Reading v West Ham United U21s
EFL Trophy Group P, Madejski Stadium, Tuesday 20 August, 7pm BST
West Ham United’s U21s return to EFL Trophy action on Tuesday night, facing League One opposition Reading in Group P.
Buoyed by their victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in their Premier League 2 opener on Friday evening, the young Hammers are set for a tough challenge against a seasoned Reading side, who have spent only one season outside the second tier in the last 22 years.
Lead coach Mark Robson’s squad will look to build on last year’s impressive run, where they matched their best performance in the competition by reaching the round of 16.
Tickets…
Tickets for West Ham fans are available to purchase in section R32 of the South Stand. Supporters who require Accessibility tickets and a Personal Assistant will need to phone Reading on 0118 968 1313 and select option 2.
To buy tickets online, CLICK HERE.
| Category | Advance | Matchday |
| Adult | £10 | £13 |
| 65 and Over | £7 | £7 |
| 18 to 24 | £7 | £7 |
| 17 and Under | £5 | £5 |
| 13 and Under | £1 | £1 |
How To Follow…
A live blog will be available on the Club’s website and app from 6.20pm, while a match report and reaction will follow shortly after the full-time whistle. Highlights will be available on Wednesday.
How did we do in the competition last year?
Since the competition was first expanded to include Category One Academies in 2016/17, when a 17-year-old Declan Rice started our inaugural tie at Coventry City, the furthest the U21s have gone in the competition was the round of 16, which the young Irons reached in 2017/18, 2020/21 and in 2023/24.
Last year, the U21s equalled their tournament record by advancing into the last 16. Topping their group with three wins out of three, the young Hammers stormed past Colchester in the first knockout round. Their progress was halted however in the round of 16 where they were beaten 2-1 by eventual finalists Wycombe Wanderers.
Who else will we play in the EFL trophy in 2024/25?
Following the match against Reading, the U21s will face League One side Newport County on Tuesday 17 September, before wrapping up the group stage at League One Cheltenham Town on Tuesday 7 November.
As per competition rules, West Ham will play all three Group H matches away from home, with the top two in each of the 16 groups qualifying for the knockout stages.
Tuesday 19 August - Reading (A), 7pm
Tuesday 17 September - Newport County (A), 7pm
Tuesday 12 November - Cheltenham Town (A), 7.45pm
You can read more about the competition here.
Coach’s View…
After a tough pre-season, the U21s quickly put those results behind them with a hard-fought win in their Premier League 2 opener against Brighton.
With the fixtures coming thick and fast for the U21s, West Ham will once again have to adjust to the demands of senior opposition on Tuesday night as they take on League One promotion hopefuls Reading.
“Playing this competition is brilliant for the young lads,” Robson said. “We’ve got a handful of lads back from the first team which means we’re in a position to be more competitive.
“I really enjoy this competition because it reveals more about the players—who excels in unexpected moments. We had a great run last year, and I know the players are eager to build on that. It’s a tough ask, but that’s the level they need to reach if they want to progress.”
Opposition...
In only their second season below the second tier in over 20 years, Reading presents perhaps the toughest test many of the young Hammers will face in their budding careers.
Although they struggled in their first season back in League One since 2001/2002, the Royals were a force to be reckoned with in the EFL Trophy.
Last year's group stage saw Rubén Sellés’ side dominate Group G, winning all three games by an aggregate scoreline of 19-2, including a record-breaking 9-0 victory away at Exeter. The knockout rounds proved to be more challenging, going the distance with both Charlton and Brighton’s U21s, prevailing on spot-kicks against the former, before bowing out against the latter at the Amex in the round of 16.
While Reading currently hold a spot in the League One Play-Offs after two games, they were eliminated from the EFL Cup in a penalty shootout against Colchester United in the first round.
Last Time Out...
West Ham United U21s opened their Premier League 2 campaign with a 2-0 win away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday evening.
A great team display, the young Hammers took an early lead through Sean Moore and were able to hang on despite going down to ten men midway through the second half. A late goal from Emeka Adiele would seal the deal in stoppage time.
