The County Youth Cup, originally known as the County Minor (Youths') Championship, was launched in 1944-45 by The Football Association to provide representative football for the best young players who had not signed up with professional clubs...
Nowadays, any player under written contract, including Trainee/Scholarship players, or those registered at Academies or Centres of Excellence, is not eligible to compete in the competition.
Players under the age of 18, be they at school or playing in leagues affiliated to County Football Associations, are eligible, although not all County FAs take up entry into the competition. The Army, Navy and RAF are also entitled to enter a team each.