Birmingham manager prepares for fourth Final in 10 years.
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Birmingham County FA |
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The FA County Youth Cup
The Final
3pm, Saturday 2 May 2009
Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham FC
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Birmingham County FA are set to contest their seventh FA County Youth Cup Final on Saturday, taking on Kent County FA at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.
The Midlanders have enjoyed fantastic success in the competition in recent years, having appeared in three Finals since the new millennium and lifting The Cup twice. These victories have come under the guidance of manager Martin Sweeney and the former player hopes to claim a hat-trick of victories at Priestfield this weekend.
“The management team at Birmingham have been fortunate to reach four Finals this decade, and during the build-up to Saturday we have tried to emphasise the importance not to let the day pass the players by, but also to play the game and not the occasion,” said Sweeney before the showcase Final.
Sweeney is now in his 12th season at Birmingham and in that time has become the most successful manager in the County FA’s history. With him at the helm, Birmingham have also racked up seven league titles and five Play-Off Final titles.
“We have remained undefeated all season and if that continues on Saturday then the players will take all the credit,” said the Manchester United fan.
“From the beginning of the season the main drive was to instil in the players that we enter every competition to be competitive. We have the domestic league tied up and the players have another [Play-Off] Final to look forward to against Worcestershire.”
Watching over 100 games each season to ensure every player and team are watched as often as possible, Sweeney has brought together a group of players who he believes are still improving but can continue Birmingham’s success.
“As I know from my playing days that any success comes from within the dressing room, I encourage my players to strive to continually improve themselves as individuals, and as a consequence the team will naturally improve,” he says.
If Birmingham can overcome Kent on Saturday, it will be the fourth time the County has claimed The FA County Youth Cup in its history.