West Ham United have been drawn against Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup third round.
Tony Carr's team will make the trip to the east Midlands early next month, with all ties to be completed by Saturday 13 December. The Academy director said: "It is going to be a good tie for our players and exciting for them to be involved. It would be nice to have a run this year in a cup which is the most prestigious tournament of our season."
West Ham United were the last team picked out in today's draw, which threw up a host of intriguing ties including Manchester United against Chelsea and holders Manchester City away to Swansea. Last year's campaign ended at the first hurdle, with the young Hammers losing 2-0 at home to Bolton Wanderers. Nottingham Forest compete in Group D of the FA Premier Academy League, under former defender Chris Fairclough, with three wins and a draw from their first eleven fixtures this season.
West Ham United have won the FA Youth Cup on three previous occasions - 1963, 1981 and 1999. The most recent success saw a 9-0 aggregate defeat of Coventry City, when a team inspired by Joe Cole and Michael Carrick turned on the style - particularly in the 6-0 second-leg win at the Boleyn Ground. Only Manchester United and Arsenal with nine and six triumphs respectively have a better overall record in the competition with West Ham United also finishing as runners-up on four occasions. The competition dates back to the 1952/53 campaign.