Two years ago to the day, West Ham United U18s made history by lifting the most prestigious trophy in Academy football, the FA Youth Cup, for the fourth time.
Despite falling behind early, the young Hammers stormed back with five unanswered goals from George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Gideon Kodua, Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs to seal a commanding 5-1 victory over Arsenal.
On the second anniversary of that memorable night at the Emirates Stadium, we caught up with some of the players involved to reflect on what it meant to play in front of more than 34,000 fans, and how the experience has shaped the early stages of their professional journeys.
George Earthy
One of the players of the tournament, George Earthy scored three goals and registered two assists as an attacking midfielder in the young Hammers’ FA Youth Cup-winning campaign.
Fresh off the back of their FA Youth Cup and Premier League South double, Earthy kicked on with the U21s averaging a goal contribution almost every game in 2023/24, form which saw him make his first-team debut in May last year, having featured multiple times in UEFA Europa League and Premier League squads. Earthy scored his first senior goal in the Hammers’ final home game against Luton, after which he was awarded the Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year award.
This season, the 20-year-old joined Championship side Bristol City, for whom he has played a key role in the Robins potentially reaching the Play-Offs for the first time in 17 years and reaching the Premier League for the first time...
"When I look back at that night I can just remember the excitement but also the nerves going into such a big game for our group and also the Academy. I think what stands out the most was after the game the celebrations with the crowd and also with everyone in the changing room. It was a special moment with a great group.
"The experience helped me grow as a player as, when you are in the Academy there’s no competition bigger than the FA Youth Cup. So, every game has so much pressure so that definitely helps and then when you get to the final, playing in front of that many people - for most of the boys - for the first time, helps you get used to it in the future."
Lewis Orford
Despite being a first-year scholar at the time, Lewis Orford started in every round of the FA Youth Cup, playing every minute in all but one of the Hammers' six ties.
Arguably one of the players of the season the following campaign, playing above his age category in the U21s, Orford played a key role in the development side finishing second in the Premier League 2 regular season, reaching the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy and the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup.
Co-captaining the U21s this season, his impressive progress also saw him make his Premier League debut under Graham Potter at the London Stadium against Crystal Palace in January this year...
"I think obviously the best moments from that night were the celebrations after the final whistle went. The West Ham fans who were there that day made it really special for us down on the pitch. The best moment for me was when Josh Briggs scored and we all celebrated in front of the travelling fans to finish the game.
"The build-up was intense because it was a Youth Cup final and it was a big moment for everyone at the Club. But when we got on the pitch, that all settled and we stuck to the principles that had served us so well that year.
"The atmosphere was the unreal with the West Ham fans who filled up the away end, they pushed us on all night. The experience helped me grow as a player because it was the first time I had played in front of a huge crowd and especially with it being at the Emirates Stadium, it made it that little more special."
Josh Briggs
Arriving from Linfield in August 2022, Josh Briggs ended his first season at West Ham United in the best possible fashion, scoring the final goal in front of the travelling supporters at the Emirates Stadium.
A first-year professional, Briggs has since featured regularly for the U18s and U21s and gone on to represent his native Northern Ireland in the U19 European Championships in his home tournament.
In February, during the development side’s seven-game winning streak, he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award...
"Looking back on the game it’s probably one of the best days I’ve ever had in football so far. Building up to the game I was a bit nervous but once I got to the stadium and saw all the fans, the excitement killed all my nerves.
"The key moment that really stood out in the game for me was when Kevin Keen called me from the bench to get ready to come on. As I waited on the touchline, he told me to go score from the corner. And with my first touch I scored. It was the best feeling in the world to score in a cup final and to do it in front of the West Ham fans who were fantastic the whole night and really got behind the team.
"Winning the FA Youth Cup topped off an incredible first season at West Ham. This experience helped me grow and know what it feels like to play in a big game in front of a massive crowd."
Regan Clayton
In a season that saw him make over 50 Academy appearances, Regan Clayton played every minute of West Ham United’s FA Youth Cup-winning campaign.
Signing his first professional contract the season prior, alongside childhood teammates George Earthy and Kaelan Casey, Clayton suffered a knee injury towards the end of the 2023/24 season. Since returning to full fitness this season, he has had his first taste of senior football on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge in the Vanarama National League...
"I remember waking up that morning and being quite nervous, but as soon as we all met up and got on the coach to the hotel for pre-match, I lost all of that and it become excitement.
"There was something so special about that team, the excitement to play and confidence we had was unreal. It sounds cliché but walking out to all those West Ham fans singing and cheering for us was really like the 12th man. It gave me goosebumps and it gave us an extra drive to make sure we had done all we could to win that game.
"Then, being able to celebrate and parade a trophy which the Club hadn’t won in such a long time in front of all those people was unreal and they are moments I will never forget. That whole experience and FA Youth Cup run taught me so many different things, from on the ball to tactical and game management skills, and that’s a huge credit to the coaching staff who kept pushing us all season and understanding what would get the best out of us."
Mason Terry
Dylan Tombides Award winner in the season West Ham United won the FA Youth Cup, Mason Terry was the man between the sticks in all six rounds of their historic campaign.
Aiming to follow in the footsteps of England goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale by going out on loan in non-league, Terry joined Concord Rangers in the Isthmian Premier League in the summer of 2023, winning the Supporters Player of the Season last term.
This season, he has gone up a division to the National League South, where he has helped newly-promoted Hornchurch to a top-half finish in their first-ever season in the sixth tier, keeping 14 clean sheets...
"The feelings and emotions going into the biggest game of my life in front of a huge crowd of nearly 40,000. I was excited and a few butterflies going through my stomach because the adrenaline was so high. Having around 8,000 West Ham fans creating an unbelievable atmosphere made the night even more special. Winning 5-1 on their own turf was something truly amazing.
"Lifting the trophy was a moment I’ll never forget and even better doing it with the lads that I’ve grown up with all the way through the Academy.
"I think the experience of that game only developed me mentally stronger as a man. The journey of the Youth Cup hasn’t just made me a stronger human being on the pitch but also off the pitch."
Ryan Battrum
After scoring and assisting the two goals that sent West Ham United into the semi-finals off the bench against Ipswich Town, Ryan Battrum earned his place in the starting lineup for the final two games.
A lifelong Hammers fan, at the Club since the age of eight, he took on the responsibility of captain in his second year as a scholar with the U18s. A solid season which saw them finish runners-up in the league and reach the fourth round in their title defence of the FA Youth Cup, only defeated by eventual champions Manchester City in extra-time, Battrum extended his contract at the Club in January 2025.
The 19-year-old is currently gearing up for the Premier League 2 play-offs having just made his return from injury...
"For me it was one of the best nights of my life, I think from the quarter final where I scored it was written in the stars.
"Everything about the game was unreal, the fans, the performance and the celebrations after was brilliant. I will always look back on that game as a great experience and helped me gain confidence playing in front of big crowds. I hope that it was the first of many trophies to come."
Dan Rigge
A technically gifted attacking midfielder, Dan Rigge joined West Ham United U18s from Manchester City after impressing on trial. His first season as a Hammer saw him win the FA Youth Cup and Premier League South.
In his second year as a scholar, Rigge took on more of a leading role racking up an impressive 19 goal contributions in 21 Premier League South games as the Hammers finished runners up to Chelsea.
In his first year as a professional, Rigge has been a consistent figure for the U21s side that qualified for the Premier League 2 play-offs as the fourth seed...
"Looking back on the night, I felt a real excitement for the game. Not only we were in the final of the Youth Cup, but getting to play at the Emirates where we knew there was going to be a big crowd and we knew a lot of West Ham fans would turn up. They gave us real confidence as they were singing songs before the game had even started.
"The celebrations after the game I’ll never forget. We were in the changing room for ages and obviously Declan Rice was there celebrating with us as well which was a great moment.
"I think the experience helped me grow as a player, playing in front of a big crowd gaining experience and confidence doing that. The game put a great finish for me for my first year at the Club, winning the league and the Youth Cup at the Emirates.
Fin Herrick
Sharing goalkeeping responsibilities with Mason Terry throughout their double-winning title season with the U18s, Fin Herrick became the undisputed No1 in his second season as a scholar as Terry moved up to the development team and went out on loan.
In his first year as a professional, the England youth international helped West Ham to a fourth place finish in the Premier League 2 regular season keeping the second-best goals conceded record out of the 26 teams...
"I have so many memories off that night, it’s hard to pick out a few. Once everyone walked out, our players decided to clap the fans before the game and the roar that came up was crazy. There wasn’t one empty seat in the away end. The celebrations after felt like they could’ve gone on all night. The trophy lift, the pictures, everything about after that final whistle happened, the first thing I did was sprint to Mason Terry and hug him. Then having Declan Rice come into the changing room and celebrate with us whilst we danced and sang to a lot of music.
"The experience helped me grow as I got to learn the feeling of how important cup games can be, the feeling of extra time and how to be ready for anything that could happen. One thing I thought was important was to know how to win, that’s one thing our team had, was a complete winning mentality, doesn’t matter how we won, we got it done. And as a person, you never take away that medal and you can always look back and smile at it thinking we wrote history."
