7 Elite Academy’s Player Pathway partners, AFC Liverpool Under-18s, will host National League club Oldham Athletic in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup on Friday night (8pm).

A clash with Oldham at the Marine Travel Arena is the young Reds’ prize for a hat-trick of wins in the early stages of the competition, having already dispatched Cheadle Town, Clithero and Atherton LR.

Oldham were one of the founder clubs of the Premier League in 1993 and despite dropping down to the National League, the senior side is now a contender for promotion back to League Two this season.

The AFC Liverpool youngsters will be aiming to go one better than their predecessors in 2022 and reach the First Round Proper next month, when English Football League clubs enter the draw.

Sam D’Auvin, Head Coach of AFC Liverpool Under-18s, wants his players to show the same fighting spirit that served them well during those early encounters in the FA Youth Cup.

He said: “Ever since the draw was made the players have been buzzing, but they know this is massive opportunity for them to make a name for themselves in front of watching scouts.

“I said after our first win against Clitheroe that we can do well in this competition this season and we’ve done ourselves proud so far. We will go into this game full of confidence.

“The lads have played some great football so far and where necessary they’ve dug in and shown fantastic fighting spirit. They will need all of that experience against Oldham.

“But we have no fears about this game. Every single player in this team has the ability to make a difference, and I can rely on them to stand up and be counted for the full 90 minutes.”

Under the Player Pathway, AFC Liverpool’s Under-18 and Under-21 sides are run by staff from 7 Elite Academy, alongside regular opportunities to train and study in the United States, and attend trials with professional clubs.

Anthony Godfrey, Academy Director at 7 Elite Academy, said: “Games like this are what every young player strives for and it is great that the Under-18s can get this sort of exposure.

“The three wins so far in the FA Youth Cup have been well-deserved and we are looking for another hard-working performance against Oldham this Friday night.

“It is so important that everyone connected with 7 Elite Academy and AFC Liverpool, from the players, coaches, parents and families, helps to create an unbeatable atmosphere on Friday night.

“We’re working hard to make sure every youngster who joins us has similar opportunities to move up the ladder and fulfil their potential in both football and their wider communities.”