When supporters talk about one of their own, Lewis Orford would be exactly the sort of young player they are talking about.
It was a Saturday morning when Jim Hampsheir saw a six-year-old Orford with a ball at his feet at Upminster Park Rovers, and he realised, very quickly, he might be watching something special.
Hampsheir, the Club’s current Senior Academy Integration Officer, has been a talent spotter for the Hammers for over three decades, devoting endless hours to standing on various touchlines across east London and Essex in the often forlorn hope that he might see the next big thing.
Most of those occasions can feel like wasted trips. But when you get that eureka moment like Orford, who appeared to be a potential star in the making, it makes everything worth it.
Orford is a true product of the Academy of Football. After training and playing with the Club, he signed his first official forms with West Ham United in 2014, aged eight, and earned his first professional contract with the Club in February 2023.
He has already packed a lot into his fledgling career. After a strong 2021/22 season in the U18s at the age of just 15, Orford went from strength to strength the following campaign with 22 direct goal contributions in 25 appearances as Kevin Keen's side secured a historic Premier League South FA Youth Cup double, while he has also represented England, captaining the U18s and U19s Young Lions.
His crowning moment, however, came when he entered the pitch at London Stadium against Crystal Palace in January as a 56th-minute substitute for Emerson, becoming the 1,007th player to make a senior appearance for the Club.
So, when Orford recently made a return to Chadwell Heath to become the latest player to be added to the Claret and Blue Line of Academy graduates turned first-teamers, he described this moment as his life coming 'full circle' as he stood surrounded by the next exciting crop of young players who want to emulate the recent achievements of our No61.
“I started coming here at the age of five, so it's been 13 years now,” said Orford. “I was here three or four times a week for the past ten years of my life, so to be back here [at Chadwell Heath] and being presented with the plaque is pretty special and a bit of a full circle moment.
“It's a really proud moment for me, not just me, for my family as well, who are all West Ham supporters, and so are most of my friends. There are a lot of big names on the Claret and Blue Line, and it's special to be joined by them and be the most recent first-team debutant from the Academy of Football.
“I feel like everything that’s happened has just been meant to be, really. I don't really know anything else apart from West Ham United. I left this building two years ago to move over to Rush Green, and it's always nice to come back and see everyone who has helped me develop into the player I am.
“There are a lot of boys coming through the Academy like I did, like Ollie [Scarles] and Kaelan [Casey] did. We want to inspire the next set of players to get to where we are, and hopefully they can do it in the coming years.
“Winning the FA Youth Cup was probably one of the biggest moments of my career. Playing at the Emirates Stadium in front of about 30,000 people is probably up there with the biggest moments of my career, as was the success with the U18s and playing internationally for England.”
Orford hailed the quality of coaching throughout West Ham’s Academy, praising the guidance and hard work our young players receive right from the start of their individual football journeys at the Club, and says he owes a debt of gratitude to U21s Assistant Coach Gerard Prenderville, who has gone above and beyond to mould him into the player he is today.
“One of the main ones is Gerard Prenderville,” confirmed Orford. “I've known Gerard since I was probably in the U13s. He's come up with me all the way, doing one-to-one sessions with me in his own time in the cold winter months, when it's freezing temperatures. Even now, when I'm training with the U21s, he stays out and does a bit of extra with me, so he's definitely up there, and I’m really grateful for everything he’s done for me. He’s definitely one of the people that I've learned the most from. He’s a great individual coach and has helped me so much.
“There are also Kevin [Keen], Mark Robson and Steve Potts. The last few years with them have been top-drawer.”
If you told Orford this time last year that he’d make his debut in the Premier League at London Stadium, he probably would have – without being arrogant - believed you.
That’s evident when you see how quickly and comfortably the teenager has taken to life in the Premier League.
Orford’s assured displays against Palace and subsequently Chelsea hinted at a bright future for the midfielder. And while the result wasn’t the victory he hoped for, the 18-year-old expressed pride in his performance and is determined to use his debut moment as fuel for more in the weeks, months and years to come.
“It was the culmination of a lifelong dream, making my first team debut in the Premier League against Crystal Palace,” he beamed. “I’m definitely proud of what I've achieved so far in my career, but hopefully this is just the start, and I can keep progressing and make more appearances.
“It was so surreal. I was kind of nervous, but as soon as I got on the pitch, it just felt normal really, in front of the home fans. It was just a big moment for me and my family, and they're very proud of what happened that day. My whole family was there that day, and they are all West Ham fans.
“Being a boyhood West Ham fan just made it that bit more special because I've been coming here since the age of five, and I’ve been to all the games since I was a kid, from the Boleyn Ground to London Stadium.
“I always believed in myself from a young age. I've always played above my specified age groups. I was with the U12s, playing with the U13s, and then made my U18s debut at the age of 14, so I was always progressing above my age group.
“It's [first-team debut] come early at the age of 18, so now I've just got a lot of time to kick on and show everyone what I can do.
“He's [Graham Potter] been brilliant with the young boys. He came in two months ago now, and he's already given me my debut. He's started Ollie in games. It’s not just me and Ollie, it’s everyone that comes up. He's making everyone feel comfortable, and the level of training is also really good for us. We're never left out, and we know what we're doing, so it's a clear vision for everyone at the Club.
“I grew up watching Mark Noble, so he's obviously a massive inspiration for me. I want to get to that level and hopefully just stay here forever, really.”
