Villa Park Double

Big games are coming thick and fast at Villa Park and the famous old ground was in good voice during Saturday's victory against Chelsea.

Those upcoming matches include two March cup ties for Villa's youngsters, against Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League round of 16, at 3pm on Tuesday 4th and in the FA Youth Cup on Friday 14th March when Plymouth Argyle are the visitors in the quarter-finals.

Tickets for the games are priced at £5 each, more info over on the Villa website.

Not Many More Goodison Nights

Nearly 39,000 were in attendance at Goodison Park on a freezing Thursday night, watching Everton eventually see off Peterborough United in the FA Cup and also taking one of the dwindling chances to take in a game under the lights at the famous old stadium.

James Nalton had a nice piece on Goodison in Friday's Morning Star and there is a good chance to take in the surroundings on Tuesday 21 January when Everton U18s take on Wolves in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Admission to the game is priced at £5 adults and £3 for concessions, cash on the turnstiles as well!

Before then, Stoke City are offering free entry to their FA Youth Cup fixture against West Brom this coming Tuesday, 14 January, at 7pm.

After the Storm

Storm Darragh may have postponed, to a later date, the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park but there is a great chance to watch a game at the famous old stadium this coming Wednesday (December 11th) at 7pm.

Everton's youngsters take on Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup with tickets priced at £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. 

Fair play to the Toffees and all the clubs who have played their third round matches at their main stadium. I had fancied watching the Sky Blues under-18's at Manchester United if that had been scheduled for Old Trafford but it was not to be.

At least that game, to be played at Leigh Sports Village, should still give some sense of occasion for the players and their families, unlike those fixtures that will take place at club training grounds which won't do much to differentiate the youth cup from a normal league match.

There are ties scheduled this coming week, weather permitting, at Carrow Road, Sincil Bank, Brunton Park, Loftus Road and Kenilworth Road.

December Dates

Keep an eye out in December for FA Youth Cup fixtures, hopefully many of which will be played at the main stadium of the clubs drawn at home, with Premier League and Championship teams joining the competition at this third round stage.

Spotted so far...Norwich City versus Brentford at Carrow Road on Monday 9th (£2 adults, free for under-18's) and Preston North End versus Liverpool at Deepdale on Friday 6th (free for season ticket holders from either club, £5/£1 otherwise.)

Similarly in the Premier League International Cup for under-21 teams, there are scheduled fixtures at Molineux (Wolves v Ajax on Wed 4th, tickets £4, £2 and free for under-17's), Carrow Road (Norwich v PSV Eindhoven on Thu 5th, tickets £2 and free for under-18's) and the Riverside.

Wembley will seem a little closer to those clubs who make it through the FA Vase Third Round, with ties to be played on 7/8th December and the same will be true of Hampden Park after the Women's Scottish Cup fixtures that same weekend.

Bolton Wanderers Women host a Festive Family Fun Day on Sunday 1st with free admission to the game against Preston North End (kick-off 2pm at the home of Atherton Collieries) and plenty of activities taking place, while there is pay what you want admission to Wombwell Town against Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League on Tuesday 3rd after the abandonment of the original fixture.

Old Trafford Nights

Following on from the previous article about the FA Youth Cup, it is good to see that Manchester United will play their 3rd Round tie against Derby County at Old Trafford, rather than farming it out to Leigh Sports Village as they could have done.

The players from both teams, together with their family and friends, will remember the occasion forever no matter what their future careers hold.

Kick-off on Tuesday 19th December is at 7pm and tickets are priced at just £3 for adults and £1.50 for under-16's. 

More details on the game can be found by clicking here 

In Praise of...The FA Youth Cup

First competed for in the 1952/53 season, The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup, to give it its full name, is something of a calm, constant presence in an ever-changing football landscape.

It may go under the radar on a national level but the FA Cup-style structure allows those youth teams affiliated to non-league or lower league clubs to enjoy moments of glory, play at some of the game's most famous grounds and also use any success they do have to attract more youngsters to play, and in many cases, study with them.

All three of those things combined, for instance, at Hemel Hempstead Town FC this week with an excellent victory over Exeter City in the second round of the competition sparking joyous scenes and earning a trip to Sheffield Wednesday and Hillsborough in the next round.

32 ties are due to take place by Saturday 16th December with home ties for the likes of Everton, Sheffield United, Wolves, Leicester City (against Chelsea) and Watford (against Manchester City) all hopefully being played at the host club's main stadium.

Park Life

How many people over the last hundred-plus years have made their way to famous old grounds such as Brunton Park, Prenton Park and Edgeley Park, frequenting the local pubs whose continued existence may largely be due to the presence of those stadiums that have always been, and remain, rooted in their local communities.

If it is a game under the lights then even better and the First Round of the FA Youth Cup provides an affordable opportunity to do so.

Carlisle United host Barnsley on Tuesday 31 October (kick-ff 6pm) with admission priced at £3 and £2 for over/under 18's respectively.

The following evening Tranmere Rovers take on Bradford City in a 7pm start. Tickets are priced at £5 and £2 and are available both on line and on the gate.

Then Stockport County welcome Farsley Celtic on Wednesday 8th November, also at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1 concessions.

A Big Night at Butlin Road

                             

A big achievement for the youngsters of Rugby Town FC to make it to the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup and a home tie against the Under-18's of League One club Morecambe.

Admission at Butlin Road, a second home for me as a youngster when the Sky Blues were away, for a 7pm kick-off on Wednesday 17th, is priced at £3 for adults, £2 concessions and free for Under-16's.

Footage of the celebrations that followed Aylestone Park FC as they defeated Lincoln City on penalties has been widely shared on social media and the second round sees the club host Sheffield Wednesday, also on the 17th but with kick-off at 7.45pm.

Admission to this one is priced at £5 adults and £3 concessions.

Game of the Week: Manchester United v Wigan Athletic

This season's FA Youth Cup is at the quarter-final stage and there is a great opportunity to watch a match under the lights at Old Trafford on Friday at 7pm.

Surprisingly for a club where young players are such a part of the fabric this is the first time Manchester United have been in the last eight of the competition since 2012.

Wigan have looked impressive in defeating Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City to get this far and now have a great opportunity to shine in front of what should be a big crowd.

No tickets are required and admission is free.

In other quarter-finals Manchester City host Burnley at the Academy Stadium on Wednesday 4th March (7pm, admission £3/£1) while Ewood Park is the venue for Blackburn Rovers against Arsenal on Friday 6th (7pm, admission £4/£2).

Catching A Glimpse

I always like to look out for a ground wherever I am and the central location of Sincil Bank made it easy to have a quick walk around last Sunday morning.

It's always pleasing to me to see a club rooted in their local community and not physically cut off  in an out-of-town location.

The local Lincolnshire Echo reported on how crowds are holding up well despite the upward progress of the last few years, perhaps inevitably given the departure of the Cowley brothers, having slowed slightly.

It was also good to see a busy Imps shop in the city centre.

I was in Lincoln the day after the club's youngsters had made it into the third round of the FA Youth Cup and an away day against Manchester United which sadly won't be played at Old Trafford.

The following ties are being played at Premier League grounds, however.

AFC Bournemouth host Barnet at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday 11th, 7pm, with tickets priced at £5 Adults, £3 for Over 65's, Under 21's and Students and £1 for Under 16's.

On Tuesday 10th it is Norwich City against Newcastle United at Carrow Road, kick-off 7pm, with admission on the night priced at £3 and £1.

Bramall Lane is the venue for Sheffield United against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 17th, 7pm. Admission is priced at £3/£1.

And this coming week in the FA Youth Cup there are scheduled matches at Pride Park and Elland Road among others.

Cup Final Update

An update on a few of the competitions that have featured on these pages over the course of the season.

Following last Sunday's semi-finals we know now that the 2019 SSE Women's FA Cup Final will be contested at Wembley on Saturday 4 May, kick-off 5.30pm, between Manchester City and West Ham United.

City will be strong favourites to lift the trophy in front of what is set to be another big crowd with tickets once again priced at £15 Adults and free for kids.

Manchester City will also host this season's FA Youth Cup Final with their Academy Stadium the venue for the game against Liverpool on Thursday 25 April 

Tickets are on sale, priced at £3 Adults and £1 Under 18's, and it should be a good occasion but I'm disappointed both by the decision to make the final a single game (to ease fixture congestion is the reason given) and that it isn't being played at the main Etihad Stadium given that it is the showpiece event at this level of the game and that for many of the players involved it could represent one of the great memories of their footballing career.

Non-League Finals Day at Wembley this year takes place on Sunday 19 May with the FA Vase Final followed by the climax of the FA Trophy.

Chertsey Town and Cray Valley (PM) go first in the Vase before National League promotion hopefuls AFC Fylde and Leyton Orient contest the Trophy final.

A section of the stadium is reserved for neutrals with a ticket for the whole day priced at £25 Adults, £10 Concessions and £1 for Under 16's.

FA Youth Cup

This season's FA Youth Cup semi-finals are being played over just one leg with Manchester City and Liverpool respectively having home advantage for their ties against West Bromwich Albion and Watford.

City host the Baggies at the Academy Stadium on Monday 1 April, 7pm, with tickets priced at £3 Adults and £1 for Concessions (seasoncard holders free.)

And Anfield will play host the Hornets this coming Sunday, 17 March, at 12pm. Kop tickets are priced at £3 Adults and £1 Concessions (free for season ticket holders and members but a ticket is still required) but tickets must be purchased in advance with the ticket office open until 10am on the morning of the game.

FA Youth Cup

With just a few second round ties left to be played the FA Youth Cup will soon see the entry of Premier League and Championship clubs into the competition with third round ties all due to be completed by Christmas.

Clubs with Category One status for their Academy can opt to play home matches at this stage away from their main stadium, a shame I feel given the potential opportunities for players to make lifelong memories.

Therefore the tie of the round between Manchester United and Chelsea will be at Leigh Sports Village while Northampton Town’s youngsters miss out on the chance to play at the Emirates Stadium as their game against Arsenal is scheduled for the home of Boreham Wood.

The following matches will be played at the main stadiums of the host club, however, with all being 7pm kick-offs.

Blackburn Rovers against Gillingham on 5th December. £4 Adults, £2 Concessions.

Bolton Wanderers against Newcastle on 5th December. £3 Adults, £1 Concessions.

Burnley against Oxford United on 11th December. £4 Adults, £2 Concessions and £1 for Season Ticket Holders of both clubs.

Huddersfield Town against Peterborough United on 5th December. £5 Adults, £3 Concessions.

Millwall against Tottenham Hotspur on 17th December. £5 Adults & Seniors, £1 for Under-16's.

Queens Park Rangers against Rochdale on 3rd December. £3 Adults/Students, £1 Concessions.

Wolves against Wigan Athletic on 10th December. Adults £3, Over-65's £1 and free entry for Under-18's accompanied by a paying adult.

FA Youth Cup Brings Cheer to Bury and Plymouth Argyle

It has been a dismal season at Gigg Lane, the home of Bury FC, with relegation to League Two looking a certainty and two managers having already been sacked during the 2017/18 campaign.

With two major powers on the doorstep and a thriving Non-League scene underneath, keeping the Shakers afloat in the Football League and as a source of local pride may be getting harder and harder each year.

It is of huge credit then that not only have the club’s youngsters made it into the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup but that they have outlasted both Manchester City and Manchester United in the process.

Birmingham City come to Gigg Lane on Friday 16 February for a 7pm kick-off, hoping to avoid the fate of Aston Villa in the previous round. Tickets are priced at £5 Adults, £2 Concessions.

Manchester City’s demise, after three successive appearances in the final, came at the hands of Plymouth Argyle in Round 3, a huge surprise given the disparity in resources available to the respective clubs.

The Pilgrims’ youngsters then defeated Burnley at Turf Moor and now face Fulham on Wednesday 7 February, kick-off 7pm, at Home Park.

Tickets are priced at £5 Adults, £3 Over 65's and £1 for Under 18's.

Other ties coming up in February include Norwich City versus Newcastle at Carrow Road on Wednesday 7 February (7pm kick-off, £3 tickets) and Blackburn Rovers against Nottingham Forest at Ewood Park the previous evening (7pm, £4 Adults, £2 Concessions).

Liverpool FC / FA Youth Cup

There are four good opportunities for Liverpool supporters to watch a Reds team in competitive action in January.

Three Under-23 fixtures are scheduled to be played during the month, starting this coming Sunday with a Premier League 2 game against Arsenal at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park ground.

Kick-off is at 1pm and admission prices are £3 Adults and £1 Children. LFC members and season ticket holders can watch for free.

The same prices are in operation for the visit of Charlton Athletic to the Swansway Stadium, Chester, on Sunday 21st for a Premier League Cup tie and also for Liverpool’s clash with Derby County on Sunday 28th.

The FA Youth Cup is at the Fourth Round stage and, although quite a few ties are being played away from the host club’s main ground, which I always feel is a shame given that this remains the most prestigious tournament at this age level, Liverpool are using Anfield for their tie against Arsenal.

Even better, the game is taking place on a Saturday afternoon, the 20th January at 3pm. I haven’t seen the admission prices as yet but they are likely to be similar to those for the Under-23 games.

Also in the FA Youth Cup, Norwich City host Derby County at Carrow Road on Friday 12th, 7pm, with all tickets priced at £3 and AFC Bournemouth take on Tottenham Hotspur at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday 16th, 7pm, with tickets priced at £3 and £1. 

Update: Tickets for Liverpool's FA Youth Cup game at Anfield on Saturday 20th January will cost £3 Adults and £1 for Juniors, Young Adults and Over 65's. 

FA Youth Cup

A handful of ties to watch out for, chosen as they are being played at the main ground of a Premier League or Championship club which is something I feel the Youth Cup deserves, being the flagship competition for this age group, and the youngsters themselves deserve.

Watford host Sunderland at Vicarage Road on Sunday 10 December, at 1pm, with tickets priced at £3 for Adults and Over 65's and £1 for those aged 18 and under.

Villa Park under the lights is still one of the great sights of English football and there is a Midlands derby between the hosts and Coventry City on December 13th, kick-off 7pm. Tickets are priced at £4 Adults and £1 Concessions.

Just down the road, West Bromwich Albion meet Leyton Orient at the Hawthorns on Tuesday 5th, 7pm. Tickets are £5 Adults, £1 Concessions.

On the same evening it is Bristol City against Birmingham City at Ashton Gate. Entry prices are £3 Adults and £1 Concessions.

And Newcastle United visit the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday 7th (6pm kick-off). Tickets are priced at £5 and £2.

FA Youth Cup Third Round

Premier League and Championship academy teams enter the competition at this stage and it offers a good opportunity to watch a match at one of the major grounds for a fiver or less.

A full list of fixtures is available on the FA website and must be played by Saturday 16 December and, amongst the details confirmed so far are matches at Ewood Park (Blackburn v Stoke on 13 December, £4/£2), Loftus Road (QPR v Charlton on 12 December, £3/£1) and Turf Moor (Burnley v Leeds on 27 November, £4/£2 and £1 for season ticket holders of both clubs).

Everton have also confirmed that their tie against Ipswich will be played at Goodison Park on Friday 8 December (no ticket details as yet) and Middlesbrough will take on Bolton Wanderers at the Riverside on Tuesday 12 December.

FA Youth Cup Special

The Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup takes place in January and here are some opportunities to watch a match at a Premier League or Championship ground, under the lights (usually with a more family-friendly 7pm kick-off) and for a fiver or less.

January 6: Gillingham are the visitors to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday with admission priced at £3 Adults and £2 Concessions. 

The same evening sees Burnley host Norwich City at Turf Moor. Admission is priced at £4 Adults, £2 Concessions and £1 for both Clarets and Canaries' season ticket holders.

January 9: There is free entry for all spectators to St James’ Park where Newcastle United host Swansea City.

January 10: A London derby at Loftus Road with Queens Park Rangers up against Tottenham Hotspur. Prices are £3 Adults, £1 Concessions and free for accompanied Under-8's.

Stoke City are in action on the same evening when Nottingham Forest visit the bet365 Stadium. Admission is priced at £3 Adults, £1 Concessions. 

January 11: Blackburn Rovers youngsters defeated Arsenal in the third round and they now take on Aston Villa at Ewood Park. Admission prices are £4 Adults, £2 Concessions.

January 13: Brighton & Hove Albion host Cambridge United at the Amex with tickets available for £5 Adults, £2 Over-65's and £2 Under-18's. 

January 18: Carlisle United are the visitors to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City. Admission is priced at £3 for Adults and £1 Concessions.

FA Youth Cup at Bramall Lane

A trip to Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening for the FA Youth Cup tie between Sheffield United and Crewe Alexandra.

There used to be periodic talk of using the Don Valley Stadium site to build a shared, bigger ground for United and Wednesday but DVS has now gone and those ideas with it.

And, while I don’t go too often to matches at either the Lane or Hillsborough, living in Sheffield it's good to have both stadiums at their traditional sites, easily accessible by public transport and with a wealth of pubs and eating places within walking distance.

The FA Youth Cup itself offers a good chance to watch a competitive game, under the floodlights, usually for less than a Fiver (admission on Tuesday was £3 Adults and £1 Concessions) and with family-friendly 7pm kick-offs.

The celebrations from the Blades youngsters when they scored a deserved late winner showed how much it meant to them to progress to the next round.

There are still some First Round ties to be played over the next few days. As with the FA Cup, Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition in Round Three.

Busy Start To November

A busy start to November with plenty of opportunity to catch matches up and down the country.

 

Both the FA Youth Cup and the FA Cup itself have reached the First Round Proper stage with clubs from Leagues One and Two entering the fray.

 

In the FA Youth Cup that means plenty of opportunity to watch games under the lights at a club’s main ground.

 

The full draw is available on the FA website but, for example, there are matches at Bramall Lane on Tuesday 1st November at 7pm as Sheffield United host Crewe (admission free for season ticket holders, £3 Adults and £1 Concessions) and Roots Hall the following evening at 7:30pm when Southend United take on Leyton Orient (admission £3 Adults and £1 Concessions/Under-16’s).

 

In the senior competition, boosted by the recent announcement of a lucrative new overseas television deal which will hopefully see prize money in the early stages of the cup be improved, a number of clubs have reduced prices to a maximum of £10 for their First Round home ties.

 

Oldham Athletic against Doncaster Rovers, for example, on Saturday 5th November at 3pm, is priced at £10 Adults, £5 Concessions and £1 Under-12’s.

 

Stockport County, meanwhile, want to pack Edgeley Park for the game against Woking on the same afternoon after reaching the First Round for the first time since 2012. Admission prices have been reduced to £10 Adults, £7 Concessions and £4 for 6-17-Year-Olds.

 

It’s a positive move to reflect a positive mood at the Hatters, chairman Richard Park telling the official club website: "The fact we can reduce prices to this level also demonstrates that the club is moving into profitability for the first time in many years.  We have a positive cash flow, which means we can plan for the future with a lot more confidence.  As a Board we've taken some difficult decisions but the journey we began two years ago, towards a sustainable and debt-free football club, is well on course.”

Bonfire Night weekend also sees the final day of the FA WSL season with a special ticket offer in place to watch the two North-East clubs in the competition, Durham WFC and Sunderland Ladies in action at 2pm and 6pm respectively, priced at £6 Adults and £3 Concessions.

 

Saturday 5th also sees free football at Sholing FC as they entertain Brockenhurst in the Wessex Premier League and at Chipstead FC for the game against Walton Casuals.