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Bracknell Town’s under 18s are into the FA Youth Cup First Round Proper and will face a Berkshire derby against Reading FC.
The match is being staged at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the home of the EFL League One side on Monday 27th October with kick-off at 7pm.
Speaking to Football in Berkshire, manager Lee Simpson called the tie ‘a great moment to make some memories for these boys’.
Simpson said: “I said to the boys for these FA Youth Cup games, it’s your game, your moment, go and enjoy yourself. We’ve known a lot of the boys for a long time coming through the age groups at the club. It’s a great thing for us as well as people who’ve run the youth sections in the club, going through together and making memories.”
Bracknell beat Street on penalties after what Simpson described as a cagey match at Bottom Meadow. Street had beaten Torquay United to reach the final Qualifying Round – the same opponents Bracknell faced when they reached the First Round back in 2010.
It was a cagey game to start with,” Simpson says of the Street game. “They were very direct and played a lot of longer balls into the forwards, which we dealt with really well. We started to relax and play a little bit our way.
“They beat Torquay in the previous game so we knew it was going to be tough. We found a bit rhythm and we created a really good chance. The game became very intense the game, and it felt like towards the end both teams were a little scared to lose it.”
Fatigue certainly played a part in the game with it going straight to penalties. Thankfully for Simpson and his bench, the Robins recovered enough composure to win the shootout 4-1, and experience is what it is all about.
“All this is great experience for an under 18, right?” says Simpson. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s getting them prepared for a life at senior football, and what an opportunity for them to go and play in their team at a decent facility under the lights. They’ll get loads out of it. Whether it’ll be, you know, short-term or longer-term, they’re going to get loads out of it.”
Every FA Youth Cup game is now a bonus for the Robins. The First Round is where the academies of Football League sides join the competition, going up against the best local talent.
In recent seasons, Reading City and Langley have enjoyed runs in the competition while Bracknell have made the First Round on numerous occasions over the years.
For an experienced coach and manager, it came as a surprise that Simpson hadn’t had an active role in a game at the SLC. He said: “I actually haven’t had any involvement in a game at, I still call it the Madejski. I’ve coached teams that have been there before on the pitch and as mascots, but personally I haven’t played there or or managed on there. So that’s going to be quite a cool experience!
Monday night will be a big night for a few people involved in youth football at the club for a number of years. Simpson’s coaching team includes Martin Verzuu, “Who I’ve known for a long time,” says Simpson. Simon Breakell is involved in the group as well as Raf Lobato and John Winston, who support with the admin. “They’ve all been around the club. Their kids have played since they’re really small, so it’s a really nice moment for them as well.”
There should be a good crowd to cheer on the team on Monday night. An early kick-off will certainly help. Simpson admitted he was surprised at the size of the crowd for the Third Qualifying Round but added: “I remember being at college with [Goalkeeper] Chris Grace and he was playing for Bracknell. I went along with a few other lads to watch and they did quite well, I can’t remember how far they got, but it was good fun!”
It would seem Robins goalkeeper Lyall Kennedy had a similar experience to Grace all those years ago according to the Bracknell boss: “Lyall, who’s our goalkeeper had all these College mates behind the goal singing his name. They were loving it. It’s good. It’s great fun!”
Full ticket details are available here on the Reading FC website.
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