Preview | U21s take on Daggers in key National League Cup clash

Dagenham & Redbridge v West Ham United U21s
National League Cup Group D, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Tuesday 21 January 2025, 7.45pm GMT

West Ham United U21s star in an all-east London clash at Chigwell Construction Stadium in their crucial final group fixture in the National League Cup against neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge.

Our development side come into this one off the back of four consecutive victories, two of which have come in the National League Cup. The young Hammers are currently on six points from their opening three games. A win at Dagenham would ensure that only Nottingham Forest U21s or Sutton United could catch them, with both teams needing to win their final two games, one of which is against each other.

How To Follow…

A live stream of the fixture will be available across the Club’s website and YouTube channel. A match report and reaction will also follow shortly after the full-time whistle. Highlights will be available on Wednesday.

Tickets...

Blocks 1, 2 and 3 of the SD Samuels stand will be open for West Ham United supporters. Online tickets can be purchased on the Dagenham & Redbridge website, with Dagenham offering free admission to U16s.

Travel...

The postcode for Chigwell Construction Stadium is RM10 7XL.

The most convenient way to reach the venue is by public transport. Dagenham East station on the London Underground's District line is situated about 500 metres from the ground. On exiting the station, turn left and the ground is in Victoria Road, which is the fifth turning on the left-hand side after about 400 metres. You will see the stadium at the end of the cul-de-sac. For those travelling by bus, fans can take the route 103 from either Romford railway station which is served by Greater Anglia, TfL's Elizabeth line and London Overground, or Rainham station, which is served by c2c rail services.

The 103 has stops on both sides of Rainham Road South, just north of Victoria Road. Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.

Premier League Trophy on Display... 

As part of the Premier League’s partnership with the National League, the Premier League trophy will be on display at Tuesday evening’s fixture. Fans can take photos with the iconic trophy before the match and during half-time in the Ted Hardy Suite.  

National League Cup Explained…

The new competition pits 16 National League clubs - the fifth tier of senior men’s football - against 16 Premier League 2 sides, with the twin aims of giving National League clubs the chance to host the best U21 teams in England in their own stadia, while also offering young players from Premier League and EFL clubs the opportunity to test themselves against senior opposition.

The participants are split into four groups of eight - four from the National League and four from Premier League 2 - with the National League teams hosting a group-stage tie against each of the four Premier League 2 sides in their group.

The top two finishers in each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals. West Ham have been drawn in Group D alongside National League clubs Braintree Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet United and Sutton United, as well as fellow Premier League 2 sides Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion.

Opposition…

Just over halfway through their ninth consecutive season in the National League, Dagenham & Redbridge sit just below mid-table, seven points clear of relegation. That being said, having had their last three league fixtures postponed due to adverse pitch conditions, Dagenham will be looking upwards towards the play-offs rather than behind them, nine points off Solihull Moors in seventh with two games in hand.

In the FA Cup, they punched above their weight, beating EFL League Two promotion chasers Crewe Alexandra and AFC Wimbledon in rounds one and two respectively, before bowing out to Championship club Millwall as the last non-league team standing in the third round.

Against the academies, the Daggers have had mixed fortunes this season in the National League Cup. They drew with Tottenham Hotspur, beat West Bromwich Albion and lost to Nottingham Forest, setting up a must-win clash against their east London neighbours.

How Things Stand In Group D…

With one game left, Group D remains wide open. West Ham currently occupy the second and final qualification spot but need to avoid defeat to maintain it.

A defeat would see them leapfrogged by their opponents Dagenham, while a draw would provisionally keep them in second place, regardless of the penalty shootout outcome, but their fate would depend on Sutton United’s and Nottingham Forest’s results.

A win would significantly strengthen West Ham’s position, though they could still be overtaken on goal difference if either Sutton or Forest win their final two matches.

National League Cup Group D

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