Hammers confirmed as champions

Hugh5outhon1895

4 years ago

Categories: News, Whispers

West Ham’s U23s have been confirmed as the Premier League 2 Division 2 Champions for the 2019/20 season.

The announcement comes from the Premier League and confirms the amazing season the youngsters put together following relegationin 2018/19.

At the time of football’s suspension, the U23s were three points clear of their closest rivals with a superior goal difference, and boasted a hitherto unbeaten league campaign in which they had scored 58 goals in just 18 games.

All member clubs agreed on a PPG (points per game) system to determine the final rankings, which ensured the Hammers clinched the title.

West Ham will now return to the top division of development football next season, alongside title rivals Manchester United who finished second.

*U23 Lead Coach Dmitri Halajko and Assistant Coach Steve Potts at Dagenham and Redbridge FC – pic via www,.whufc.com.*

U23s assistant coach Steve Potts expressed told www.whufc.com: “We’re very proud of lads! It was a great season, the fact that we’ve gone unbeaten is a great achievement. We talk about Development and at this age as well we often say, ‘It doesn’t matter about winning’ but I think learning how to win is part of that.

I think the style of play is the most pleasing aspect. We always got on the front foot and took the game to the opposition. I can’t remember a game where we sat back either home or away, we just tried to be the better team all round be that physically, technically or tactically and the boys have been rewarded for that.”

Of the new campaign – just a month away – he added: “There won’t be any easy this year! Every game is going to be a really, really tough test and that’s what you want because we’re not going to get three points every week like we did last year. It’s going to be real battle and hopefully we can do well.”

Following promotion the U23s will now compete in a 13-team Premier League 2 Division 1 that will begin in September, where their opposition will include the likes of Chelsea U23s, Tottenham Hotspur U23s and Liverpool U23s.

ClaretandHugh says: Well done the under 23s and all involved in the backroom team for taking the boys back to Premier League 2 Division One. To have been relegated so soon after promotion following a St James’ Park play off in the previous season is a terrific achievement and confirms the depth of talent at the grass roots of the club. That two or three youngsters have spring boarded from this level to the first team squad is great news for the Hammers particularly as it was achieved during a period when hugely expensive marquee signings were the rule. During the next couple of seasons it’s quite possible we shall see more making their breakthroughs under different circumstances. Towards the end of last season we saw Xande Silva and Conor Coventry on the bench as we battled for survival and Nathan Holland is clearly an exceptional talent as he demonstrated whilst on loan at Oxford United. There could be some exciting times ahead for him and the others.