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Academy

Sunderland In The FA Youth Cup

15 November 2019

Shrewsbury Town's U18s have booked themselves a second-round tie at home to Sunderland in the FA Youth Cup.

Town took on Port Vale in the first round of the competition and progressed through 1-0 thanks to a Tom Davies goal.

It now sees the U18s once again play on the Montgomery Waters Meadow on Friday 15th November, with a 7 pm kick-off.

Town Talk spoke to Academy Manager David Longwell to get his thoughts on the cup games, starting with the win over Port Vale.

"It was an excellent result for the boys against Port Vale", said David.

"These games are always going to be tough as they are at the stadium.

"If you look at the game, they did enough to win it, and they kept a clean sheet against a very well organised Port Vale team.

"Playing at the stadium is always a good experience as it's a more realistic environment in a game with more attention on it."

The support at the Port Vale game was excellent with players from the Academy joining the supporters in the stands.

"It was great to see the support from the top down to the bottom of the club", said David.

"The chairman, CEO, first-team manager and staff were all there to support.

"We had all the kids from the Academy as well, and it was a really good atmosphere."

The U18s now play Sunderland on Friday 15th, and it is a game that David thinks will really test his players.

"Sunderland are a cat one Academy and a massive club with a great reputation for producing young players", said David.

"It will be very difficult for us because of who Sunderland are and what they are, and they will be favourites.

"It's down to our boys to give them as little chance as possible.

"We need to prepare them right and if they go out there and do well who knows what can happen in a cup game.

"Sunderland are expected to win the game, but the boys will go out there and give it their best shot.

"It will be a really good challenge for the coaching staff and the players, we will put a plan together and prepare them, and hopefully on the night things will go their way.

"It is up to them, and when they go across that white line, it's about the decisions they make and about what they do.

"I just hope they go out there and do themselves justice, both individually and collectively. They are a really good group of kids, they work really hard in a good environment, and all you want them to do is get success."

With Town not having a game on the Saturday due to the Doncaster game being postponed, David is hoping Town fans will pop along to support the boys.

"The fact that there is no first-team game we would ask that as many supporters can come down and support the boys", said David.

"That support can be really positive when you get all the supporters behind you.

"We have invited the Academy kids down again, but as with the last game, it will be great to see Town fans coming along to support the boys.

"It's only £3 and £1 so if we can encourage as many to come down as we can that will be brilliant."

 


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