A look ahead to the Round of 32 clash
A RARE opportunity to see some top young footballers and potential stars of the future is on offer when Exeter City’s Under 21s play West Ham United on Wednesday 2nd December in the Round of 32 of the Under-21 Premier League Cup.The game is at St James Park, with a 7pm kick-off.
West Ham has one of the foremost football academies in the country, producing an endless supply of young talent. Most-famously, they developed Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, who were all World Cup winners with England in 1966.
Other notable graduates of the West Ham Academy include Frank Lampard (both Senior and Junior), Sir Trevor Brooking, Harry Redknapp, Paul Ince, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe.
A current West Ham youth starlet, who could well play in the game at Exeter, is Reece Oxford. He made his first-team debut for the Hammers this season when aged just sixteen years and 198 days – the club’s youngest-ever senior player. He is also the second-youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League.
Exeter City also has an excellent reputation for developing young footballers. In recent years several young Grecians have graduated to play with Premier League clubs. These include Dean Moxey (with Crystal Palace), Danny Seaborne (Southampton), George Friend (Wolves) and Matt Grimes (Swansea).
Another City youngster, Sean Goss, has just broken through the ranks at Manchester United and was on the bench for their Premier League game at Watford last weekend.
That same day saw Exeter City secure a famous victory away at Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle and the City squad included academy graduates Jordan Moore-Taylor (who captained the team), Ollie Watkins, Jamie Reid and Tom Nichols. Watkins, Reid and Nichols have all played for Exeter’s Under-21 side this season as they defeated Southend United and Peterborough United to reach the last 32.
So who knows which future stars you might be watching on 2nd December?
Tickets cost just£8 for adults,£4 for over 62s and£2 for under-18s and students. Make sure you arrive early for this one - as all entry will be through the Main Stand turnstiles, please allow plenty of time to enter the stadium and find your seat.