West Ham United U18s captain Gideon Kodua is the winner of the 2022/23 Dylan Tombides Award!
Kodua has enjoyed an excellent season in Kevin Keen's young side, captaining the team to 27 wins in 32 matches played throughout the campaign; a run of form that saw the side claim top spot in the U18 Premier League South and lift the FA Youth Cup for the fourth time in West Ham history.
The 18-year-old's goalscoring efforts were pivotal to that success, with Kodua netting 16 times in all competitions, including 12 in the U18 Premier League South and three in the FA Youth Cup – including a sensational, 35-yard lobbed finish in the 5-1 win against Arsenal in the final.
His fine form earned Kodua his first outings in Mark Robson's development team this season. Kodua has featured seven times in all competitions for the U21s this campaign, having made his debut for the side in the Premier League International Cup fixture at home to PSV in October. The forward would then earn his Premier League 2 debut in a 2-2 draw away to Blackburn Rovers.
Kodua’s efforts this season were rewarded with the attacker’s first professional deal, which he signed at the Club’s iconic Chadwell Heath training facility earlier this season.
The Dylan Tombides award is given annually to the Academy of Football’s outstanding scholar and is named in honour of the late West Ham United and Australia U23 forward Tombides, who tragically passed away at the age of 20 in April 2014.
“It’s amazing to have won the Dylan Tombides Award,” said the teenager. "I’ve worked really hard this year as a first-year scholar and I’ve tried to be at my best. It’s been a real group effort, the coaches have really helped me, Kev and Gerard have really pushed me to keep developing.
“This U18s squad are really special, and they’ve helped me so much this season. I’d like to thank everyone at the Academy, and I’d like to thank my family for their support. There’s been a lot of ups and downs over the years, times where things haven’t really gone for myself and I’ve had to go back to the drawing board. It’s been a real journey and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
Award winner Kodua was selected by Academy Manager Kenny Brown and the coaching staff at the Academy of Football, who also chose fellow forward Callum Marshall and midfielder George Earthy as nominees for the 2022/23 honour.
Brown said: “Everything Gideon has achieved this season is down to Gideon himself. He’s such a good lad and we’re all so happy for him to win the Dylan Tombides Award.
“The first conversation I has with Kevin Keen, after I came in as Academy Manager, was about getting Gideon signed on as a professional at West Ham United. That was Kev’s priority and, as we near the end of the season, I think everyone can see why.
“I think, earlier in the season, he perhaps went a bit under the radar, but we’ve always known within the Club just how good Gideon is and he is really showing it. His work ethic, his leadership and his talent are all so high. It’s no surprise our U18s have achieved such success this season when you have a character like Gideon as captain.
“The biggest thing for me about Gideon, as a captain, is he makes sure no one is left behind or left out of the group. Whether you’re in the starting XI, on the bench or not in the squad, Gideon is mindful that the whole group is involved. He’s very inclusive and selfless, which makes him an unbelievable teammate and is everything we look for in a young player at West Ham United. When you talk about leadership and captaincy, Gideon is the embodiment of that.”
