adminOllie Scarles setting the standard for West Ham’s next generation after breakthrough season
After a breakthrough campaign, West Ham United’s Young Hammer of the Year Ollie Scarles is aiming to build on his progress and emulate club legend Aaron Cresswell in the Premier League this season.
Although Cresswell—who recently left the club—remains Scarles’ role model, the 19-year-old left-back is already carving out his own legacy at Rush Green. Scarles joined the likes of Declan Rice, Ben Johnson, and Reece Oxford in receiving the prestigious Young Player of the Year award back in May.
Having made his Premier League debut in December, the England Under-20 international made a total of 15 top-flight appearances by the end of the 2024/25 season. His rapid development earned the attention of head coach Graham Potter, and Scarles quickly became a fixture in the senior squad.
His rise is now serving as a blueprint for other academy talents such as Lewis Orford and Kaelan Casey, who head into pre-season eager to follow the same path. West Ham Under-21 manager Mark Robson is determined to ensure the pathway from academy to first team continues to flourish.
“Ollie’s progress is what we’re aiming for,” Robson explained. “Our goal is always to help players step up to the first team. Last season, Ollie did that brilliantly, and both Lewis and Kaelan were also involved. If others can follow that route, we’ll be doing our job right.”
Midfielder Lewis Orford, two months younger than Scarles, captained the U21 side several times last season and looks to former West Ham skipper Mark Noble for inspiration. Centre-back Kaelan Casey also earned senior minutes last season, making his debut in the same game as Scarles – a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
As West Ham’s U21s returned to training this week, Robson welcomed a few new faces, including Daniel Cummings from Celtic and Mohamadou Kante from Paris FC – the latter fresh off helping his team win promotion to Ligue 1.
Pre-season preparations are now in full swing, with Robson overseeing a demanding fixture schedule that includes games against senior sides such as Maidenhead, Braintree, and Northampton Town – now coached by former Hammers assistant Kevin Nolan. Nolan recently signed academy graduate Kamarai Swyer for his squad.
“It’s great to be back,” Robson said. “The players have gone through some early testing and physical prep. Pre-season is tough, but that’s the point—we’re pushing even harder this year to make sure they’re fully ready.”
“This year’s schedule is intentionally busier. We’ve got a big group and want to give everyone chances to play. The games against senior teams will be tough, but they’ll give our players a real taste of what’s required at the next level.”
As Scarles leads by example, the hope at West Ham is that many more youngsters will soon be following in his footsteps.
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