Shropshire FA v Isle of Man FA

Sunday 14th October 2018

Greenfields Sports Arena, Home of Market Drayton Town FC

12:00pm Kick Off

The FA County Youth Cup History

The revival of youth football for players between the ages of 16 and 18 was one of the most important features of The FA’s work at the end of the Second World War.

During the 1944-45 season the experiment of starting a national competition for Under-18s was welcomed with enthusiasm. The FA’s aim was to provide representative football for the best young players who had not signed up with professional clubs.

Thirty-six of the 41 County Associations entered teams in a knockout competition called ‘The County Minor (Youths) Championship’ and Staffordshire beat Wiltshire 3-2 over the two legs of the first Final. Initially there was no trophy, with the players of the winning team just receiving FA blazer badges.

Another interesting feature of that first season concerned The FA’s educational activities. An instructional course for senior boys attending public and secondary schools was held at Stamford Bridge during the Easter period. It was appreciated by all who took part and requests were made for similar courses in the future.

Nowadays any player under written contract, including those registered at academies or centres of excellence, is not eligible to play in ‘The FA County Youth Cup’. Players under 18, whether they are at school or playing in leagues affiliated to County FAs, are eligible, although not every County enters the competition.

The County Youth Cup Final was played over two legs until Hertfordshire edged Cheshire in a one-off match in 1970. The second leg of the 1950 Final, which featured Essex and Middlesex, was played at Wembley Stadium. Liverpool then produced some outstanding teams, reaching The Final five times in nine years from 1972.

Results so far

Essex FA                    3 - 0                Hertfordshire        FA

Bedfordshire FA        0 - 5                Cornwall FA

Second Round Fixtures

Sunday 14 October 2018
Shropshire FA VS Isle Of Man FA

Saturday 20 October 2018
Cumberland FA VS Westmorland FA 
Northamptonshire FA VS Devon FA 
Lancashire FA VS Staffordshire FA

Saturday 27 October 2018
Cornwall FA VS Norfolk FA
Amateur Football Alliance FA VS London FA 
Cheshire FA VS Sheffield & Hallamshire FA
Northumberland FA VS Nottinghamshire FA

Sunday 28 October 2018
Sussex FA VS Herefordshire FA
Saturday 3 November 2018
Middlesex FA VS Wiltshire FA
Durham FA VS Manchester FA
West Riding FA VS Liverpool FA
Birmingham FA VS North Riding FA
Guernsey FA VS Essex FA
Kent FA VS Gloucestershire FA
Berks & Bucks FA VS Somerset FA