BURTON Albion will play Sheffield Wednesday in the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup this weekend.
The Young Brewers travel to Hillsborough on Saturday, November 5, with a 12pm kick off.
Development Lead Coach Keith Gilroy says he wants his side to relish the opportunity of playing in such an iconic competition and stadium.
“It’s a huge opportunity as the FA Youth Cup is the pinnacle of youth development.
“It’s the one that both the players and staff look out for. A lot of our staff will have played in the competition during their early days, and it’s one that even current Premier League players will look back on and have fond memories of.
“The lads are getting the chance to make a memory that will hopefully be one that stays with them for the rest of their lives.”
Since coming into being in the 1952/53 season, The FA Youth Cup has mirrored the importance of its parent competition, becoming the most desirable trophy among all under-18 sides across the country, retaining that premier position throughout all the seismic changes that youth football has undergone over the last half a century and more.
“They (Sheffield Wednesday) are a in cat above us but it doesn’t change anything about how we approach our opposition.
“We’re not going to do too much different to usual in our preparation. We’ve got to do our best as coaches to build it up as a really important game without adding any fear factor.
“We believe in our players, and we want them to go out this weekend and give it their best shot at progressing.”
Former Brewers winger Gilroy also has happy memories himself of playing in the FA Youth Cup, playing against Arsenal at Highbury in 2000.
“I got the chance to play at Highbury. I was in the same team as Stewart Downing at Middlesborough and we came up against the Arsenal side that went on to win it that year.
“We lost 3-1 and they had the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Steve Sidwell, Jérémie Aliadière, Rohan Ricketts and Martin Volz.
“Even though we lost, it’s the first thing that you think of as a former player, thinking back to when you played in it. I really hope our lads make the most of the opportunity."
Ticket Prices: Adults £3/ Children £1
All paying spectators and player comps will be in West Stand Lower of the Stadium. Parking is unreserved around the area.