Lewis Orford (footballer)

Lewis Orford

Personal information
Date of birth	(2006-02-18) 18 February 2006 (age 18)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	West Ham United
Number	61
Youth career
2011–	West Ham United U21
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	West Ham United	0	(0)
International career‡
2022	England U16	2	(0)
2023–2024	England U18	8	(0)
2024–	England U19	3	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 November 2023 00:15 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:18, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Lewis Orford (born 18 February 2006) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club West Ham United. He is an England youth international. ^[1]

Club career

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]

International career

In May 2024, he was called-up to the England national under-18 football team. ^[8] After winning the U18 Pinatar Super Cup in March 2024, Orford went on to captain the side to another trophy with a 2-1 win over Morocco to lift the U18 Tri-Nations Trophy. ^[9]

Style of play

Orford has been compared with former Republic of Ireland international footballer, and current England International Declan Rice. ^[10] 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.” ^[11]

Personal life

Orford comes from a family of West Ham supporters. His father Mark Orford is a systems support engineer from Upminster. Lewis played for Upminster Park Rovers prior to signing with West Ham Juniors. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 January 2024 ^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
West Ham United	2022–23	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	1	0
	2023–24		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5 [a]	1	5	1
Career total			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1	6	1

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

West Ham United U18

• FA Youth Cup: 2022–23 ^[14]
• U18 Premier League South: 2023 ^[15]

England U18s

• 2024 U18 Pinatar Super Cup ^[16]
• 2024 U18 Tri-Nations Trophy ^[17]

References

1. "Lewis Orford". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
2. "The Long Read: Lewis Orford". whufc. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
3. 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.
4. "West Ham thrash Arsenal to win FA Youth Cup". BBC Sport. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
5. 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.
6. Labellarte, Giuseppe (22 November 2023). "David Moyes calls up 'impressive' 17-year-old to West Ham training". tbrfootball. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
7. "TSK VS. WEST HAM". Soccerway. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
8. Veevers, Nicholas (20 May 2024). "England MU18s squad named for SGP games". England Football.
9. "Orford captains England MU18s to Tri-Nations Trophy glory". West Ham United. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
10. "West Ham midfielder Lewis Orford on Declan Rice & his academy journey". BBC Sport. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
11. Brewin, John (10 October 2023). "Next Generation 2022: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
12. 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.
13. "England - L. Orford - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
14. "West Ham United outgun Arsenal to win 2023 FA Youth Cup | West Ham United F.C." www.whufc.com.|date=25 April 2023|accessdate=30 May 2024
15. "West Ham United - U18 Premier League South champions!". West Ham United F.C. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
16. "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
17. "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Morocco". England Football. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.