YOUTH NEWS | Blues face trip to Sandbach tomorrow night
Tomorrow night, Chester FC’s Youth side begin their cup journey into a competition that has seen some memorable moments across the years, the FA Youth Cup.
Due to last seasons first team relegation, the youth side start four wins away from the First Round Proper.
The Preliminary Round match kicks off at 7.30 at Sandbach United tomorrow – with the winner facing Marine away from home in the next round.
Speaking to ChesterFC.com, Academy Head Coach Calum McIntyre said: “It is a near impossible task for us to reach the First Round proper of this competition this season.
“It is always our aim, but last season’s first team relegation means that we start in the Preliminary Round, four rounds before the competition proper.”
“This competition gives a platform for these players. Everyone keeps telling me about who we can end up playing but nothing that can happen further down the line matters to us, it is about getting through each round as it comes.
“For everyone that wants to mention the team that faced Bolton Wanderers in the Second Round Proper, I will mention my team that were eliminated by Irlam in the qualifiers. We know only too well how important it is to treat each tie like it is the final.”
“We have an unbelievable set of players. They achieved something phenomenal in the National League Alliance last season and ten of them were involved in our run to be crowned National Champions.
“We are going to have an unbelievably busy schedule to compete across the board and it is getting harder to produce players year on year but we keep finding a way. There is a huge pressure on me, more than ever before given what we achieved last year and what the Academy Graduates are going on to achieve.
“There is now an expectancy on what we are meant to do and my job is to ensure these players hit their potential. I back them, they know that.”
“The boys are ready, some have watched from the stands or the bench and are now chomping at the bit for it to be their turn. These nights are incredibly special for players and I know what the competition means to them.
“They will be desperate to make Wednesday their night and for it to be the first of many special ones this season.”