West Ham United U21s v Crystal Palace U21s
Premier League 2 Division 1, Rush Green Stadium, Saturday 1 October, 2pm KO
West Ham United U21s return to Premier League 2 action, following the international break, with a London derby against Crystal Palace.
Mark Robson’s development side, who claimed a credible point away to Manchester United in their last match, welcome the Eagles to Rush Green Stadium on Saturday 1 October. Kick off is set for 2pm.
The visit of the south London side is sure to be a tricky test for the young Hammers, with Crystal Palace sitting top of Premier League 2 Division 1 heading into league matchday seven.
Tickets…
West Ham United is delighted to confirm that fans are once again permitted to attend U21s fixtures this campaign, with admittance free for Season Ticket Holders. Proof of Season Ticket status must be shown upon entry to Rush Green.
Tickets can also be purchased on the door for Saturday’s Premier League 2 fixture. Adults can get their tickets for £5 while U16s can attend for £1.
Fans should also note that parking is available on a first come, first serve basis. Gates will open an hour before kick-off at Rush Green Stadium.
Travel…
Fans wishing to attend Saturday's U21s fixture should note that parking at Rush Green Stadium, at the West Ham United Training Ground, is extremely limited and cannot be guaranteed.
The postcode for Rush Green Stadium is RM7 0LU.
Fans wishing to utilise public transport can make use of the Dagenham East Underground Station, on the District Line and Hammersmith & City Line, which is a mile-and-a-half from the training ground.
Romford Station – on the London Overground, Elizabeth Line and Greater Anglia service - is also a mile-and-half from the Ground, with buses running regularly from the station to Rush Green.
How To Follow…
Unfortunately, due to broadcast regulations, we are unable to live stream Saturday’s U21s fixture at home to Crystal Palace.
Live match updates, as is happens, will be available through our live blog coverage at whufc.com. Our live blog coverage will begin an hour before kick-off, at 1pm.
Full highlights from the game, as well as reaction from lead coach Mark Robson and the squad, will be available on YouTube and the Club website on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Team News…
Divin Mubama will definitely be absent for the young Hammers as he serves the final game of a three-match domestic suspension, after his red card against Everton.
Ollie Scarles and Callum Marshall will be hoping they have done enough to earn another opportunity at U21s level after both impressed away to Manchester United on their respective first starts for the development side in Premier League 2.
Mark Robson will be hoping his contingent of young players who represented their respective nations during the international window have returned without issue. Marshall, Michael Forbes and Krisztian Hegyi were among the names on international duty last week.
Opposition…
After a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League 2 Division 1 table last season, Crystal Palace are this campaign’s early pace-setters.
The young Eagles are without defeat in their opening six league matches, claiming four wins and two draws, to leave the south London side top of the division on goal difference.
Central to that run has been the fine form of John-Kymani Gordon. The striker has netted eight goals in seven matches so far this season, including a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur U21s and both goals in a 2-0 win at EFL League One side Swindon Town in the Papa Johns Trophy.
Two goals apiece from David Omilabu, Killian Phillips, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Robert Street have also contributed to Palace’s strong start to 2022/23.
A strong Palace connection runs through the coaching staff too, with former defender Patrick McCarthy serving as the club’s U21s coach
McCarthy spent eight years at Selhurst Park as a player between 2008-2016 and was appointed to the Academy, initially as U18s coach, in December 2016 following his retirement.
