Academy boss would love to see more fans and first-team players at Brisbane Road next week to support youngsters against Sholing

Danny Webb is hoping his Leyton Orient youngsters will be backed by another passionate crowd when the under-18s host Sholing in the second round of the FA Youth Cup next Wednesday (November 22).

The O’s defeated Biggleswade Town 5-0 last week with Sam Dalby and Eric Lopes netting braces and Hector Kyprianou also on target.

Orient opened the West Stand for the match and a decent chunk of fans came into Brisbane Road to watch the youth-team.

Webb hopes a similar number will be present when O’s under-18s entertain Sholing next week.

He said: “I don’t want to sound too cheesy because we didn’t have too many people at the stadium, but it was nice and they did get behind the boys.

“A lot of them are parents, but I looked back and I saw a few faces that are here for first-team games, so they’ve just come to support the youngsters.

“It means a lot to me as a coach, so what would be nice is if we approach the second round game with the same professionalism and ruthlessness we showed against Biggleswade and whatever will be, will be.”

Orient’s prize if they can get past Sholing will be a trip to Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in the third round.

The young O’s are likely to be backed by more first-teamers at Brisbane Road on Wednesday after several turned up for the clash with Biggleswade.

Goalkeepers Charlie Grainger and Sam Sargeant, both academy graduates, were in attendance for the 5-0 win.

Aron Pollock, Michael Clark and Charley Barker were also present with first-team captain Charlie Lee there too.

Webb thanked them for backing Orient’s under-18s and again pointed to the success of the academy system.

Not only do O’s have several youngsters in their first-team squad, but many more who have earned moves to clubs in the Football League in recent times.

“It’s great they all came and I thanked them after. It is something I tried to do at the 40 clubs I was at,” joked Webb.

“But it is nice to go and watch the youth-team and a lot of the boys watching have been there and they were there themselves not long ago.

“Charlie Lee, the first-team captain, was also here and it means a lot to our players because they see people looking out for them.

“There is a real interest in the academy at Leyton Orient and rightly so because we’ve had a conveyor belt for the last few years especially and I’ve got to make sure it continues over the next two years.”

Before taking on Sholing next Wednesday, O’s must first visit local rivals Southend United in the Youth Alliance South East Division on Saturday.