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My dislike for West Ham comes from when I was a lad at school supporting Col U when some of the other (shall we call them ‘cooler’) boys in school decided to change the team they support from Arsenal and Man Utd to their local team! Now bearing in mind that they all lived, and I assume were born in Colchester, I thought that we might have had one or two extra Col U fans to populate Layer Road – nope, I was wrong they plumbed for that other “local” team approx. 60 miles away in East London! Then as I got older there were neighbours and work colleagues that supported West Ham for no other reason than being the local “big Team in Essex!?!?”
Anyway, moving on and it sounds like lots of other Colchester/Clacton/Witham/Braintree based West Ham fans will be descending on the Jobserve Community Stadium to join Robbie and maybe Danny in the away end (approx. 1,500 at last guess) having not read the script about the boycott surrounding this tournament.
Ah yes, this tournament. At the time of writing the EFL Trophy is currently known as the Vertue Trophy. I say at the time writing because sponsorship of the Associate Members' Cup (renamed the Football League Trophy in 1992) has had 10 different sponsors in 40 odd years with 4 in the last 10 years (Checkatrade.com, Leasing.com, Papa John’s and now Vertu Motors). However, many Col U fans will remember fondly that this trophy was once known as the Auto Windscreens Shield (1994-2000), and in April 1997 a young Karl Duguid missed the 4th Col U penalty, leaving it to soon-to-be Col U player Warren Aspinall to score his. After Peter Cawley saw his penalty and Col U’s 5th saved, Carlisle captain Steve Hayward scored his to win the penalty shootout for Carlisle.
Onto Tuesday’s match with “them” down the road and Danny Cowley has admitted that he was disappointed with the EFL for approving the change of date of this match from December 2nd to December 9th having planned for some of The U’s youngsters to feature in the match, before heading out on loan.
Cowley said: “Everything had been planned for us to play West Ham, on December 2.
“But unfortunately, we got on the wrong side of a big club, which sometimes you do.
“West Ham put another fixture on that day and have played strong teams, in this competition to that point.
“I think they have a first team game on December 4 [at Manchester United], so they weren’t keen to play it on that date.
“It’s not ideal for us, because we’d prepared to play it that week and we’ve got some young ones who we really want to go out on loan, but we don’t want them to go out, until they’ve played in this game, because it’s a great game for them and an important part of their development.
“It’s going to move their fixture closer to the run of games that we already have over the Christmas period and after the 9th, we’re away for an early kick-off, against Salford.
“We’re pretty disappointed with the league, because we thought it was an EFL competition and we’re an EFL team.
“I’m a bit perplexed and disappointed that they haven’t supported us in that. “We’re now going to have to play a West Ham team who already in this competition have played first-team players in Tomas Soucek and have incredible kids, players that won the FA Youth Cup three years ago.
“They’ve got boys like George Earthy who was in the Championship Team of the Year and [Freddie] Potts has already played in this competition as well.
“It’s life changing money for us as a football club – it can really make a difference and we’d just like to have a fair crack at it but it doesn’t look like we’ve been given it, so I think we just have to accept it.”
So, Danny C is getting his excuses in all ready it seems. However, West Ham Utd U21 have lost to Reading 3-1 back in Sept with Soucek playing the full 90 minutes, so we should show no fear!
As for our starting line-up, I would go:
GK: Smith RB: Hunt CB: Kuffour Jr CB: Araujo (swap for Tucker at half time) LB: Powell RM: Gordon CM: Gape (swap for Oni at half time CM: Bishop (swap for Read at half time) LM: Edwards CF: Willaims CF: Goodwin
Think we have found a new Durham….. not necessarily the writing, but definitely the optimism!
Good stuff!
Frankly, I suspect this will be a dour affair. A Colchester back five, defending deep against a fluent quick possession based side, the U’s hoping to snuff them out and snatch a set piece winner.
Home fans will probably be outnumbered, as closet Hammers fans pour out of Highwoods, Shrub End, Chesterwell Woods etc. Most having never been to the London Stadium. Hopefully some might be converted. I arrived in 2004 and sat in the Bristol City end at Layer Road, having followed the visitors over the previous five years (I have always supported my local team). I’ve missed few U’s games, home or away since then. A U’s win might inspire some youngsters that have never heard Bow Bells but follow their dads like sheep. Now I’m being the optimist….
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The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 22:32 - Dec 8 with 1088 views
Four of the ten outfield starters must be 'qualifying players'. A player qualifies if they started the previous first team match, are among the top ten appearance makers for the club this season, have 40 or more career first team appearances, or are on loan from a Premier League or Category One academy club.
I hate West Sham too
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The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 23:37 - Dec 8 with 1072 views
I concur with almost all of the above ghughes, an excellent preview, wonderful optimism, and yes I agree your line-up I'm pretty certain conforms to the regulations. This is a tough gig to take though, predicting a team in a game where an uncertain number may or may not be rested. I guess that boils down to how serious Danny is about winning this competition, but your line-up looks good.
At present though, I don't personally share the animus about West Ham, never really had an issue with them at all tbh. Then again, I moved out of Colchester years ago, probably long before the East London exodus into Essex, although to be fair my maternal grand parents back in the day (before I was born) were early trailblazers on that journey. My loathing has always been and will continue to be directed towards the cousin-shaggers up the road (and of course the estuary bottom-feeders, but they're currently a lost cause, so f'ck 'em).
As for the game, this will be a tough one, against a very technically gifted West Ham side, no doubt sprinkled with a few fringe first teamers. Fingers-crossed, I'm going for a Durhamesque 3-1 victory for the U's, more with hope than heart though if I'm honest.
I went to the knockout game against West Ham Under 21's in this very trophy just over two years ago when Etherington gave this competition so little respect that he couldn't even be bothered to manage the team for these games. We were outclassed from the first whistle and 0-4 flattered us rather than them. I'm hoping for much better tonight but I'm also expecting West Ham to field a strong side and be a very difficult opponent. I do feel we need to impose ourselves physically and score the first goal ideally.
Has anyone heard anything about Araujo's injury from Saturday? I was surprised he was able to continue at the time and hopefully it was just cramp and nothing more serious.
The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 17:44 - Dec 9 by RSCOSWORTH
Nice one ghughes11. A cracking preview.
I went to the knockout game against West Ham Under 21's in this very trophy just over two years ago when Etherington gave this competition so little respect that he couldn't even be bothered to manage the team for these games. We were outclassed from the first whistle and 0-4 flattered us rather than them. I'm hoping for much better tonight but I'm also expecting West Ham to field a strong side and be a very difficult opponent. I do feel we need to impose ourselves physically and score the first goal ideally.
Has anyone heard anything about Araujo's injury from Saturday? I was surprised he was able to continue at the time and hopefully it was just cramp and nothing more serious.
cheers RSCOSWORTH
As for the 0-4 wasn't that versus Spurs when they bought on a 20 million pound youth teamer?
Just Googled this and found:
7:30pm, Tuesday 19th September 2023. Colchester United 0-5 Tottenham Hotspur U21.
Let's have a look at the Spurs goalscorers to see 'Where are they now', as this competition was meant to act as a springboard for young "stars of the future" to gain experience before featuring for the first team?!?
J Donley (33rd minute and 6th minute) J Soonsup-Bell (53rd minute, 73rd minute) W Lankshear (60th minute)
J Donley: Jamie Paul Donley (born 3 January 2005) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship team Stoke City on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Born in Northern Ireland and raised in England, he was a youth international for both countries, before opting to play for the Northern Ireland national team at senior level: 2024–2025 → Leyton Orient (loan) 39 (8) 2025– → Stoke City (loan) 4 (0)
Jude Jacob Soonsup-Bell (Thai: จู๊ด ซุ่นทรัพย์-เบลล์; born 10 January 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Grimsby Town. Born in England, he plays for the Thailand national team. 2024–2025 Córdoba 7 (0) 2025 → Sanluqueño (loan) 13 (1) 2025– Grimsby Town 6 (0)
William Terence Lankshear (born 20 April 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Oxford United, on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. 2025 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 11 (0) 2025– → Oxford United (loan) 13 (4)
Make of that what you will
I also Googled 'which current players in the England squad have played in the EFL Trophy'
and this was the answer: "Several current England squad players have EFL Trophy experience, including Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, James Garner, Declan Rice, Jarrad Branthwaite, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, many starting with academy sides (like Chelsea U21s for Guehi, Man Utd U21 for Garner) or on early loans, showcasing how the competition builds future senior internationals."
So I guess you could say that the competition is working for the Premier League teams.
As tough a game as I was expecting, and I'm kind of glad it's still only 0-1. Danny will have to bring on some of the senior players on the bench if we want to get through this round. My 3-1 prediction is still on btw.
That was hard to take, deserved the equaliser second half, and really should have had it, but credit to the WH keeper for keeping out Mbick's penalty and his point blank follow-up. Maybe a lesson learned for Danny in terms of team selection, a few more first teamers and we could have still been in this competition. West Ham U21s were good though, and they may go much further in this.
We lost that one in the first half. A makeshift U's line-up vs a West Ham side that looked like they're established. It really is a shame we didn't start with a stronger XI, but if we pick up a good haul of points over the festive season, then all is forgiven.
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The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 23:00 - Dec 9 with 434 views
1. Our squad is too weak. We were awful in the first half. They ran rings around us.
2. I noticed West Ham (BBC) statistics at half time were massively better than Col U. First half we had zero shots and negligible possession.
3. We instantly improved when Tovide and Read replaced Gape and Goodwin.
4. Once Lisbie and Mbickreplaced Gordon and Williams on 73 minutes, the U's were utterly dominant.
5. By full time we had enjoyed 14 shots (WH merely 12) with 8 on target (WH 3).
6. Had Mbick scored the penalty, only one side was going to win this. By then, West Ham looked a spent force.
7. Their goalkeeper made a number of incredible saves. Deffo MoM.
8. By full time all the match stats (except goals) favoured Col U.
9. In summary, the Cowleys got this wrong. Our second string were not good enough to beat these outstanding kids, and they brought on the cavalry too late.
10. I walked home down the Boulevard and more WH fans than Col U kept me company. I also got a cab from the station at 18.00 and the trains were almost empty of Hammers fans. They patently only live around the corner.
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The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 23:07 - Dec 9 with 421 views
I have to say that I don't care where the punters came from - Colchester, Tiptree, Basildon, or from within the sound of Bow Bells. It's all money in the Club's coffers. Plenty of people from South Essex have family roots from places like Romford, Dagenham etc, which have always had a strong West Ham following. And if people from North Essex want to follow the Hammers, why not? Probably better than following Ipswich!
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The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 23:22 - Dec 9 with 410 views
And never forget that the Hammers occupy a unique place in English football history through the heroic efforts of three of their players in 1966. I'm sure there are many Col U fans who also (like me) keep an eye on how the Hammers are doing. Nothing wrong with that! And yes I was rooting for our boys tonight (Col U).
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The Hammers to get hammered by The U’s! on 08:51 - Dec 10 with 334 views
Technical difficulties with Sky app, with playback message ever present through second half . Not only did the U’s miss the penalty, so did I . From what I did peek in the first half segments, U’s to weak in midfield with no possession going forward. Hammers youngsters looked a different class and comfortable, how many to make hundred appearances in the future …. One ☝️!
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