The FA Youth Cup First Round sponsored by E.ON
Southend United Under-18's v Corinthian F.C. Under-18's (to be played on Tuesday, November 1st; kick-off 19.30)
The young Shrimpers will face the Corinthian's of Kent at Roots Hall next Tuesday in the first round of a competition that saw the side reach the fifth round last season and a trip to Anfield!
Tickets will be £3 adults or £1 concessions with only the East Greens and Blacks open for the match.
Head of youth Ricky Duncan has overseen massive changes in the way under-18 football is viewed at the club, and he hasn't finished yet, wanting to become a southern version of Dario Gradi's successful set up at League Two rivals Crewe Alexandra.
Duncan told www.southendunited.co.uk: "It has taken us five years to get to this point; now it really comes down to Southend United Football Club pushing forward and putting together a plan of action for the next five years to produce a conveyor belt of talent. I want Southend United to be like Crewe Alexandra, with a real production line."
Fair enough Ricky, but that's for the future, what about Tuesday's cup tie with victory bringing the reward of another Roots Hall match-up in Round Two?
Duncan said: "The target for us is always to get to the third round. For a club like we are at Southend, that is an achievement. We have two games to get there, and they are both prospectively at home, so that is all you can ask for. First we take on Corinthian them if we win, we are at home to Brentwood or Lewes, so it is a great chance, but we just can't turning up thinking we've won the First Round tie."
And what about the Kent based team with the famous name?
Duncan continued: "Corinthian are a decent side; they like to get the ball down and play it into a front three. They were leading Erith Town 5-0 before the first match was abandoned, and I went to watch as they beat Erith 4-2 and then versus Ramsgate, when they won 2-1. Ramsgate were a bit unlucky, but it showed Corinthian can score goals."
A warning indeed that we shouldn't expect an easy progress, especially after our 5-0 defeat at home to Colchester United last weekend, but Duncan hopes there will be a decnt turn out at the Hall tonight to cheer the lads on, including the first team managemnet, and the odd scout as well!
He said: "I've said all along, I want the fans to get behind the youth development here. I want them to come down and support the lads on the pitch and I want them to have a feeling for the youth team because that can only be for the benefit of producing players. It's good for the fans and it's good for the players, too."
The full article will be available in this evening's programme for the tie but S24 wishes the team the best of luck as it starts on what we hope is another long run in the competition.
Meanwhile, Shrimpers defender Anthony Furlonge wants a taste again of the big match atmosphere he discovered last time around.
Furlonge told www.echo-news.co.uk: ““I remember there was a really big crowd at Anfield. The lads were all up for it, and we were all a bit nervous, so I guess in the end it was just a case of those nerves getting the better of us. The atmosphere is probably the thing I remember most about the game; it was tremendous and it was incredible to see and hear the fans that had come all that way to support us. It would be great to play in big games like that again this season and we can use those memories to spur us on.”
A word also from the Blues Under-18 shot stopper Luke Chambers: www.southendunited.co.uk
Full match report as usual when we get it.
The Corinthians History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_F.C._(Kent)
FULL FIRST & SECOND ROUND FIXTURES: www.thefa.com
Third Round Qualifying Round Results & other updates: www.thefa.com
Sky Blues bite the dust in the third: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Rams get rammed in result of the fourth round: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Knocked out in the fifth by rampant Reds: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk