Lifelong friends and long-time teammates, Kaelan Casey and George Earthy can now add another label to their joint venture into football with West Ham United.
FA Youth Cup winners.
Both Earthy and Casey were on the score-sheet in an outstanding performance by the U18s, who came from a goal down away to Arsenal to defeat the Gunners 5-1 and lift a fourth FA Youth Cup trophy in the Club’s history.
It was Earthy who got the comeback underway, levelling from 20 yards on 17 minutes after Omari Benjamin had put Arsenal ahead in north London.
Casey, meanwhile, popped up with the fourth for the Irons in the second half from a corner kick, cementing the Hammers’ incredible performance after Callum Marshall and Gideon Kodua had also netted for the visitors. Substitute Josh Briggs wrapped up the win late on with his very first touch.
In sealing victory, the U18s have claimed the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1999, and Earthy and Casey are thrilled they have done it together, having played together in the Academy of Football since they were just boys.
“Me and George have been together since we were five-years-old,” Casey told whufc.com. “We never thought we would be here or it would be as good as this. But he’s such a great player and he runs his backside off, and he also scores goal. What a brilliant player.
“I’m speechless. I honestly don’t quite know what to say. I’ve just seen my family and it’s so emotional, but it’s also so brilliant.”
The young Irons side was roared on by over 7,000 West Ham fans at the Emirates Stadium, producing a noise quite unlike anything the U18s have heard before.
While the words to sum up the emotions of Tuesday’s immense win failed Earthy in the moment, the midfielder could not hide his amazement at the support shown by the Claret and Blue Army.
Earthy said: “Words can’t quite describe how I’m feeling right now! I’m absolutely buzzing.
“The fans have been brilliant all night. You’d have thought we were at home with how loud they were. It was brilliant and I can’t describe just how much they put into it for this game for us.:
Casey added: “It’s crazy. They were with us through the whole game. Even when we were 1-0 down they were still with us and I think they got us over the line today.”
