West Ham United U18s v Norwich City U18s
U18 Premier League South, Little Heath Training Ground, Saturday 5 April 2025, 12noon BST
West Ham United U18s face Norwich City for the first time this season in a rearranged fixture at Little Heath training ground.
Lauris Coggin’s side earned a point last time out at Tottenham Hotspur and will look to continue building momentum as they gear up for their Premier League Cup final clash against Reading later this month.
How To Follow…
A report and post-match reaction will be available on the Club’s website and app following the final whistle, with highlights to follow.
Opposition…
With six games of the season left, Norwich City U18s sit 12th in the 13-team Premier League South table.
A run of five games without a win was brought to an end last time out with a convincing 4-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, where Norwich were four goals to the good at half-time. Away from home however, the young Canaries have been struggling for form, winning just one of their nine league games on their travels.
Greg Crane’s side will be looking to score their first win at U18s level against West Ham United since December 2020. In fact, the young Hammers have won their last six encounters against Norwich by a combined scoreline of 23-2.
Ones To Watch...
In defence, Jethro Medine is the only player to have featured in every single minute of the Hammers’ U18s season. An aggressive full-back who likes to get forward and make last-man tackles, Medine has recently been filling in at centre-back. Partnering up with Rayan Oyebade and Aaron Kamara at the heart of defence, Medine has been just as consistent in his new role.
On the right wing, U16s wing-back Riley Ebho has been relishing his opportunities with the U18s. The U16s England international has started the last four games for Coggin’s side, assisting or scoring in each of his last three appearances. His equaliser against Spurs last time out was his first goal at U18s level.
Among the Norwich City prospects, Finlay Corke stands out with his goalscoring record this season. Still a first-year scholar, the 17-year-old centre forward was rewarded for his performances with the U18s with his first professional contract in November. Impressing with his goals and assists at U16s, Corke has been just as reliable leading the line this season. In 19 appearances in all competitions for the young Canaries this campaign, Corke has found the back of the net ten times while assisting four times.
The Story So Far…
West Ham United U18s currently occupy eleventh place in the Premier League South table.
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
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Southampton | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 36 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 34 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 32 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 29 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 28 |
| 6 | Fulham | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 25 |
| 8 | Leicester City | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | -5 | 23 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | -4 | 22 |
| 10 | Reading | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | -8 | 22 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | -7 | 19 |
| 12 | Norwich City | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -12 | 17 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 17 | 2 | 5 | 10 | -21 | 11 |
