Journal · Matchday diary

Chelsea U17
v West Ham U17

Academy football, 1 September 2026. The walk-out, the game and the goals, from the touchline.

Chelsea academy goalkeeper walking out with the team — 01 · The walk-out

Before kick-off

I set up by the tunnel for the walk-out. It is the calmest moment of the day and the only one where every player passes the same spot at the same pace.

Chelsea winger striking the ball with West Ham defenders closing — 02 / 03 · The strike · The aerial challenge

Chelsea and West Ham players challenging for a high ball — 02 / 03 · The strike · The aerial challenge

Chelsea forward holding off two West Ham defenders — 04 · Holding it up

The game

Academy games move fast and the players are technically sharp, so I shot from low down and stayed on the ball side. Most of the frames I kept came from duels: two players, one ball, a fraction of a second.

Two Chelsea players laughing arm in arm after a goal — 05 / 06 · After the goal

Chelsea players hugging in celebration — 05 / 06 · After the goal

Chelsea academy players celebrating together — 07 · Celebration

The gallery

The full match is published in high resolution and free to download for players, parents and staff.

The full gallery is live: 337 photos from the match.

Open the gallery ↗