Suffolk v Cambridgeshire
The FA County Youth Cup
The Final
3pm, Saturday 19 April 2008
Portman Road, Ipswich Town FC
Click here for this season's results
Suffolk FA’s U18s manager, Andy Gould, is hoping Portman Road will prove to be a lucky ground as he prepares to return to the scene of Suffolk’s last FA County Youth Cup win for this year’s Final on Saturday.
When Suffolk won the 2005 Final at Portman Road, Gould was the team’s assistant manager. Now the manager, Gould is hoping for more success at Ipswich Town’s famous ground as his team attempts to secure a memorable double.
“Hopefully this can be a lucky ground for us,” said Gould.
“Ipswich Town have given us a great deal of support in the build-up to this match, they have let us utilise the training facilities at their academy and we have been around Portman Road to get used to the stadium.
“And maybe, if we play like I know we can, we could clinch the ‘double’. Last week, a 4-4 draw with Bedfordshire meant that we won the East Anglian Counties League title.
He continued: "We’ve actually played Cambridgeshire before during the League this season, which ended level, but we expect a very different game this time.”
This year will mark Suffolk’s third appearance in The FA County Youth Cup Final in the last four seasons – a remarkable achievement that leaves Gould justifiably proud.
“Before our success here at Portman Road three years ago, Suffolk hadn’t been in The Final of this competition before, so it’s credit to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes from the county staff, management set-up and on the pitch by the players.”
Suffolk’s path to The Final saw them eliminate the team who defeated them on penalties in last year’s Final, West Riding FA, in The Semi-Finals and after the disappointment of missing out last season, Gould is determined to finish this year’s competition with the silverware.
“To take the team to two Finals in succession, and the win the championship is a source of great pride for me, but we desperately want to get our hands on the trophy this year.
“It won’t just be a day out for the boys, we here to achieve a positive result and the players, the staff and I really believe we can.”
