In their first full season in charge of West Ham United's U18s, Lauris Coggin and Zavon Hines will guide the young Hammers through the U18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League Cup.
Having played a part in the development of many of these players through the age groups, Coggin and Hines are well-prepared to take on the responsibility of shaping this promising squad.
Ahead of his first full season as lead coach, Coggin reflected: “Last season was my first experience with the U18s, serving as assistant to Kev Keen. This year, I’m incredibly fortunate to have been given the lead role. I’m very excited and look forward to working with these boys to help them earn professional contracts.”
His right-hand man, Zavon Hines, an Academy of Football graduate himself, said: “West Ham is my club. I signed my scholarship here when I was 16. I’m really grateful to the club for showing their faith in me as this is a big job. To be able to help the next generation makes me proud. It’s quite surreal at times, but I’m privileged to be in this position.”
This season promises to be an intriguing one for West Ham United’s U18s. The squad features a mix of players taking their first steps into full-time football and others aiming to break into the older age groups, potentially making their mark with the U21s.
In preparation for their opening day clash against Arsenal on Saturday 17 August, the U18s have travelled to Scotland and the Czech Republic for pre-season. These trips have not only provided valuable match experience, but also helped to strengthen the bonds within the squad, especially following the intake of ten new scholars in July.
“The Next Gen Cup in Prague was a really valuable experience,” Coggin noted. “We’ve participated for a few years now, and it’s always challenging since it’s an U19s tournament. The three games were intense and posed different challenges. Playing with ten men for most of one match in 35-degree heat was certainly a test!”
Reflecting on the new intake of scholars, Coggin added: “We’ve got a brilliant group that really embodies our values. David Chigwada and Majid Balogun [who joined West Ham from Manchester City and Manchester United respectively] definitely do. Their togetherness has really shone through and allowed them to gel from the start. We’re excited to see what they can bring to the group. Their experience is different from a lot of the others who have been here since U9s, so we’re looking forward to seeing what they add to the team.”
Following a first-place finish in the 2022/23 U18 Premier League South and a second-place finish in 2023/24, the new crop of U18s have big shoes to fill. However, Coggin remains focused on the primary goal: developing young players and instilling the West Ham philosophy both on and off the pitch.
“We want to show our identity in every game we play,” he insisted. “Our focus is on developing individuals. This season, we’ll have a younger group than in previous years, which will come with its challenges, but we’re prepared for them. It’s all about progression. We’re excited not only about the first-year scholars but also the second-year scholars and the U16s who have had opportunities throughout pre-season.”
