Under-18s Coach Jamie Carr has underlined how much the FA Youth Cup means in the world of player development as we prepare to take our first steps in this season’s competition on Tuesday night.
Our youngsters enter the prestigious youth tournament at the third-round stage, taking on Under-18 Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion under the lights at the Lamex Stadium in Stevenage (kick-off 7pm UK, live on SPURSPLAY) with a trip to Queens Park Rangers awaiting the winners in round four.
For recently-appointed Jamie, who was an assistant coach with Manchester City’s Under-18s when they won the Youth Cup in 2024, the game represents an opportunity for the players to express themselves in a high-profile setting.
“It’s the major prestigious tournament that every player in every Academy looks forward to,” he said after training on Monday. “Players in the Under-12s, the Under-16s, any age group, everyone has their eyes on it and aspires to be involved one day and the fact that this game is taking place now, particularly for me where it’s very early in my time here, is super-exciting.
“I know all of the players have been looking forward to this for a while. Many of the boys have had a mix of game types recently with the UEFA Youth League, Under-18s games, the Under-18 Premier League Cup, but this is one of the highest challenges they’ll face. It’s the best Under-18s players in English football up against each other, but it also comes with different environmental challenges with the added pressure, the crowds, the stadiums, the media, so it’s really exciting for everyone. It’s an opportunity for us to see who can stand out and who does well under the circumstances, some of which are more aligned to senior professional football.”
We met Tuesday night’s opponents in the Under-18 Premier League the weekend before last, with the Seagulls running out 4-1 winners on a windswept morning at their training ground. Both teams are expected to make changes this time, with Jamie understandably targeting a more positive outcome.
“Both teams will probably approach the game in a different way (to last week’s league fixture) with the change in circumstances, but the last match was one where hopefully we’ve learned some lessons and made some improvements based on that,” he said. “We’re keen to see progress and as always, that’s what we’ll be looking for on Tuesday night.
“One thing that stands out about the Youth Cup is you play in some amazing stadiums under intense pressure with big crowds, so sometimes you’ll see a totally different version of a player as they rise to the challenge. That’s the opportunity we want to provide for our players and hopefully they’ll take their chance.”
Tickets to watch the match are available online in advance via Stevenage FC’s ticketing website or at the turnstiles on the night, priced at £5 for adults and £2 for under-18s.
The game will also be broadcast live on SPURSPLAY – tune in just before kick-off at 7pm to watch all the action unfold – with live text updates additionally available via our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app.