Kevin Keen, under 18s head coach can expect 7000 West Ham fans for the final against Arsenal
The Irons under 18s are looking forward to a massive evening under the lights in north London as they take on Arsenal U18s in the FA Youth Cup final tomorrow evening.
It will be a first Hammers FA Youth Cup final appearance since 1999 taking on a Gooners team that saw off Manchester City in the semi-finals and will take home advantage.
However, the e Irons are in immense form this season having won the U18 Premier League South Division title, by coming out victorious in 18 of their 21 league matches, and appear in the Final on the back of a 3-1 win away to Leicester City on Saturday.
In the FA Youth Cup, Kevin Keen’s side earned their place in the final thanks to a quartet of away wins in the earlier rounds before a semi-final clash at London Stadium. 7000 West Ham fans watched the game against the Saints and a similar number will attend the final.
The U18s saw off Sheffield United 3-1 before Christmas, before beating Burnley 1-0 in the fourth round thanks to George Earthy’s late strike.
Victory in the last 16 was earned away to Stoke City thanks to a blistering attacking display, with the Hammers running out 4-1 winners, before a frantic and thrilling 4-2 extra-time win away to Ipswich Town in the quarter-finals.
A home draw finally presented itself against Southampton in the last four, with a Divin Mubama hat-trick inspiring the U18s to an impressive 6-1 win in front of 7,000 spectators at London Stadium.
By Hughie Southon