Boro reached this season's Final against Aston Villa following their 3-0 Semi-Final aggregate win over Crewe Alexandra.

Mark Proctor's side go to Villa Park on Thursday for the first leg before the two sides meet in the second leg at the Riverside stadium next Monday.

The Final promises to be a wonderful affair between the two sides who have been the most impressive in the competition so far this season.

But for Proctor there is an added twist as his opposite number, Tony McAndrew, was a former team-mate at Middlesbrough.

"I had a chat with Tony before the Semi-Final second leg and he wished me all the best and blagged a ticket for the match," Proctor said.

"Villa have some good players and our aim will be to keep the tie alive and have something to play for at the Riverside.

"I think, provided we get a good first leg result, it's an advantage to be at home in the second leg."

With the senior side having won the League Cup, Proctor would love to see The Youth Cup in Boro's trophy cabinet, especially after defeat in last year's Final.

"Since the quarter-final, a lot of people have asked if we are going to do 'the double'. It would certainly be a wonderful achievement for the club."

Proctor continued: "People tend to pat myself, Dave Parnaby and Stephen Pears on the back when the kids do well, but there's a lot of other people who work incredibly hard.

"People like our head of recruitment Ron Bone, Under-17 coach Paul Jenkins, as well as John Barry, Keith Noble and Stan Nixon, they are all unsung heroes."

For Proctor, reaching The FA Youth Cup Final is a real bonus but ultimately it is developing young players who are capable of playing in the Premiership that is the goal of the youth development system.

"It would be fantastic to lift the trophy but our chief aim is to produce players for the Premiership," he said.

"We seem to be having a fair amount of success in that area and it was fantastic to see Steve McClaren name Matthew Bates and Andrew Taylor in his first-team squad for the match against Bolton last Saturday.

"James Morrison actually made his debut earlier this year and many of the players in the Youth Cup squad are regulars for the reserves."

Middlesbrough eased past Crewe when, already 2-0 up from the first leg, Tom Craddock scored on 23 minutes to ensure a place in The Final.

Proctor said: "I thought the lads were terrific and I think they fully deserve to be in the Final.

"We got through a difficult first period when Crewe were the better team and went from strength-to-strength."

Mark Proctor was talking to icteeside.co.uk.