For Academy graduates Reece Oxford and Lewis Page, Thursday’s 3-0 UEFA Europa League win over FC Lusitans was anything but routine, with senior debuts under the lights at a sold-out Boleyn Ground to savour.
At 16 years and 198 days, England U17s skipper Oxford became the youngest player to ever represent the Hammers, doing so in a slightly unfamiliar midfield berth.
Though tougher tests await, no doubt, the young duo had plenty to smile about on the night, having earlier been presented with their match shirts by new manager Slaven Bilic.
“It was a very nice moment for me as I wanted to go to the dressing room to wish them luck,” Bilic explained. “I didn’t want to interrupt their pre-match routine too much but I wanted to wish them luck and hope that they did well.
“They both did a good job and it will stay in their memories for ever.”
A special gesture appreciated by full-back Page, who certainly enjoyed his evening’s work with Matt Jarvis down the left-hand side.
“We didn't expect it until a couple of minutes before we were told, and then it was just a bit of a surprise. It just made you feel confident to go into the game, so that was really nice of him.”
For record-breaker Oxford, it comes as something of a relief to have got his senior bow out of the way, in the hope that he can now make an impression on a first team.
“It's a privilege to be the youngest player to have played since 1922, I think, so hopefully I can just progress now and stay in the team.
“It was tough to begin with and then I started to find my way into the game, started getting a few passes off and feeling more comfortable.
“There had been a lot of talk about when I was going to come on, but now that I've come on hopefully I can stay in the team, or on the bench.”
It was a similarly proud moment for 19-year-old Page, who will long remember the first time he stepped out in front a full house for West Ham.
“It was a great experience,” he added. “I had goosebumps walking out, that's what I've been dreaming of since I was ten when I joined here and just to play was amazing.
“I think we handled it all right, we had the game under control and we won quite comfortably.
“I love playing with Jarvo [Matt Jarvis] because he's a nice man as well, so I just gave him the ball and we just worked together really. He really helps me out defensively as well.
Against a physical Andorran outfit, the Hammers duo certainly had to be on their toes, but were not about to be fazed by a strong challenge or two.
“Physically I had to be on point,” Oxford explained. “When I gave a foul away in the first ten minutes I got a yellow and I just knew not to go flying in because they were rolling about a bit, but they were physical on the ball and off it.”
As for the return leg in a week’s time, Page is understandably keen to repeat the feat at the 1,300-capacity Estadia Comunal d’Andorra La Vella.
“It's another game under your belt, another 90 minutes in the first team, that's all you want to do really, keep playing in the first team and hopefully get your chance again.”
At 16 years and 198 days, England U17s skipper Oxford became the youngest player to ever represent the Hammers, doing so in a slightly unfamiliar midfield berth.
Though tougher tests await, no doubt, the young duo had plenty to smile about on the night, having earlier been presented with their match shirts by new manager Slaven Bilic.
“It was a very nice moment for me as I wanted to go to the dressing room to wish them luck,” Bilic explained. “I didn’t want to interrupt their pre-match routine too much but I wanted to wish them luck and hope that they did well.
“They both did a good job and it will stay in their memories for ever.”
A special gesture appreciated by full-back Page, who certainly enjoyed his evening’s work with Matt Jarvis down the left-hand side.
“We didn't expect it until a couple of minutes before we were told, and then it was just a bit of a surprise. It just made you feel confident to go into the game, so that was really nice of him.”
For record-breaker Oxford, it comes as something of a relief to have got his senior bow out of the way, in the hope that he can now make an impression on a first team.
“It's a privilege to be the youngest player to have played since 1922, I think, so hopefully I can just progress now and stay in the team.
“It was tough to begin with and then I started to find my way into the game, started getting a few passes off and feeling more comfortable.
“There had been a lot of talk about when I was going to come on, but now that I've come on hopefully I can stay in the team, or on the bench.”
It was a similarly proud moment for 19-year-old Page, who will long remember the first time he stepped out in front a full house for West Ham.
“It was a great experience,” he added. “I had goosebumps walking out, that's what I've been dreaming of since I was ten when I joined here and just to play was amazing.
“I think we handled it all right, we had the game under control and we won quite comfortably.
“I love playing with Jarvo [Matt Jarvis] because he's a nice man as well, so I just gave him the ball and we just worked together really. He really helps me out defensively as well.
Against a physical Andorran outfit, the Hammers duo certainly had to be on their toes, but were not about to be fazed by a strong challenge or two.
“Physically I had to be on point,” Oxford explained. “When I gave a foul away in the first ten minutes I got a yellow and I just knew not to go flying in because they were rolling about a bit, but they were physical on the ball and off it.”
As for the return leg in a week’s time, Page is understandably keen to repeat the feat at the 1,300-capacity Estadia Comunal d’Andorra La Vella.
“It's another game under your belt, another 90 minutes in the first team, that's all you want to do really, keep playing in the first team and hopefully get your chance again.”