Our inaugural Group B contest sees the Rebels pitted against one of the country’s brightest academy sides, an U21s outfit that reached the final of this tournament a few months ago.
For this evening’s hosts, it’s an almost instant opportunity to bounce back following the weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Forest Green Rovers in their league exploits. Ted Jenks broke the deadlock in the second minute, but Josh Osude’s equaliser cancelled the header out before Ricardo Rees converted from close-range to capture the three points for the Green Army.
After suffering a first loss on home soil for over 10 months, Worthing can now spark a new run of invincibility at home – starting with tonight’s tussle with the Hammers.
This is the first of four group games over the coming months, as the National League South champions will also welcome the youth sides of Ipswich Town, Norwich City and Fulham to the Sussex Transport Community Stadium.
In the event of a tie tonight, the match will go to a penalty shootout – with the winning side earning an extra point in the league standings.
Team News
Forest Green Rovers loanee Jose Marquez is available once again after being ineligible against his parent club on Saturday, while Bailey Smith and Ashley Nathaniel-George are stepping up their respective recoveries from injury – but are yet to return to full fitness.
The Opposition
Penalty shootout heartbreak prevented the young Hammers from becoming only the second team to lift the National League Cup trophy back in March.
Surging into a 2-0 lead away to Boreham Wood in the final, their inexperience reared it’s ugly head in the second half, with Abdul Abdulmalik’s goal preceding a stoppage-time equaliser from Aaron Henry.
They then fell to a 7-6 loss on penalties, with Gabriel Caliste tarnishing a perfect streak of spot-kicks prior to Charlie O’Connell’s decisive kick from 12 yards.
Despite that heart-wrenching loss, it was still a campaign to be proud of – topping Group C of the National League Cup with 13 points from four matches, beating senior sides in Tamworth, Boston United, Aldershot Town and Truro City along the way, while also reaching the quarter-finals of the Premier League 2.
The Gaffer
Succeeding former U21s Lead Coach Greg Lincoln, who moved into the Head of Coaching Role in East London over the summer, UEFA Pro Licence holder and former West Ham United player Mark Robson returned to his role as their Senior Professional Development Phase Coach/U21s Lead Coach in July.
Robson has the reputation as one of the most highly-respected development coaches in English football, having previously spent more than four years at the Football Association as a National Specialist Coach, working closely with the best young players to help their progre through the national team pathway into the senior England squad.
Robson enjoyed a 13-year playing career as a winger with Exeter City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Charlton Athletic and Notts County.
He then moved into coaching, spending eight years at Charlton working with the U18s, U21s, as a development coach, and as a first-team coach and Assistant Head Coach under Alan Pardew.
Robson moved to Gillingham as first-team coach, then onto Peterborough United in the same role, before being appointed head coach of Barnet in 2012.
A spell as an FA Youth Coach Educator followed before Robson was appointed as the England U17s assistant coach in 2013. Later the same year, he joined Norwich City as U21s lead coach before being promoted to first-team coach under manager Neil Adams.
Robson took a first-team coach role under Tim Sherwood at Aston Villa in 2015, then spent four years working as a national specialist coach with England U20s.
After a second spell at Peterborough, Robson returned to West Ham in November 2021, as Senior Professional Development Phase Coach/U21s Lead Coach.
He returned to the role in summer 2024, after spending the 2023/24 season as a First-Team Coach under manager David Moyes, and then again in summer 2026, after working with the first team under Nuno Espírito Santo for the majority of 2025/26.
One to Watch
Several of the protagonists from last season’s success are now a valued and consistent part of the senior set-up at the London Stadium, with multiple youngsters featuring on the bench for the Hammers’ opening day 2-2 draw away to Burnley in the Championship.
Airidas Golambeckis, Henry Landers, Josh Ajala and Ezra Mayers were all included in the 20-man squad by Nuno Espirito Santo, with the quartet heavily featuring in the Premier League 2 and National League Cup last season.
Teenager Josh Ajala netted four times in six NL Cup appearances last term, including a late, dramatic brace in the 3-1 away win over Tamworth in the semi-final. Central defender Golambeckis is also highly-rated in the East London ranks, but is yet to make his senior bow.
U21s Skipper Lewis Orford isn’t expected to feature, as he completed the full 90 minutes for the first-team at Turf Moor on Sunday.
Previous Meeting
Worthing FC 4-1 West Ham XI, 13th July 2025, Pre-Season Friendly
Believe it or not, the Reds encountered an iteration of a young West Ham United team in a non-competitive setting as recently as last summer. Brad Dolaghan netted a hat-trick as the hosts recorded a 4-1 friendly victory in the first test of their 2025/26 pre-season programme.
Tickets
Tickets for tonight’s clash are available to purchase online and at the turnstiles.
However, as always, supporters are encouraged to purchase their tickets online in advance to minimise disruption when entering the ground.
Both Worthing FC and West Ham United U21s supporters can purchase their tickets online via Fanbase.
Please note as part of a newly-introduced rule, children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult, otherwise they will be refused entry. Refunds are awarded at the Club’s discretion.
Pricing
Prices
Adults – £10.00
Concessions/U22 – £6.00
U7 – £1.00
Buy your tickets here: Worthing FC vs West Ham United U21s Tickets
HOW TO FOLLOW
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the game via live updates from the club’s official Twitter account.
Or if you prefer, you can watch Behind- the-Scenes access over on our Instagram account.
You can also listen to live commentary through the club’s official commentary service or watch the match live on DAZN.
Timings
Please note, tonight’s match kicks-off at 7:30pm, not 7:45pm.
17:30 – Turnstiles open
18:45 – Team news & Warm-Ups
19:25 – Teams Emerge From Tunnel
19:30 – Kick-off
21:15– Full-time
(All timings are approximate and subject to change if necessary)
Stadium Map
A bird’s eye view of the Sussex Transport Community Stadium, including entrance points, refreshment outlets and other facilities.
Food and Drink
FanZone
Our FanZone, sponsored by ST Containers, will be open and is the perfect place to feel the buzz before kick-off, Alongside the The Container Bar, the FanZone also has multiple TV screens installed on the walls which means supporters can enjoy some pre-match entertainment in the lead-up to kick-off.
Several refreshments are available to purchase under the canopy, including alcoholic beverages and soft drinks only.
From this season onwards, there are now four points of service, which will increase the speed and efficiency of the bar.
Please note, no snacks are on offer from this outlet, with the newly-introduced Tuck Shop the place to satisfy your sugary cravings (see below).
Tuck Shop
The Club is delighted to introduce our new Tuck Shop, which has replaced the area that formerly housed our Club Shop. Positioned in front of our Stand Bar, the tuck shop will be selling selling teas, coffees, cold drinks, slushies (red only of course), sweets and chocolate and other snacks.
Stand Bar
As usual, the stand bar is expected to be very busy with the bar renowned for being one of the more popular locations for supporters to congregate ahead of kick-off.
The Bar will serve alcoholic, soft drinks and hot drinks, but there are no snacks available in here. Again, supporters are directed towards our new tuck shop to fulfil your sugary-based needs.
There are three points of service at the bar and capacity is limited. Please use the inside of the building to queue, rather than outside the door, as the rules for alcohol consumption in sight of the pitch remain in action. Please don’t open the windows, as they are frosted to ensure that we comply with these rules.
St Elmo’s
St Elmo’s Shack and Pop-Up Bars will not be in operation for this evening’s match.
Main Kitchen
The Full Menu will be on offer at tonight’s, including vegetarian options and the new king-size hotdog!
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗