CHESTER’S young guns take on Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Youth Cup third round on Tuesday – and boss Simon Davies believes Spurs are wary of the Blues after being knocked out of last season’s competition by them.
Tottenham have opted to host the game at their 36,000-capacity White Hart Lane home, rather than take Chester to their usual, less glamorous venue for youth games – Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road.
Davies said: “I think they’ve shown us a bit of respect there. We knocked them out at this stage last season and perhaps they don’t want to take us to a pitch that has been churned up over Christmas. Maybe they want to knock it around on the bowling green at the Lane to show us how good they are.”
The Blues are not worried about the task at hand, though – particularly not as a handful of the squad have recently become regular fixtures in Bobby Williamson’s first team.
“Three or four players have broken through,” said Davies. “It is great for them because they get to listen to the manager during games and even if they don’t play they are always sent back having done some intense fitness work to keep them as close to match fitness as possible.
“They are all level-headed and understand that this is just the beginning. There is a togetherness about this squad so no-one has a problem coming back after first-team duty.”
Paul McManus netted the only goal when Chester beat Spurs 1-0 at the third round stage of last season’s FA Youth Cup, on December 13, 2006. McManus has since made the step up to City’s first team, along with five other heroes from that memorable night at the Deva – Kevin Roberts, Sean Newton, Glenn Rule, Neil Carroll and Shaun Kelly.
The Blues’ run in last season’s competition was halted at the fourth round stage by Bristol City.
Before their trip to Tottenham next week, Chester have a Puma Youth Alliance fixture at Carlisle United to look forward to tomorrow (10.30am).
Tuesday’s tie kicks-off at 7pm.
Chester City's Pontin's League game with Carlisle United, which had been due to be played at the Deva Stadium on January 16, will now take place on January 14 (2pm).
The fixture has been switched at Carlisle United's request due to their participation in the FA Youth Cup.
Chester’s second string are away to Bury on Wednesday.
