Aston Villa v Middlesbrough
FA Youth Cup, In Association With Pepsi
Final First Leg
15 April 2004
Villa Park, 8.05pm

Villa, winnners of The FA Youth Cup two years ago, face last year's runners-up Middlesbrough in the first leg of the Final at Villa Park tonight.

These are exciting times for the west Midlands club, whose senior team are also moving up the Premiership and aiming for a place in the UEFA Cup.

It brings back memories of their glory days in the 1980s, when Cowans ran the show from cenrtral midfield.

The midfielder, now 45, made 528 appearances in three different spells at Villa between 1976 and 1994, scoring 59 goals.

During that time the club won the European Cup, Super Cup, League title and League Cup and Cowans also earned ten caps for England.

Now, as assistant youth team manager, he is overseeing a new breed of talent at Villa Park.

"This is a fantastic time for the club and for the academy in particular," said Cowans.

"The game against Middlesbrough is what it is all about for the players and for some of them it will be the biggest game that they have ever played in.

"The biggest thing for the lads is going to places such as Stamford Bridge, Upton Park and Ewood Park and playing in these superb grounds in front of a crowd. It is great experience for them."

Eight players in the current Aston Villa first team squad are graduates from the Academy and it is something that Cowans is very proud of.

Cowans added: "The fact that so many players have come through the Academy is important. It shows the lads here that we are committed to them and they can see some light at the end of the tunnel."

Middlesbrough too have high hopes for their Academy players and Cowans has been impressed by their team this season.

"Middlesbrough will start the game as favourites," admitted Cowans. "Eight of the team were in the side that played in the Final last year and they have got the experience and will have learned from that game.

"Their side is very good technically and they like to get the ball down and pass it around. If you let them do that, they will tear you apart."

It promises to be a night to remember at Villa Park, especially as it will be screened live on television.

And for the neutrals, here are Gordon Cowans' ones to watch:

Robert Olejnik (goalkeeper): "This is Robert's first year here and the big Austrian has been the number one goalkeeper in The FA Youth Cup this year. We are hoping that he can keep up his outstanding form."

Stephen Foley (midfielder): "Stephen is a technically brilliant left-footed midfielder who played in the Final when we beat Everton two years ago."

Gabriel Agbonlahor (striker): "Gabriel is a lightning quick forward and he loves to run at defenders, because his pace scares them to death."