7 Elite Academy’s Player Pathway partners – AFC Liverpool Under-18s – will play Cheadle Heath Nomads in the FA Youth Cup at the Marine Travel Arena next month.

The Liverpool youngsters face their Manchester opponents in the Final Preliminary round of the competition, with Premier League teams due to take part at the third round stage.

The FA Youth Cup is the world’s most famous youth football competition, having launched the careers of some of the best professional players.

7 Elite Academy runs teams and educational programs for youth players across the world, and operates AFC Liverpool’s youth team operation at Under-18 level.

The Marine Travel Arena is the home ground of Marine FC, which famously played host to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup tie in December 2020.

Chris Stirrup, Chairman of AFC Liverpool, said: “The FA Youth Cup is synonymous with the best professional players in the world, so this is a great opportunity for our youngsters to make a name for themselves.

“The Marine Travel Arena is a fantastic venue that always attracts a large and enthusiastic crowd. 

“Preliminary rounds of the FA Youth Cup are very competitive, as every team wants to be in the draw for the later stages when professional and Premier League academies enter.

“We are expecting a tough game from Cheadle Heath, who play at a very high level in the North West Youth Alliance, but I’m sure our lads will give their all and do us and themselves proud”.

The date of the tie will be confirmed once senior fixtures are announced, although it is due to be played during the week starting August 29th.

7 Elite Academy’s partnership with AFC Liverpool offers a pathway for players from Under-8 level through to senior football, alongside educational opportunities in the USA and Africa.

Anthony Godfrey, Global Technical Director at 7 Elite Academy, said: “I am really looking forward to seeing our youngsters test themselves against a talented Cheadle Heath side in the FA Youth Cup.

“By staging the game at the Marine Travel Arena, we are giving these players an opportunity to play at a senior venue, under floodlights, in front of a big crowd. That experience is key to their development.

“Our relationship with AFC Liverpool means players in our younger age groups can follow a defined pathway through Under-18 and Under-21 levels to senior football.

“That pathway also includes coaching and educational tours. Over the last six months, our players have played in college tournaments in the USA and received numerous scholarship offers as a result.

“They have also coached players in the South Africa, with many showing a great aptitude to start working towards their coaching badges and a career in the professional game.”