Sport

Manchester City Under 18s win the coveted FA Youth Cup in comfortable fashion

The next generation leaving their mark.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th May 2024

The Manchester City Under 18s squad have won the prestigious FA Youth Cup in fine fashion after cruising past Leeds United 4-0.

The academy-level competition is one of the most highly revered trophies in the English youth ranks, with some of the greatest teams and legendary footballers having first shone on this stage, including the Class of ’92 as well as players like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Foden and more.

Ben Wilkinson’s promising young side secured the youth title after a comfortable showing at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night, making this the fourth time they have lifted the trophy, the previous times being 1986, 2008 and most recently in 2020.

Here’s the moment the young ‘Cityzens’ drank in their success.

Commenting on the momentous achievement, Academy Director Thomas Kruecken said of the squad and staff: “This is a fantastic achievement for our Academy. The FA Youth Cup is one of our main targets each season, so to have won the trophy for the fourth time in our history really feels special”.

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“Ben, his staff and all the players deserve huge credit for the way they have played throughout the competition. It’s been a pleasure to watch them grow and develop together and they’ve produced some outstanding football along the way.

“But this trophy belongs to everyone connected to Man City’s Academy. There are so many people who work tirelessly every single day to ensure the Academy environment is as good as it can be – to give our young players a platform to develop and become the best footballers they can.

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“It makes me really proud to see the work our staff do every single day.”

The names on the scoresheet included Justin Oboavwoduo, Stephen Mfuni and Matty Warhurst, who came straight off the bench to grab the fourth and final goal, but this was probably the pick of the bunch from Jaden Heskey, son of former Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and England striker, Emile:

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City are still a fair few short of Manchester United’s record in the competition, having won the tournament 11 times, but with more development and focus on the academy system and club-wide playing principles up and down all age levels ever since Pep Guardiola arrived, this won’t be their last.

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Congrats to the youngsters and be sure to remember those names – we’re sure plenty of them will be lighting up leagues soon enough.

You can watch the highlights from Man City’s U18s’ convincing Youth Cup victory down below or watch back the game in full HERE.

The future’s looking bright for the Blues.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Manchester City (via Instagram)

Sport

Manchester United confirm appointment of Dan Ashworth as new sporting director

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester United reach agreement with Newcastle for sporting director Dan Ashworth

After months of courting and contractual disputes, Manchester United have finally reached an agreement to sign Dan Ashworth from Newcastle as their new sporting director.

Despite being one of the first names identified by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and recently incumbent INEOS setup, it’s taken months for Man United to get a deal ironed out for highly-rated English sporting director Dan Ashworth, who made no secret of his desire to take the job.

Ashworth, 53, was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United back in February when he made it clear he wanted the move following an official approach and initially demanded a compensation package of a reported £20 million to let him go, with the Tyneside club refusing to budge on the matter.

However, a resolution has finally been found and after the two clubs reached a mutually beneficial agreement – one which reportedly helped the Saudi-owned club stay in line with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) – the former director of elite development at the FA will start work effective immediately.

Ashworth will join recently appointed technical director Jason Wilcox, who joined from Southampton, and ex-Manchester City and CFG executive Omar Berrada, who is also set to officially start work later this month.

The three will operate under the stewardship of co-owner Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, head of the INEOS Sports division and who alongside the likes of Ashworth will help bridge the gap between the footballing side of things and the executive board.

With Brailsford having been part of the British cycling revolution within Team GB and Team Sky cycling (now the INEOS Grenadiers), and Ashworth going from PE teacher to a footballing director at West Brom, Brighton and then Newcastle, there’s some established know-how to the appointments.

Ashworth was also a player himself once – representing Norwich City at youth level before joining non-league Eastbourne Town – and although he’ll be more involved with managing the overall structure, strategy and recruitment than anywhere near coaching or anything like that, there’s an understanding of the game at a core level.

Meanwhile, there is also talk of a coaching appointment that would certainly prove popular with the Old Trafford faithful.

Talks for club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to join Manchester United’s coaching staff ‘advancing fast’

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Both the club and Ashworth were so keen on getting a deal across the line that there was even talk of taking the dispute to court and Ratcliffe himself made a point of pressuring Newcastle, telling BBC Sport: “It doesn’t make sense for [him] to be sat around doing nothing for 18 months”.

Nevertheless, the two clubs have finally ended the stalemate and confirmed the appointment on Monday, 1 July in a joint statement. It reads as follows:

“Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United.

“The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.” The question is, will his impact be as transformative when it comes to footballing infrastructure as he has been in the past?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — TNT Sports (via YouTube)/The Manc Group

Sport

John Stones dedicates England’s win to Dillan Ramsey-Aksehir, 5, who died during Euros match

Danny Jones Danny Jones John Stones dedicated England's win over Slovakia to Dillan Ramsey-Aksehir, 5, who died during the match

Manchester City and England defender John Stones has dedicated Sunday night’s win over Slovakia to Dillan Ramsey-Aksehir, who sadly died during the match.

The Three Lions managed a last-gasp victory over their round of 16 opponents to secure their place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland, but while John Stones and co. were representing their country, the family of five-year-old Dillan Ramsey-Aksehir were sadly in mourning after his tragic passing.

Having first been diagnosed with blood cancer back in 2020, fundraising for the “special little boy” from Manchester captured the attention of the nation, with countless names like Stones donating and raising awareness around his GoFundMe, which has amassed over £650,000 to date.

Unfortunately, the leukaemia returned for a fourth time this February following a bone marrow transplant and mum Amy Ramsey confirmed he passed away at 6:15pm while most eyes were fixed on the England game. Learning of the news shortly after, Stones wasted no time in dedicating the win in his name.

As you can see, the Man City centre-back wrote: “Tonight was for Dillan. A special little boy that touched mine and my family’s hearts. He’s an inspiration to us all.

“Rest in peace little fighter, our thoughts are with his family during this unimaginably difficult time.”

The heartfelt gesture which has no doubt been felt throughout the England camp was met with warm applause back home, with people replying, “Absolute class”, “Thank you for all you and your family did to try [and] help Dilly” and one person adding: “What football is all about.” We couldn’t agree more.

As for mum Amy, she posted the gut-wrenching news on Instagram along with a tear-jerking picture of her ever-smiling child, assuring that “he wasn’t in pain and was still talking and making us laugh until he took his last breath.”

Sharing an update on Monday, she said: “I would like to honour Dilly in the best way possible, but also in a sensible way. We would really like to take some time away, take his ashes somewhere nice and make up for lost time with the girls. Possibly pay some rent in advance for a while to relieve the stress of this…

“If you can help take some of the stress away so that we can keep things as they are and pay off the bills it would be a huge help.”

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The comments are as emotional and full of love as you would expect, with countless parents offering their condolences and everyone uniting in labelling “the bravest boy” and an “inspiration.”

Our thoughts are with all of his loved ones during this unimaginable time and we sincerely hope his story can serve as added motivation for Stones and the rest of the England squad to go far in honour of Dillan and his memory.

Most importantly, the fundraiser set up by his family is still active if you want to show your support and donate to the page by helping put money towards funeral arrangements.

Rest in peace, Dilly x

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — GoFundMe/John Stones/Amy Ramsey (via Instagram)

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