Whitehawk U18’s made club history this season by reaching the 2nd round of the FA Youth Cup for the first time ever. Dale Hurley and his coaching team joined the club this summer and have already stamped their mark on the youth section with this cup journey which culminated at The Gaughan Group Stadium on Tuesday evening as Whitehawk faced off against EFL League One club Leyton Orient’s Academy U18’s.

The young Hawks started their journey in the Preliminary round in a home fixture which was decided by penalties against Chipstead FC, followed by another home tie against Three Bridges FC where they worked their way to a 4-1 victory in the 1st qualifying round. The U18’s then took the short trip to reigning Isthmian Youth League South and Champion of Champion’s winners, Worthing FC where a first clean sheet in the competition saw Whitehawk run out 2-0 winners in the 2nd qualifying round. Kingstonian visited The Enclosed Ground in the 3rd qualifying round, Whitehawk fell behind before battling back to a 2-1 victory to qualify for the 1st round proper. 

Whitehawk drew Barking FC, the youth section at Barking FC linked to Barking Abbey School. The current reigning ESFA National Champions, a thrilling encounter saw Whitehawk take a 2-0 lead before being pegged back to 2-2 in the second half. The winner came with midway through the second half and Whitehawk had made club history reaching the 2nd round proper for the first time in the club’s 79 year history.

Leyton Orient U18’s sat 8th in the EFL Youth Alliance South, proved a test too strong for the Heroic young Hawks, as the O’s went on to win in convincing fashion, 6-0.

Dale Hurley said “I’m so proud of the players & the coaches for this incredible cup run. We never set a specific round to target, as the draw can be ruthless but the boys just kept on getting the job done. The whole squad are under 17’s other than 4 second years. So they should be good for another shot at a cup run next year”.

Whitehawk U18’s are next in action away to Bognor Regis Town in the Isthmian Youth Cup 3rd Round followed by a home County Cup 4th round game vs Heathfield & Horam. The next league fixture is away to Horsham YMCA on 3rd December.