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Saturday afternoon at Villa Park – The Academy Playoff


blandy

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By OutByEaster

Another opportunity to get yourself down to HQ this Saturday and take in a game, as Villa’s Academy side take on Arsenal in the Premier Academy League semi-final.

Kick off is at 13:00 and whilst admission prices have not yet been announced I would imagine that it will be free to season ticket holders and no more than £2 for anyone else. It might yet be free to all-comers.

So, what is the rather long-windedly titled Premier Academy League Semi-final?

There are four Academy leagues, and we compete in group B; As Champions this season we are then invited to play the winners of the other leagues in a four team play off.

It’s a one legged affair and we’re lucky enough to have it at our place, which means the opportunity to laze about in the weak sunshine of an early Midlands summer and be treated to some of the finest young footballers in the country.

It’s a mini adventure.

It’s also another opportunity to see the side that performed so well in this years FA Youth Cup, and players like Nathan Baker, Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton, James Collins and Dominic Hofbauer should all feature.

The three stars of this team though remain;

Nathan Delfouneso:- Our very own pocket Drogba and a player with a big future ahead of him, he’s big, strong, quick and exceptionally good with the ball at his feet and he’s one of the major reasons why this team have been so successful this year.

Barry Bannan:- Twinkle toes himself, King Barry alone is worth making the trip for. He has a tremendous array of passing, he takes great free kicks and corners and he has as good a football brain as anybody at any level within the club.

Harry Forrester:- The star of the Youth Cup game against Chelsea, he’s a player that does everything with a touch of class. He has good feet, can play just about anywhere and has an eye for goal.

These three carry with them the cast iron guarantee of entertaining football, and when they are all on song they are a joy to watch.

Arsenal are no mugs, and they have certainly been raving about their own star of the future, Jack Wilshere, sixteen just three months ago and already being talked about as the next big thing.

It promises to be an excellent game, a chance to see some great young players, a chance to offer congratulations to our league winners and a chance to see a Villa eleven beat an Arsenal eleven at Villa Park.

We got 11,000 for our Youth Cup game against Chelsea and whilst no-one is expecting that sort of crowd for this one, there should be a healthy attendance and a decent atmosphere.

So come along, it’ll be well worth watching; even Arsene Wenger might see this one.

What else are you going to do at Saturday lunchtime?

OBE.

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