After starring in our U18s' 2-1 Premier League Cup victory against Reading, Riley Hargan feels tonight’s victory over Reading is right up there in his career accomplishments.
The 18-year-old midfielder completed 90 minutes of the 2-1 triumph under the lights at Select Car Leasing Stadium, that saw Josh Ajala notch the decisive goals on either side of Carter Bowdery’s leveller.
He admits that being able to clinch the Club’s first-ever U18 Premier League Cup title means that tonight is a night that will live with him forever and believes that playing in front of larger crowds, such as tonight’s bumper crowd in Berkshire, was the perfect preparation for the process that precedes the next step that awaits our young scholars.
When asked to describe the moment we won the showpiece, he said: “It's unreal. Obviously winning the trophy for the team you support is amazing. The boys work so hard every day, and we’ve been working every day towards this, and to eventually win it, it's an unbelievable feeling.
“I think it's a massive step in the right direction for everyone playing in front of a crowd here, which made a lot of noise, and just getting that experience to play with each other in the final as well means a lot.
“Our performance tonight showed a lot of perseverance. I think it just shows the personality of the team and the individuals we have here. It was outstanding, and it means a lot to everyone.”
From comfortably beating Nottingham Forest and current Premier League South leaders Southampton at Little Heath Training Ground to letting a four-goal lead slip against Everton, our U18s certainly experienced every up and down on their way to the historic Premier League Cup triumph.
Meanwhile, in the quarter-finals, the young Hammers beat last season's U18s Premier League and Cup double winners, Manchester United, on penalties before defeating Derby County 3-1 away in the semi-finals.
One of the more experienced players within the U18s squad, Hargan believes the togetherness he feels at West Ham, on and off the field, was a key asset behind lifting the trophy.
“It's been a long journey," said Hargan. “We played Nottingham Forest first, and we did well to win 2-0. We were then unfortunate to draw at Everton after we were 4-0 up. We knew we had to win our last group game, and we did just that at home against Southampton.
“We drew Manchester United in the quarter-finals, which went to penalties. It was a great experience to beat a team that hadn't lost all season.
“The semi-final against Derby County was another difficult test. We were aware of how well they were doing in the Northern League, so we knew that would be a challenge to beat them. Then, to play Reading here in the final and come out victorious with a 2-1 win was outstanding.
“I enjoyed the challenges of playing against teams from both the northern and southern divisions. You're coming up against different teams from your usual development schedule. It’s about being able to adapt to it and play your best football, like we've shown here in the final.
“I know how much this means to everyone.”
