On Tuesday 22 April, West Ham United U18s captain Preston Fearon will lead his teammates out under the lights at Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium for the age group’s first ever Premier League Cup final.
“We’ve been talking about going all the way in this competition since the start of the season,” Fearon said. “Of course, we’d have loved to play at home in front of our fans, but we’re hoping people will still come down to Reading and support us. Everyone’s really excited and we can’t wait for Tuesday.”
A remarkable season of progress for Lauris Coggin’s team, which has seen five players train regularly above their age group with the U21s at Rush Green, including Fearon, the U18s qualified for the knockout stages as one of seven group winners, beating Premier League South leaders Southampton before knocking out defending champions Manchester United on penalties - who had lost just one game all season - and beating Derby County in the semi-finals.
“We got through the group stages really well,” Fearon continued. “We were a bit disappointed with the Everton game. We were all beating ourselves up because we were 4-0 up. But then Lauris said, we've got a point away at Everton, so it’s in our hands going into the final game. There's nothing bad about that. We bounced back and got the win we needed against Southampton and we were really good in that game.
“We then got Manchester United in the draw and we were all a bit shaky because they were in incredible form. But we still believed we could do it. Beating Manchester United on penalties was so special. Running to the goalkeeper, Lanre [Awesu], celebrating with everyone. It was just amazing. The music in the changing room after. All the coaches and players being together. You just feel like a family."
Now, as Fearon prepares for one of the biggest nights of his young career, he can reflect on just how far he has come, overcoming setbacks that could easily have derailed his journey. The 17-year-old missed most of his first year as a scholar with a stress fracture in his spine - a tough blow at a time when Academy players are fighting to earn their first professional contracts.
“I was playing through the pain for about a month before it got too much,” he explained. “It was affecting me in training a lot, but in games, the adrenaline kind of masked it. In my last league game, funnily enough, against Reading, I got two assists and felt like I was playing really well.
“Then, the next week, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I went to our medical staff, and one evening they called to say I had a stress fracture and would be out for five months. I broke down straight away because your first year is massive. You’re trying to prove yourself. And suddenly, my season was near enough over.”
Fast forward 12 months, and Fearon has signed his first professional deal, transitioned into the U21s set-up at Rush Green, trained with the first team, and now prepares to lead the U18s in a national final.
He continued: “Looking back on the last 12 months, I would never have imagined being in this position. You see Josh [Ajala], Emeka [Adiele] and Ezra [Mayers] with the U21s and that’s where you want to be too. Airidas [Golambeckis] and I got called over for the game against Sutton United. It was quite quick and full on and I didn’t expect it at all.
“Then, training with the first team is crazy. You’re watching them on TV and then training with them. You tell your family and friends what you’re getting up to and it makes you realise how surreal it is.”
Nine assists in his 14 games as captain for the U18s, Fearon made the transition from Chadwell Heath to Rush Green at the turn of the year. Making his Premier League 2 debut against Sunderland in January, Fearon helped the U21s to seven straight wins in his first seven appearances under Mark Robson.
A great season of progress so far, it could get even better for Fearon, as he prepares to captain the U18s in their first ever Premier League Cup final, while also balancing duties with the U21s, who will begin their Premier League 2 play-off campaign next weekend.
Fearon added: “I said to U18s coach Lauris at the start of the season, I've got high hopes about this group. And that's why I wanted to be captain as well.
“We've all been saying since the start of the season, we're definitely going to win something this year. Tuesday's our chance to prove it to everyone.
“That being said, we know we can’t get too confident. Losing to Grimsby in the third round of the FA Youth Cup is the most disappointed I’ve been after a football match. The coaches prepared us well for that game, but when it was down to us, we didn’t have the right mindset.
“Now we’ve proved ourselves in the Premier League Cup. We've just been saying all season how much we want to prove ourselves and make everyone proud. We already made history by making it to the final, but we want to go one better.”
Only the West Lower Stand of the Select Car Leasing Stadium will be open to supporters for Tuesday's U18s Premier League Cup final. Tickets are available via Reading's official website, with advance tickets available until 3pm on the day of the game.
A live stream of the final will also be available across the Club’s website and app, followed by highlights and reaction from coach Coggin and his players. Stay tuned to our web, app and social channels for all the build-up to the big game!
