FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
Season 2006-07
Third Round Qualifying
Thursday 26 October 2006

Coventry Sphinx are hoping superstition can help them through to a dream FA Youth Cup First Round tie with giants Nottingham Forest when they lock horns with Eccleshall on Thursday night.

Bizarrely, Sphinx are no strangers to the task they face as last year at the same stage they travelled to Kettering Town for the right to play Forest - only to lose 3-1.

This time however, the Coventry side have home advantage and aim to turn the tables in tonight's Third Qualifying Round clash.

"The players are a very superstitious bunch this year," explains Sphinx vice chairman Neil Long. "We tried to give them club ties but they refuse to wear them.

"We have offered to buy them new kits but they won't let us while they're still in the cup and during each FA Youth Cup tie the assistant manager holds on to the same warm up t-shirt he has held for the last three rounds. It's very strange."

Long admits it has been hard to stop the hype of the potential First Round tie superceding tonight's match but he is confident the lads can keep their feet on the ground - even with all the local media interest the game has generated.

Long said: "We don't know much about Eccleshall, but we are unbeaten this season and will go in confident.

"The lads are buoyant and have been coming in early to practise shooting. They are taking it seriously.

"It's hard to stop the young lads having one eye on the First Round of the FA Youth Cup. We are hoping for a big crowd and a special night."