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FA YOUTH CUP First Round: FC United Youth v Carlisle United Youth.

FA YOUTH CUP First Round: FC United Youth v Carlisle United Youth.On Tuesday 1st November ko 7:45pm FC United’s Youth Team host Carlisle United in the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup - This is the first time an FC United team has competed at this stage of the FA Youth Cup, a competition steeped in history.

On Tuesday 1st November FC United’s Youth Team host Carlisle United in the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup.

Tuesday 1st November kick-off 7.45pm
FA Youth Cup First Round Proper
FC United Youth v Carlisle United Youth

Broadhurst Park (Main Pitch)
Lightbowne Road, Moston,
Manchester M40 0FJ

Admission will be by cash payment at the turnstiles.
£5 Adults
£3 Concessions
£1 under 18s

This is the first time an FC United team has competed at this stage of the FA Youth Cup, a competition steeped in history.

The FA Youth Cup, which is for young players aged between 15 and 18, was established in 1952/53 and saw Manchester United’s Busby Babes win the Trophy in the first 5 seasons 1953-57. The Busby Babes were notable not only for being young and gifted, but for being developed by the club itself, rather than bought from other clubs, as was common at the time.

Man United went on to have further success in 1963/64 helped by a young George Best, and no doubt some of our older supporters would have been part of the 20,000+ crowds who saw Best play for United’s Youth Team. (If you have stories to share, why not come down to our Sporting Memories Group on Friday – click here for more info)

Many FC United fans would have enjoyed watching the successful United Youth Team sides in the early 90’s, then known as ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ and featured the likes of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Phil Neville, Robbie Savage and Keith Gillespie.

Nick Culkin, who made 3 first team appearances for FC United, and now is the club’s goalkeeping coach, played in Man United’s Youth Team in 1995/1996. Unfortunately he was on the receiving end of a hat-trick by Michael Owen (then aged only 16) in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over United in the Quarter Final in March 1996.

Other Youth Cup player-connections with FC United are Phil Marsh and Aaron Burns. Phil Marsh played 53 times for FC between 2008-10 and Aaron Burns played 14 times in 2007/08. Marsh appeared in Man United’s Youth team in 2003/04 and 2004/05 and played alongside Gerard Pique, Johnny Evans, Ryan Shawcross, Darron Gibson and Guiseppi Rossi. Aaron Burns made 3 substitute appearances in 2005/06 for Man United’s Youth Team.

Another notably connection with FC United is Craig Lindfield, who played 67 times for FC United between 2014 and 2016. Lindfield appeared in the Youth Cup Final in 2006/07 for Liverpool against Man United, scoring in the first leg at Anfield. In the 2nd Leg, with the scores level at full-time, the match was decided on penalty kicks with Lindfield converting from the spot helping Liverpool to win the Cup.

When FC United was formed in 2005 one of our core principles centred around the notion that “We will follow the best traditions of Manchester United’s past by developing policies which encourage youth participation in terms of both playing and supporting???.

In 2006/07 the club established its own Youth Team and for the last 3 season’s FC United have had a Reserves Team, Youth Team and an Academy Team.

The FC United Youth Team is currently managed by Rhodri Giggs, who himself played for FC United 81 times, in two spells at the club - 2006/07 and 2012-14.

As a non-league club, FC United enter the competition at the earliest stage, in the Preliminary Round. As with the FA Cup, League Clubs enter the competition in the First Round, with Championship and Premier League Clubs joining in the Third Round.

FC United first took part in the FA Youth Cup in 2014/15 but were knocked out in their first match, at the hands of Macclesfield Town. Last season, after beating Southport at home in Preliminary Round, FC lost 3-2 at home to Altrincham in the 1st Qualifying Round.

This season has seen the Youth Team win their first four ties, scoring three or more goals in each game.

Preliminary Round: Curzon Ashton (H) - Won 3-0 (Jack Ward, Jack Preston, Jack O’Leary)
1st Qual Round: Ashton Town (A) - Won 4-2 (Kamahl Fuller, Cameron Horner, Keenan Tuck, Sam Baird)
2nd Qual Round: Gateshead (H) - Won 3-0 (Kamahl Fuller, Cameron Horner, Will Shawcross)
3rd Qual Round: Nostell Miners Welfare (A) - Won 3-2 (Will Shawcross, Jack O’Leary, Cameron Horner)

The players who have featured in the FA Youth Cup so far this season are:

Steve Affleck, Adib Badri (GK), Sam Baird, Robson Brown, Mason Davies, Steeve Eddy (Captain), Francesco Frangillo, Kamahl Fuller, Cameron Horner, Michael Jones, Sam O’Donnell, Jack O’Leary, Jack Preston, Will Shawcross, Elliot Jorge Simoes Inacio, Sulaiman Sajjad (GK), Charlie Sykes, Keenan Tuck, Lewis Unwin, Benn Veitch, Jack Ward

With all this history, together with our core founding principle and the talent we have in our youth set up, we encourage as many FC United fans as possible to come along to Broadhurst Park on Tuesday and cheer the lads on.

Let’s make this a night to remember, bring your scarves, flags and songs and give our youngsters a real FC United match experience.

BRING ON UNITED!



First Posted ~ 13:49 Wed 26 Oct 2016
News ID ~ 7118
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021