the young Hammers head to Maidenhead’s York Road, the oldest football ground continuously used by the same club, to face senior opposition once again.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online HERE, priced at £10 for Adults, £5 for Concessions (Students and over 65s), and £3 for U17s (U14s must be accompanied by an adult).

Travel

The postcode for York Road is SL6 1SF.

To access the ground via public transport, fans travelling from Essex and east London can take the Elizabeth Line all the way to Maidenhead station, conveniently situated just six minutes from the stadium by foot.

Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.

How To Follow

Our match against Maidenhead United will not be live-streamed.

However, a live blog will be available on the Club’s website and app, while a match report and reaction will follow shortly after the full-time whistle.

Opposition

In the opposing dugout, Maidenhead Head Coach Alan Devonshire will be a familiar face for Hammers fans. An integral part of West Ham United’s last FA Cup-winning squad, having scored in their semi-final replay and assisted Trevor Brooking’s goal in the final against Arsenal, Devonshire made 358 appearances in Claret and Blue over a 14-year spell.

One of the longest-serving managers in English football, Devonshire guided Maidenhead to promotion to the National League in 2017, marking the highest divisional ranking the Magpies have held in the club’s history.

Ahead of their eighth consecutive season in the English fifth tier, the team from Berkshire are on an impressive pre-season run with a 100 per cent record, scoring 17 goals and keeping clean sheets in each of their first four games.

Wednesday’s fixture against the U21s will be the first time Maidenhead welcome their home fans to York Road since finishing 14th in the 2023/24 National League.

Coach's View

One of the many Hammers inspired by Devonshire's exploits at West Ham is U21s Lead Coach Mark Robson, who is relishing the opportunity to go up against one of his childhood heroes.

He said: "Dev was one of my idols growing up. I used to love watching him play. As a winger myself, I drew a lot of inspiration from his game. A real top, top player for the Hammers. I’m really looking forward to going up against one of his teams."

Despite the result in their first pre-season fixture against Ebbsfleet United, Robson and his coaching staff were pleased with what they saw, insisting minutes in the legs is the name of the game.

"We were all really pleased with what we saw, from the goalkeeper, right the way through," he continued. "We just need to sustain that level of performance and intensity throughout the 90 minutes, which will naturally come as we progress through the pre-season."

As was the case against Ebbsfleet, there will be some conspicuous absentees in the squad with a handful of players joining the first team for their pre-season Sunshine State Tour. With a number of the young Hammers Stateside, Robson will once again be giving the opportunity to some of the U18s to test themselves against senior opposition.

Robson added: "It’s fantastic that we’ve got so many boys who have been given the opportunity by the Head Coach. I’ve heard that they’ve acquitted themselves well. With them away, it gives us the opportunity to look at some of our younger ones. So far, it’s been a great experience for them. It’s challenging because they’re up against players who are much stronger than what they’re used to, but this is the next step in their development. It’s a great opportunity. Our expectation is for them to express themselves, to be the best they can be, to play without fear, and most importantly, to enjoy it."

Ebsfleet United v West Ham United U21s — The U21s travelled to Ebbsfleet for their first pre-season fixture

Last Time Out

The U21s kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Ebbsfleet United.

With the match coinciding with West Ham United’s fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge, many of the young Hammers made the short trip to Chigwell Construction Stadium with the first team, allowing Lead Coach Mark Robson to give some of the younger players a run out.

Despite a courageous showing, the Development Squad were unable to outmanoeuvre their physically-superior opponents who recorded their third consecutive victory of their pre-season campaign.

With minutes in the legs, the U21s will be looking to record their first victory of the new season in Maidenhead.

Maidenhead United 4-0 West Ham United U21s
Pre-Season Match, York Road, Wednesday 24 July 2024, 7.30pm BST

West Ham United U21s were beaten 4-0 by Maidenhead United in their second pre-season match of the summer at York Road.

A first-half flurry by the hosts saw the young Hammers fall to defeat against their Vanarama National League opponents.

More positively, however, U21s lead coach Mark Robson was able to afford time on the pitch to every squad member, with 18 players in total getting valuable minutes in their legs ahead of the new season.

Maidenhead’s early pressure paid off as they stormed into the lead at York Road through Reece Smith’s close-range finish and a looping header from a trialist.

West Ham attempted to hit back, but the Magpies had a third before half-time through striker Tristan Abrahams.

Nathan Ferguson then added a fourth after the restart to compile the young Hammers’ misery.

With a significant number of U21 players, including George Earthy, Ollie Scarles and Kaelan Casey, who are part of the group currently away on our Sunshine State Tour in the United States, Robson named another youthful starting XI featuring a blend of U21s and U18s, led by captain Levi Laing.

Maidenhead had the lead on 29 minutes in front of their impressive home support. Jayden Mitchell-Lawson skipped past his marker down the right and flashed an accurate and powerful ball into the six-yard box that that slipped through the grasp of Lanre Awesu before being poked home by Smith.

West Ham had barely caught their breath before the hosts notched their second of the night little over 60 seconds later. A corner from the right was met by a trialist, and his header looped over goalkeeper Awesu.

Maidenhead United vs West Ham United U21s

Alan Devonshire’s side continued to pile the pressure on West Ham and found their third after 40 minutes when Abrahams guided in a pinpoint cross from Mitchell-Lawson.

The hosts would find a fourth soon after the restart as the Hammers failed to deal with a low cross following a long throw down the line with Laing’s clearance deflecting off Ferguson’s outstretched leg and into the net.

The difficult nature of the first 52 minutes prompted substitutions, as Brad Dolaghan tried to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, as West Ham sought a way back into the fixture, his powerful effort forcing a smart save from another trialist after being slid in by Dan Rigge.

Josh Briggs would go close late on from a set-piece, but the defender could not find the net and at least add a consolation on a frustrating evening in Maidenhead.

West Ham United U21s: Awesu (Abraham 72), Tarima (Akpata 86), Brown (Mayers 65), Akpata (Caliste 65), Laing (Briggs 65), Luizão, Swyer, Battrum (Fearon 65), Ajala (Dolaghan 56), Sowunmi (56), Adiele

Attendance: 989

Robson: There's a lot of learning to do from these games

The U21s continued their pre-season campaign with another game against senior opposition. While the result was disappointing, lead coach Mark Robson was keen to reflect on the learnings of going up against Hammers legend Alan Devonshire’s side.

He said: “I really like Dev’s team and the way they play. They were very strong with plenty of pace up front too. Facing teams that play so direct and put so many dangerous balls into the box is something the boys aren’t as used to, as you don’t get that as much at U21 level.”

With many of the U21s out in Florida with the first team for their Sunshine State pre-season tour, Robson was impressed with some of the younger players who were given the opportunity tonight.

He added: “Physically as we know, they were going to be stronger than us. I said to them at the end, playing against these guys is what you’re going to have to get used to when you step up to the first team. Playing against men who are strong and quick. That being said, a number of our boys have only just turned 17. It’s a new challenge for them and I thought a few came out with a lot of credit.”