West Ham United’s young talents have been adjusting to their new environments after securing moves to clubs across the English Football League in recent weeks.
Of the six Hammers who went out on loan this summer, Levi Laing, Michael Forbes and Mason Terry were the first to see action on the pitch this weekend.
Laing’s full debut with Cheltenham Town saw the Robins pick up their first opening day win in ten years.
Early goals from Joel Colwill and Liam Dulson put the hosts firmly in control, but a late first-half flurry from Newport County saw the score levelled up at 2-2 at the break. A last gasp winner from Colwill sealed the victory for the Robins, making it a memorable occasion for Laing as he completed his first full 90 minutes of senior football for the League Two side.
Forbes’ Bristol Rovers also opened their League One account with a dramatic stoppage time winner. After being introduced as a substitute in the last quarter of an hour at the Memorial Stadium, Forbes’ front post run made space for fellow debutant Bryant Bilongo to poke home a corner to secure all three points for Rovers against Northampton Town.
Goalkeeper Terry made his competitive debut for Hornchurch in National League South, having impressed while playing against the Urchins for Concord Rangers in the Isthmian League Premier Division last season. The 19-year-old was on the winning side as newly-promoted Hornchurch kicked off the season with a 3-1 win at Hampton & Richmond Borough that took them top of the table one game in!
Elsewhere, Forbes' Northern Ireland teammates Callum Marshall and Patrick Kelly will be hoping feature in midweek for Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers respectively, having joined their loan clubs late last week. Meanwhile, Krisztián Hegyi was an unused substitute as Motherwell were defeated 2-1 by Rangers at Ibrox.
