The Youth Team takes centre stage tonight (Wednesday) when they face Leicester City in the FA Youth Cup at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, writes Pete Oliver.
The young Whites have reached round three for the first time in six years after knocking out Chester FC and Tranmere Rovers to get this far.
Julian Darby’s side will start as underdogs against Leicester, who play in the U18 Premier Leage, but beat another Category One club in Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire FA Youth Cup a week ago and are relishing the opportunity of another test against higher-ranked opposition.
“That gives us a bit of confidence,” said Wanderers’ captain Sam O’Neill, who scored one of the successful spot-kicks against Rovers after the Whites fought back from 3-0 to advance on penalties into the last four of the county cup.
“We know Leicester are a Cat One side and we know what to expect. We've done our analysis on them and we’ve got nothing to lose really, so it's going to be a good night.
“It’s been quite a few years since we’ve got this far and a while since we've played a Premier League or Championship team, so they will have high standards. We know it's going to be a different type of game.
“Tranmere was more of a physical, defensive game and Leicester are going to be a ball-playing team. We know we're not going to have the ball as much as we would like to, so I think it's going to be a good test out of possession with the quality they have on the ball and we're just going to have to help each other out. Let's see what happens.”
The tie also gives Wanderers’ young players another chance to play at the Whites’ home ground and after missing the round-one victory over Chester through injury, O’Neill is looking forward to the prospect of playing at the stadium again and trying to reverse last season’s home exit to Lincoln City in round two.
“I've been here 10, 11 years now, so it's sort of what I've been waiting for,” said the defender – a second-year scholar in the Whites’ Academy. “Coming all the way through, watching the first team, ball-boying and to then play on the pitch again on Wednesday night is going to be a good night, hopefully.
“It could be the biggest game some of us have played, so it's a big test, a big opportunity and hopefully we do ourselves justice.”
Admission to tonight’s game (KO 7pm) costs £5 adults, £3 concessions and £1 children, payable by card only at the turnstiles in block D of the Kia West Stand Lower.
Watch the full interview with youth team skipper Sam O’Neill on Wanderers TV.