Teenage kicks and the chance to dream. Merstham FC's remarkable FA Youth Cup run.
From George Best to Gareth Bale, John Barnes to Jack Wilshere and the Class of 92, the FA Youth Cup has long been a showcase and launchpad for many footballing talents. Consider Cole Palmer and Ethan Nwaneri in recent years. Now seeking to follow in such famous footsteps are the Under-18s of Merstham FC, a popular Isthmian League club just off junction seven of the M25 where it meets the M23. They’ve made the last 32. It’s a remarkable story.
Coached by Bobby Bowry, formerly of Crystal Palace and Millwall, Merstham have made the remarkable journey from the extra preliminary round on August 14 to the last 32 where they will play Chelsea. Last night’s 3-1 win over Burgess Hill Town was the young Moatsiders’ eighth game on this epic run, scoring 43 and conceding only twice.
Their dream may end at Kingsmeadow against another talented Chelsea youth side but they are making history and proving one of the great stories in the 71 years of the FA Youth Cup. It’s an important competition, giving prospects experience of playing in bigger grounds, and being watched more closely by first-team managers.
It's a competition glistening with great names. The Busby Babes, including Duncan Edwards and then Bobby Charlton, won the first five editions of the competition from 1953-57. Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst were losing finalists with West Ham to Mike England’s Blackburn Rovers in 1959. “The Hammers, I must admit, were the better footballing formation: clean cut in approach and more capable of finding their men,” opined the Blackburn Times. “Yet, for all their class and speed they could make no real impression near goal and put in scarcely any shots worthy of note.” Hurst, back then, played at half-back rather than further forward.
Chelsea graced the Youth Cup competition in the early 60s, then Best combined first-team duties with youth work to win it in 1964 before Sunderland, Dennis Tueart et al, shone. As the Seventies closed, Crystal Palace youngsters including Vince Hilaire defeated Kevin Ratcliffe’s Everton and Gary Shaw’s Aston Villa.