AFC Rushden & Diamonds / MAA U18’s travel to face Bugbrooke St Michaels U18 in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening (25th September) with kick off at 7:30pm.
This will be the second competitive match for the new-look youth team since linking up with the Malcolm Arnold Academy – see here for detail of the scholarship scheme, as well as information on the full AFC R&D Academy. In the previous round they recorded a 2-1 win over AFC Dunstable U18 – report here.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s game, U18 Manager Darren Purse commented “We’ve got to look to produce the same level of performance as at AFC Dunstable to give us a good chance of advancing through. It’ll be a good local derby and hopefully we can put together a good set of results to go on a good run.”
Last season the Diamonds U18 side met the Badgers U18 side three times, and although they lost both games in the NSYL, they recorded a 4-0 victory in the FA Youth Cup game – report here.
Bugbrooke St Michaels play at Birds Close, Gayton Road, Bugbrooke, Northants NN7 3RW. For directions for the 20 mile trip from the Dog and Duck to Birds Close (NN7 3RW) see here. As you approach from the Gayton / Rothersthorpe direction you will pass the ground on your right just as you reach the village. Alternatively if you reach the village itself from the M1 J16 / Nether Heyford / Kislingbury direction, carry on the main road through the village towards Gayton (Camp Hill) – the ground entrance is immediately past the last house on the left.
Details of the full draw are here.
Details of the Diamonds U18 / MAA Academy fixtures are here.
