Preview | U18s host Fulham in Premier League South

West Ham United U18s v Fulham U18s
U18 Premier League South, Little Heath Training Ground, Saturday 15 March 2025, 11am GMT

West Ham United U18s will look to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host Fulham U18s at Little Heath Training Ground for an 11am kick-off.

After securing a place in the Premier League Cup final with a 3-1 victory over Derby County, the young Hammers resumed their league campaign with a tough defeat away to leaders Crystal Palace last weekend.

Lauris Coggin’s side will now aim to reignite their league form against Fulham, whom they edged out 1-0 in the reverse fixture less than a month ago.

How To Follow…

A report and post-match reaction will be available on the Club’s website and app following the final whistle on Saturday, with highlights to follow on Sunday morning.

Previous Meeting...

The two London sides last faced off in a rescheduled fixture at Motspur Park on 18 February, where an in-form Fulham team - having won three of their previous four league matches - suffered just their second home league defeat of the season. A well-taken strike from Riley Hargan just before the hour mark secured all three points for West Ham, despite the young Hammers playing the final stages with ten men.

In fact, West Ham U18s have beaten Fulham U18s in each of their last six meetings. The last time the young Cottagers found any joy against West Ham at U18s level was during their title-winning season in 2021, when EFL League One record signing Jay Stansfield and Mika Biereth - who has notched three Ligue 1 hat-tricks since joining AS Monaco in January - were on the scoresheet for Fulham in a 4-0 win.

Opposition…

Despite a dip in form, Fulham remain in contention for the Premier League South title, sitting nine points behind leaders Crystal Palace but having played four games fewer.

The young Cottagers boast the division’s best defensive record, but their recent struggles have come at the other end of the pitch. Since their last meeting with West Ham, Fulham’s attacking output has stalled, with the side failing to score in five of their last six matches in all competitions.

The Story So Far...

West Ham United U18s currently occupy eleventh place in Premier League South. 

While their FA Youth Cup run ended in the third round at Grimsby Town, their impressive performances in the Premier League Cup have given them a shot at silverware. Knockout victories over Manchester United and Derby County have secured the young Irons a place in their first-ever League Cup final, where they will take on Reading.

U18 Premier League South