Carlisle United set for FA Youth Cup clash with Altrincham

The young Blues head to the J Davidson Stadium to take on the National League side in youth football’s top knockout competition.

Youth team boss Birch will be able to call on a number of teenagers who have made their first-team debuts this season, with Freddie O’Donoghue, Hayden Atkinson, Dan Hopper and Seb Mason among the key Carlisle players.

He hopes those young prospects and their team-mates can take United beyond the first round for the first time since 2020.

“We’re not underestimating Altrincham at all, they'll be a good side,” said Birch. “I'm sure a lot of their players will be playing men's football on a weekend as well.

“We've always set our target of getting through to the third round and then to go as far as we can, so the last couple of years have been disappointing, not just in going out but the performances.

“You want to keep your season alive for as long as possible. This competition is a bit different from anything else you’ve experienced as a young player.

“They’ve always got one eye on the Youth Cup because it's such a prestigious competition.

“Part of the learning process is that you do have to make it an occasion and they have to learn how to handle the occasion – that's part of our job [as coaches] as well.

“We can't pretend it's just another game because it is a bigger game for some of them. I remember playing in the FA Youth Cup when I was young at Stoke, and the occasion is different.

Hayden Atkinson is one of several United youth players to have played in the first team this season (Image: Ben Holmes)

“Some people say that your preparation is normal, but we try and make it a little bit different so they can handle that, they can learn what it's all about to put them in good stead going forward.”

Tonight’s opponents have already come through two qualifying rounds to reach the first round proper.

Birch said United will respect Altrincham whilst backing their own strengths to help United prevail in the tie in Greater Manchester.

“We’ve not got a lot of footage on them but we've spoken to a lot of people who’ve played against them, and we've looked heavily into the system they've run, and they do look a good, powerful side,” said Birch.

“It’s a typical Conference ground, a nice neat little stadium, I haven't been there for years since I was at Northwich, but I believe the pitch is very good – I think Manchester United’s reserves used to play there a few years ago.

“I know people have been watching games there lately and said it's a good playing surface but whatever you go there and face, the lads have to overcome, deal with and adapt to it.

“We try to prepare what we can do as well as we can and concentrate mainly on us, without overthinking the opposition.

“We aim to see if our best game can beat their best game, and I think with most teams that we play, if we go about it the right way we give ourselves a chance of winning football games.”

Birch says United come into the tie in “inconsistent” form but said the recent first-team experience of some of his young players will be valuable.

“We’ve been lucky this year because the managers we've had have always taken [under-18] lads for training, always had them in and around it.

“Then when you’ve had Freddie making his debut, big Hayden, Seb Mason…it’s great for them, it gives them a little bit of insight to what it's all about, the reserve games as well.

Dan Hopper will be part of the squad for tonight's clash with Altrincham (Image: Ben Holmes)

“They’ve had experience at different levels and that helps when they come back with us.”

Birch’s squad is missing injured players such as James Murray and Will Nicholson, and several under-16 players are likely to be in tonight’s squad.

“We’ve been a little bit inconsistent, and I think that's just down to personnel,” added Birch.

“The league is an under-19s league now, and we don’t use under-19s, so with the injuries to the second-years we’ve had this year, we’ve gone into games very first-year heavy.

“That brings a little bit of inconsistency with it, but in general, with the football that they've played and the way that they go about the work, we're absolutely delighted.

“I can’t fault the lads this year but me and Dev [coach Jamie Devitt] always demand more from them each week.

“The lads drive each other and have got a great spirit about them which can take you a long way.”

Kick-off tonight is 7pm. Tickets are £3 for over-18s and £1 for under-18s, and are available at the ground.