7 Elite Academy UK’s Player Pathway partners AFC Liverpool Under-18s will face Wrexham in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup on Friday, September 30th (7pm).

AFC Liverpool landed the tie after beating Curzon Ashton 8-4 last weekend and will face their Welsh opponents at the 2000-capacity Marine Travel Arena.

The winners of next week’s encounter will go into the hat for the final qualifying round – just one stage before the First Round Proper, when Football League academies enter the competition.

Wrexham are owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who famously bought the club in a blaze of publicity last year.

AFC Liverpool Chairman Chris Stirrup is expecting a typically tough game from the Wrexham youngsters – and he even extended a welcome to the club’s high-profile owners.

He said: “This is going to be another great occasion for our club and I am sure we could find a spare seat if Ryan and Rob wanted to come down to the Marine Travel Arena!

“We all know the strengths of a club like Wrexham, who have a long tradition of producing good, strong youth players. There is going to be fantastic atmosphere under the floodlights.

“Last Saturday’s game saw almost 200 fans at the ground, which is a great attendance for this stage of the FA Youth Cup. I want to see even more supporters next Friday.”

As part of a long-running sponsorship arrangement with AFC Liverpool’s first team, 7 Elite Academy operates the club’s Under-18s side, which is yet to lose a game this season.

Anthony Godfrey, 7 Elite Academy Director, said: “Wrexham have always had a very good academy set up, so these are the sort of games our lads will be looking forward to.

“But we must concentrate on our own game and the remarkable development this group has shown so far this season. That is so important, both for this game and the rest of the year.

“Last week’s game was a chance for our academy to come together and give the lads the backing they need. That support was so important and will be even more vital next week.”