Declan Rice surprises West Ham U18s in the dressing room after thrashing Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal 5-1 in the FA Youth Cup Final on Tuesday.
The young Hammers sealed the big win at the Emirates Stadium, in front of over 7,000 travelling fans, with the overall attendance of 34,000.
George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Gideon Kodua, Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs all got on the scoresheet, making the occasion one to remember.
Rice got amongst the celebrations after the match as the club finally won the cup, the first time in 1999.
The first team captain ran into the dressing-room and started to dance with his squad to Lil Baby’s 2017 hit Freestyle, to cap off what has been had a great year after adding the league title to their trophy collection.
Rice, who went through the academy, has mentored a number of young people, along with Mark Noble, the club director of football, in attendance for the showpiece.
Last night, both sat next to each other with former assistant boss Stuart Pearce.
West Ham fans are wanting to see their young players get more minutes in the senior team with some joking that they are better than first-team members after the 6-1 thrashing of Southampton in the semi finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Declan Rice celebrated West Ham U18s FA Youth Cup final victory in style last night 🕺🏆 pic.twitter.com/HJ0MRnsTw0
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) April 26, 2023
Rice’s focus will now be on keeping West Ham in Premier League, and winning silverware himself.
In the Conference League’s last four, David Moyes and his team will face AZ Aalkmaar.
Rice’s West Ham future in the long term is uncertain amid interest from Arsenal.
West Ham Under 18s boss Kevin Keen said: “I am so proud of them.
“I’d take this group over any group and I said it to them before the game. They work so hard.
“From the first day of pre-season, this group has been on it. It’s not just the talent it’s the working hard too. It’s the togetherness. Everything about this group. There is a lot of humility as well, which goes a long way. I’m really hopeful for all of them and they’re all just great kids.
“Arsenal are a good team and credit to them and the way they played.
“There is a lot of the game where they’ve got possession and where the boys were working hard to make sure Arsenal didn’t get into the box. Our defensive structure was very good. The goals were ‘wow’!
“I have to say our supporters; I think we have the best support in the country.
“And to get 7,000 out there and to sing like that and be as passionate for Academy football: ‘Wow.’ It was one of the best nights of my life and I’m sure it’s one of the best nights of our young players’ lives.
“We have got so many characters and they work so hard together.
“They are a fantastic group that wants to do well for this football club. And hopefully like the Youth Cup winners from years gone by, we’ll have some of them get into our first team and have fantastic careers.
“It means the world to me.
“It’s been something like 23 seasons as a player and a coach for me, and you don’t win things that often. And to win it as we did.
“I am gobsmacked. It’s absolutely stunning.
“To win it like we did. Here. And in front of their family and friends. It front of my wife too. It is absolutely amazing.”
This is what fans said as Declan Rice surprises West Ham U18s in the dressing room after thrashing Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup…
@Boysof1966: Well played!! ⚒️ and so proud of everyone of them.. This is a special group.. please nurture them and bring them through ⚒️⚒️
@FJohnf1964: The future looks bright, very bright indeed, COYIs ⚒👏👏👏👏
@alanthehammer: Brilliant, absolutely fantastic performance. Some of the football was sheer quality, if these lads keep going then the future is bright
@Antiguamann: Southern League and cup double completed, one more step now against Man City for National League winners and a glorious treble #COYI ⚒️
@onebarian1: What a result! Bright futures for a few of those lads, Earthy could be the next 1st team regular, after such a frustrating season for the 1st team tonight’s performance was so nice to watch. Well done boys and to Kevin Keen and his staff ⚒
@MarshyBoy26: Academy of football shining through tonight. Well done to the boys 👏🏻⚒
@crhcapital: Fantastic, well done boys! Hopefully inspires the first team to go on and win the Europa Conference League ⚒️
@GarageSkool: Well done boys. Was a pleasure to watch you win tonight 😁⚒️
@jimmywalker001: Outstanding 🙌👏👏👏 ..a League and Cup double is a fantastic achievement from an outstanding group of young men and an excellent coaching staff 🙌 Proud as anything watching that 🙌❤️⚒
@ChicagoHammers: Absolutely superb win from the lads. A brilliant piece of silver for the club! What a great example they’ve set for the senior players. Let’s add that European trophy next!
@amurrayc68: Great game and amazing atmosphere. We had a 5th of the crowd and we’re by far the loudest. Constant singing. WE ARE MASSIVE ⚒️
@whuchr: GET BACK IN THE WASHING MACHINE WILSHERE
@JRichardsonJR90: Absolute smashed it some of these lads need to be in first team action next season totally deserved 👏 ⚒️
@paulwathen10: What a set up. Top drawer from the management to all the squad. And you make it look so easy⚒⚒⚒
YOU JUST GOT KEEN’D pic.twitter.com/bLcjBhhN74
— whuvision (@whuvision) April 25, 2023
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