Manchester City U18s v West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League National final, Etihad Stadium, Wednesday 10 May, 7pm BST
West Ham United U18s are preparing for their final match of the 2022/23 season, as they get set for the U18 Premier League National final against Manchester City.
The U18 Premier League South champions and FA Youth Cup winners will travel to the Etihad Stadium to face the U18 Premier League North champions, in a play-off fixture to determine the overall U18 Premier League champions.
City claimed the North Group thanks to securing 57 points from 24 matches played, putting them top and four points ahead of second-placed Sunderland. The Irons, meanwhile, earned 57 points from their 22 matches in the South, and defeated Arsenal 5-1 in the FA Youth Cup final two weeks ago.
The winning team will, as U18 Premier League National champions, book their place in the 2023/24 UEFA Youth League competition.
Read on for everything to you need to know about the National final…
Tickets…
Match tickets for away fans will be available on the evening at the Etihad Stadium. Adult tickets will cost £3 while concessions will cost just £1.
Please read here for more information.
Travel…
It is recommended that supporters take public transport, rather than driving to the game. However, with this being a midweek evening fixture, taking the train will necessitate an overnight stay in Manchester.
If you are taking the train up from London, take a service from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. From Piccadilly, take the Metrolink to Etihad Campus, from where it is a short walk to the stadium.
If you do drive, park at one of the many Metrolink stations which have Park and Ride car parks, and board the tram to the ground. For a full list, click here.
How To Follow…
Coverage of Wednesday’s U18 National final between West Ham United and Manchester City will be available via a live blog at whufc.com, starting 75 minutes before kick-off, at 5.45pm.
Full highlights will be available on Thursday morning on the Club’s YouTube channel, on the official West Ham United app, and at whufc.com.
Post-match reaction from head coach Kevin Keen and the squad will also be available on the Club website.
Team News…
Under Premier League rules for the U18 league competition, clubs are not allowed to field any outfield players outside the U18s age category. However, the goalkeeper is permitted to come from the U19s age category.
As with in the FA Youth Cup, lead coach Kevin Keen could call on the likes of Divin Mubama, Kaelan Casey, Regan Clayton and George Earthy. The four regularly feature at development team level for West Ham United but do fit in the age range to play at U18s level, and have featured in U18 Premier League South for the Irons this campaign.
Opposition...
Hammers U18s lead coach Kevin Keen recently described Manchester City as a ‘fantastic youth team’ and, based on their recent history, it is not hard to see why many consider them the best U18s side in the country.
The Citizens have won the U18 Premier League in the last two seasons, beating Southampton 2-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium last season and Fulham 3-1 at the Academy Stadium the year prior.
In fact, no matter the competition City have played in at U18s level in recent campaign, they have generally done well. The 2020 FA Youth Cup winners also won the U18 Premier League Cup in back-to-back seasons, and also claimed the national title on a point-per-game basis in 2019/20 when the campaign was cancelled.
All in, City U18s have won 17 trophies since the turn of the century, highlighting the level of talent regularly coming through in the blue half of Manchester.
The next generation are certainly making their mark too. Striker Justin Oboavwoduo, at just 16-years-old, has scored 21 goals in 27 U18s appearances this season. Similarly winger Joel Ndala has scored 14 goals and contributed eight assists in 25 showings.
Slightly further back, Midfielder Nico O’Reilly has contributed to 24 goals in 23 games (eleven goals, 13 assists) while Matthew Whittingham has netted eight and assisted eleven in just 20 outings.
Indeed, arguably only an early red card in their semi-final with Arsenal denied City a place in the FA Youth Cup final and another showdown with the Hammers there.
These are undoubtedly two of the best U18 squads in the country and a thrilling, attacking fixture awaits at the Etihad Stadium.
