Middlesbrough 1-0 Aston Villa

FA Youth Cup in partnership with Pepsi
Final, Second Leg
19 April 2004
Middlesbrough win 4-0 on aggregate.

Middlesbrough youth coach Mark Proctor says his side fully deserved to win the FA Youth Cup after completing a 4-0 aggregate win over Aston Villa in The Final.

"I’m very proud - the boys have been fantastic over the two legs against a very accomplished Villa side," said Proctor. "We did a very professional job and ran out worthy winners."

Boro, with a 3-0 lead from the first leg, sealed a comprehensive victory with Jason Kennedy scoring the only goal of the game in the return match at the Riverside Stadium.

Proctor watched on proudly as his charges celebrated picking up the club’s second piece of silverware this season following on from the seniors’ Carling Cup win.

"I felt quite emotional after seeing the lads doing a lap of honour and carrying the cup around," added Proctor. "To see the fruition from the programme is wonderful."

While enjoying the Cup success, Proctor acknowledges the main aim of the club’s Academy. "The bottom line is that we need to produce players," he said.

"It’s wonderful that we’ve won the tournament for the first time, but we do realise that our ultimate job is to put people in the first-team environment for the manager to hopefully pick."

Middlesbrough Academy Director Dave Parnaby echoed Proctor’s sentiments. He said: "Our job continues and that is to continue producing players. Some may be in the Premiership, some may be lower. We hope their careers continue and they keep climbing the ladder.

"They’re all trying to play in the Premiership, but there are lots of hurdles to overcome before they can achieve that. It’s getting harder and harder to get young boys into the Premiership."

Parnaby paid tribute to Boro chief Steve Gibson for investing in the club’s youth system to ensure they gained Academy status.

"We’ve got a lot to be thankful to the chairman for because he gave us the ability to become an Academy six years ago," said Parnaby. "We’ve got wonderful training facilities and it’s all down to him."

Boro’s success in the FA Youth Cup came on the day it was announced that legendary former player George Hardwick had passed away at the age of 84 following a long illness.

A statue of the former Boro and England captain is sited near the main entrance at the Riverside.

"We heard the news of George’s death early in the morning," added Parnaby. "He’s one of the greatest players ever to play for Boro and he’ll be looking down and be very, very proud of the boys."

Goals: Kennedy 48