West Ham United Under-18s kick-off their new 2011/12 FA Premier Academy League season when they take on Sheffield United at Little Heath on Saturday.
The Hammers have enjoyed a productive pre-season, defeating youth teams from PSV Eindhoven, Dinamo Moscow, Leyton Orient and Kingstonian, as well as the non-league Great Wakering Rovers first team.
With a talented batch of first-year scholars complementing a squad that already included England age-group internationals Robert Hall, Blair Turgott and Matthias Fanimo, Academy Director Tony Carr has plenty of reasons for optimism this term.
Striker Elliot Lee has managed seven goals in pre-season, while defender Leo Chambers and attacker Dymon Labonne have also shown plenty of promise.
Kick-off at Little Heath on Saturday is at 12.30pm, with parking and admission both free of charge.
Since the close of last season, the Hammers have allowed a number of youngsters to leave the club. Paco Craig, Deniz Mehmet, Filip Modelski, Daniel Purdy and Daniel Subuola have all departed for pastures new.
Goalkeeper Mehmet has linked up with Welling, while Modelski has joined PKS Belchatow in his native Poland and Purdy has returned to Republic of Ireland to join Longford Town. Subuola was on trial this summer at Ebbsfleet.