Lewis Orford (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 February 2006 | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | West Ham United U21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | West Ham United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023- | West Ham United | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023- | England U18 | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 November 2023 00:15 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:23, 26 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
Lewis Orford (born 18 February 2006) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Ham United. He is an England youth international.[1]
Career[edit]
Orford joined the academy system at West Ham United at five years old. He worked through the age groups and began playing for the U18s under Kevin Keen during the 2021-22 season. He signed Scholarship terms with West Ham in June 2022.[2] Orford signed his first professional contract with West Ham shortly after his seventeenth birthday in February 2023.[3]
He was included in a West Ham first team match day squad for the first time in November 2022, being an unused substitute as West Ham beat FCSB 3-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League. That season he was part of the West Ham U18 side that won the final of the FA Youth Cup defeating Arsenal 5–1 at the Emirates Stadium in April 2023.[4][5]
He was promoted to the West Ham U21 side for the 2023-24 season, despite still being only 17 years old. He scored two goals and was credited four assists from his first ten games in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy. He was called up to first-team training in November 2023.[6] He subsequently travelled with the first-team squad for a UEFA Europa League fixture against Serbian side FK TSC on 30 November 2023.[7]
Style of play[edit]
Orford has been compared with former Republic of Ireland international footballer, and current England International Declan Rice.[8] He was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best first-year scholars in the Premier League in September 2022 with John Brewin drawing a comparison with Frank Lampard “in his ability to arrive late on the scene for scoring opportunities.”[9]
Personal life[edit]
His father Mark Orford is a systems support engineer from Upminster. Lewis played for Upminster Park Rovers prior to signing with West Ham Juniors.[10]
Honours[edit]
England U18s
References[edit]
- ^ "Lewis Orford". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "The Long Read: Lewis Orford". whufc. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Mutch, Michael (23 February 2023). "'A proud moment' - Lewis Orford's first words after signing first professional West Ham contract". football.london. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "West Ham thrash Arsenal to win FA Youth Cup". BBC Sport. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Thomas, Roshane (April 7, 2023). "Meet West Ham's youngsters taking the club to a first FA Youth Cup final in 24 years". The Athletic. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Labellarte, Giuseppe (22 November 2023). "David Moyes calls up 'impressive' 17-year-old to West Ham training". tbrfootball. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "TSK VS. WEST HAM". Soccerway. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "West Ham midfielder Lewis Orford on Declan Rice & his academy journey". BBC Sport. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Brewin, John (10 October 2023). "Next Generation 2022: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Moore-Bridger, Benedict (12 June 2014). "Watch the moment an eight-year-old Essex lad scores wonder free kick... against Barcelona". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.