Words by Neil Leigh, Paul Brown and Jonathan Smith. Design by Sam Perkins

When City’s Under-18s lock horns with Manchester United in tonight's FA Youth Cup final, they will be seeking to emulate history by following in the illustrious footsteps of their predecessors from 1986.

It was 40 years ago that City’s youngsters carved their names in Club folklore by beating our fiercest rivals 3-1 on aggregate to lift the FA Youth Cup for the first time in our history.

It remains one of the most fondly remembered achievements in City’s long and proud youth football history.

And a look at the roll call of the players behind that maiden Youth Cup success makes for seriously impressive reading with seven of the squad going on to play for City and two representing England.

Under the auspices of coaching duo the late, great Tony Book and Glyn Pardoe along with chief scout Ken Barnes, the likes of David White, Paul Lake, Ian Brightwell, Andy Hinchcliffe, Steve Redmond, Paul Moulden and Ian Scott to name but a few, emerged as part of the finest pools of young talent in City’s post-war history.

Now, fully 40 years on from that iconic moment in City history, the footballing fates have turned full circle.

City and United meet in the FA Youth Cup final once again, with the Joie Stadium set to play host to the latest iteration of outstanding young talent from the blue and red halves of Manchester.

Ahead of the contest we caught up with several key members of that 1986 squad to gauge their memories and recollections of how they helped City make history – and what it meant to win a first-ever FA Youth Cup.

This is the story of our very own Boys in Blue and how they carved their collective name into City legend…

It’s fair to say sporting prowess was writ large in the Brightwell household even before Ian embarked on what was to prove a hugely successful playing career.

Ian’s mum Ann Packer was an Olympic 800m gold medallist at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics whilst late dad Robbie Brightwell was an Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo as part of Great Britain’s 4x400m relay team.

Meanwhile Ian’s younger brother David also enjoyed a fine professional career, starting off at City before going on to feature for 10 league clubs.

For Ian however reflecting back 40 years on, he still references helping City record a first-ever FA Youth Cup success as one of the pinnacles of his time in football.

“Winning that 1986 FA Youth Cup was so special and memorable for so many reasons,” Ian says today.

“Number one it was against Man United - the old enemy - so that made it stand out.

“We couldn't have asked for anything better really. And we were away in the first leg, which I think as a player and a fan as well, you'd always prefer to play away first.

“It was actually the first time I'd played at Old Trafford because even though the reserve teams used to play there, I hadn't, up to that stage, ever played at Old Trafford before, so it was an exciting moment to play there.

“Like Maine Road was, it's an iconic stadium and knowing that we'd play there first and then come back to Maine Road was fantastic.

“We were confident because at that stage we'd gone through the season in the A-team, which was the Lancashire League and only lost one game all season and ironically that was the first game of the season against South Liverpool reserves, I think.

“Winning the second leg at Maine Road was definitely one of the highlights of my time at City.

“I think the attendance at Maine Road was officially put at 20,000 but I mean to this day I think it was probably much, much more than that. I think there might have been a bit of creative accounting back then!

“To be playing in front of so many people was an amazing experience for us all because we'd only really played, even in reserve games, in front of a few hundred people.

“It also meant so much to us all. There had been really good City youth teams in previous years, in the late 1970s and early 1980s and we'd lost a couple of finals in both 1979 and 1980.

“Those sides had guys like Alex Williams, Nicky Reid, Tommy Caton, Clive Wilson, Steve Kinsey, Andy May, Steve Mackenzie… I mean the list goes on - all great players.

“So, we wanted to go and make it right and make it so that we would be the first and luckily we managed to do that.”

It might have ended on the grand stage of Maine Road in front of tens of thousands of passionate Blues – but City’s route to the final was a circuitous one that took the Blues youngsters all along the highways and byways of the English football firmament.

It was a journey that took them from a first round assignment with Tranmere in midwinter to the plush marbled surrounds of Arsenal’s historic former Highbury home in the two-legged semi-finals.

Every game was memorable in its own right, but for Ian a midweek third round trip to Blackpool still especially resonates 40 years on.

“One that really sticks out was our third-round tie. We played Blackpool away and it started snowing up there and this was well before the game,” Ian recalls.

“And there must have been two inches of snow by the time we kicked off! The orange ball had to come out because it sort of came in an hour before.

“I remember both Tony and Glyn saying we can't play in this because it was literally a snowstorm and you couldn't see the corner flags.

“But I found out subsequently from Sam Ellis, who was Blackpool boss at the time and who later became Peter Reid’s assistant at City, that Blackpool were desperate to get the game played because they thought that was the only way that they could beat us!

“We’d beaten Tranmere 7-1 in the first round and then we beat Blackburn 7-1 in the second round before we got to Blackpool.

“The story from Sam was they knew if it was on in normal conditions, it would be really tough for them.

“As it was the game went ahead, and we managed to beat them 1-0 thanks to Ian Scott.

“But it really could have gone either way as it was a lottery because of the conditions which were horrendous. That game really sticks out for me.”

After despatching Leicester 4-1 in the fourth round and securing a 3-0 victory against Fulham in the quarters, a fiercely fought two-legged semi-final assignment against an Arsenal side featuring a young Paul Merson and Michael Thomas also still resonates to this day for Ian.

The young Blues were edged out 1-0 in North London in the first leg before a dramatic decider at Maine Road saw City battle back to claim a 2-1 win on the night, with the tie ultimately being decided via a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out.

“Arsenal had a good side with the likes of Merse and Michael Thomas and you could see then they were going to be outstanding players,” Ian recalls.

“It was great to play down at Highbury because Arsenal’s ground had such a tradition. They had heated floors and the famous marble reception, and it was a brilliant stadium to play at.

“Though we came away 1-0 down we were confident and when we got them back to Maine Road, we beat them 2-1 thanks to Paul Moulden’s goals which sent it into penalties.

“After we got it back to 1-1, Tony and Glyn changed our set up and moved me from centre half upfront with Paul as we needed another goal.

“Now I was not a goalscorer, but I could run and make myself busy and get around the pitch. Fortunately, we managed to get the second goal and then we went into extra time and by then I'd literally run myself into the ground!

“I’d got cramp and was literally crawling on the floor so there was no way I could take a penalty.

“But when it came to penalties I knew we had some good penalty takers anyway.

Lakey, Paul Moulden, Steve Redmond and Andy Hinchliffe all scored and after Arsenal missed one I vividly remember Ian Scott scoring the last one to win it for us.

“I was really confident with all of the guys taking them because they were just top players.

“But it was a really tough game. Arsenal were, for me, the hardest team we played in that competition.”

Amazing as it sounds now, the City youngsters were then given just 48 hours to prepare before the first leg of the final at Old Trafford.

“It’s mad when you look back now,” Ian smiles.

“So, we'd gone to extra time and penalties then 48 hours later we're in the first leg of the semi-final at Old Trafford in what was the biggest game of our lives!

“Of course, looking back, we were young, so you recover a lot quicker. But they probably wouldn't do it now.

“But as a group we were desperate to go and play and go and prove ourselves.

“The mindset was ‘We're playing in the final here. We can win the FA Youth Cup’. So that changes your mentality. Plus, Tony, Glyn and Ken were such positive people and that rubbed off on us all.”

It speaks volumes as to the incredible production line of young talent assembled by City back then that of the thirteen players used over the two legged final, seven went on to play for the City first team.

Indeed, that magnificent seven - Ian Brightwell, Andy Hinchcliffe, Paul Lake, Paul Moulden, Steve Redmond, Ian Scott and David White – all subsequently started together on one occasion away at Brighton in April 1989.

Meanwhile both White and Hinchcliffe also went on to represent England at senior level – the very pinnacle of the professional game.

What’s more, they cumulatively made a total of 1,397 appearances for City (Ian topping the list with 380 from August 1986 to March 1998).

From May 1986 through to August 1993, at least one of the seven was included on the City team sheet for every first team game, a run of seven full seasons totalling 355 games.

“Those are incredible stats which says a lot I think about that group as all the guys were top players and good people too,” Ian says today.

“Ian Scott and Paul Moulden had played for England Schoolboys and there were five of us that had played in the Under-19 and Under-21 teams.

“And the majority of the lads had been associated with the club since they were about 10 or 11 years old.

“For lads such as Steve Redmond, Scotty and Paul Moulden they were by far the best talents for their age and probably could have gone to most clubs in the country, but they decided to come to City because the club had a proven youth set-up.

“I think they did the right thing, and I think they know they did as well because they all went on to make the first team and have great careers within football.”

As befitting the Club’s first-ever FA Youth Cup triumph, the assembled Class of 86 were a special, singular group – both in terms of their talent alongside everyone’s qualities as individuals in the own right.

However, there is also an element of sadness to this year’s 40th anniversary celebrations as one key member of that squad, John Bookbinder, sadly passed away from cancer in 2006 at the age of just 36.

Reflecting on his life and contribution, Ian says he remembers John with nothing but huge admiration and affection.

“John was great and he was a real character,” Brightwell says.

“If you imagine a football dressing room, it’s just constant mickey taking and banter but John could actually stand in the middle of the dressing room with say 15 lads and he'd argue the case and more than hold his own.

“He was a great character. He was a really good lad and a very talented left sided player with a good left foot on him.

“I remember we had a five-side game against Chelsea at Wembley before the 1986 Full Members Cup final a month or so before the Youth Cup final and John was part of the side.

“We beat Chelsea 2-1 and John scored the winner that day which was another huge thrill.

“It’s just so sad that he left us so young, but I have great memories of playing with John.”

So, there’s both huge joy but also an element of sadness in looking back to a special time in City history.

The one aspect Ian still struggles to comprehend is the fact that 40 years have now elapsed since the Boys in Blue's moment of glory.

“It's scary because so much of it does seem like yesterday,” he added.

“They were brilliant times not only for us as players, but I think it was a good time in the club's history because I think that team gave a bit of hope as well.

“And beating Man United to help win a first ever FA Youth Cup final for the club you supported as a boy – it doesn’t get any better than that!”

A veritable goalscoring machine right from an early age, Bolton-born Moulden was City’s go-to figure in terms of finding the net.

It’s fair to say goals were his stock in trade currency.

This after all was a player who as a junior had scored a mind boggling 289 league goals… in one season!

So not surprisingly, he was to be a pivotal figure in City’s march to a maiden FA Youth Cup.

All told, Paul bagged a remarkable nine goals in City’s route to a first-ever FA Youth Cup success.

That haul included a crucial brace in a 2-1 semi-final second leg win against Arsenal before he bagged the winner in our 2-0 triumph over United in the decisive second leg of the final.

Reflecting back now Moulden says how proud he was to be part of such a special group who carved their name in City history.

And Paul also lifts the lid on how he felt there was a sense of destiny at work in City’s march to Youth Cup glory.

“Nothing was ever said about going on to win the FA Youth Cup that season, but for me it was never in doubt,” Moulden says reflecting back today.

“It was strange all season with regards to the FA Youth Cup, but we knew we’d got to win it. You know not just for us but for Skip and Ken and Glyn.

“That pre-season sticks in my mind and it was like there was a push for it from the staff but nothing was ever said.

“But without any pressure on you, without anybody saying, ‘Oh, you've got to win it.’

“There was just that inner drive in us and it was fantastic to share it with that many people that came to watch us as well.

“I'm 58 now and still people say, ‘Oh, I was at that United game, I queued up and I didn't get into Maine Road until half time.

“And it's a tremendous thing, it's great for the club, great for the lads, and more so for the staff, our coaches Skip and Glyn and chief scout Ken Barnes and Eric Mullinder….

“The year before we had been beaten in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Newcastle and that side had some top young talent too like Earl Barrett, Jamie Hoyland, Darren Beckford, John Beresford.

“And the lads of the 1986 group we knew that we were good players and that we had a special group but was it a given that we're going to win it? No.

“It was my second year as an apprentice and there was just this feeling that something was going to happen, and for me it was that we had to win the FA Youth Cup.

“To be part of the group that won a first FA Youth Cup for City meant everything.

“And to go on and win it, embodied what we were brought in to do at the age of 14 and 15.”

For Moulden, the opportunity to help City cement our place in history against Manchester United of all teams was heaven sent.

That said, harking back to the two legs of the final provoke contrasting memories and emotions for Moulden.

“I have so many memories of that time – not least because the first leg of the final at Old Trafford came straight after the semi-final second leg with Arsenal, just 48 hours later,” Paul looks back.

“Both those semi-finals against Arsenal were tough, tough games. They had some good players like Michael Thomas and Paul Merson.

“So, to beat them at Maine Road in front of a big crowd was a big victory.

“But then, all of a sudden it was like, you went home to bed thinking now it's the final.

“You couldn't comprehend what you’d done, beating Arsenal. And then the next day I think we went in and we had a rub down and a bath. We received some vitamins off the Doc and then the game was upon us and we played at Old Trafford.

“I remember I was really, really disappointed with the size of the crowd there. It was an FA Youth Cup final, it's Man United v Man City and there was just about 8,000 people there.

“And you’re jaded, you're stiff, you know, you're thinking this ain't right for one team to have a bit more rest than the other.

“And I remember feeling really disappointed that we didn’t smash ‘em at their place!

“In terms of the first leg, Andy Thackeray got sent off for us and I was gutted for him as I played with a lot of great lads and Andy was one of them.

“Lakey got us a penalty which meant it finished 1-1 but when I came off after the first leg, I just felt bitter in a way and personally just determined to give a better display yourself in the next game.

“There wasn’t that much rest for the second leg, only five days I think, and I seem to recall we also played a game in-between on the Saturday!

“So the contrast of that night at Maine Road for the second leg was really special and showed what we were about. We were still a bit jaded, but I thought we played really well and produced some really good stuff and to get the 2-0 win and lift the Cup 3-1 on aggregate was just brilliant.

“Davy Boyd got an early goal for us and then I was lucky enough to get the second late on and seal it.

“As for my goal, I can remember it like it was yesterday. The goalmouth at Maine Road used to be really sandy.

“United’s goalkeeper that night was Gary Walsh and he, for me, was the only player that looked like he had a chance to stop me doing what I was there to do.

“I think Scotty had a shot, and he parried it, and then it was like a foot race. Can he get up? It's something like a horror movie for me. I'm going to get to the ball but the more strides I'm taking, the more I'm getting stuck in the sand because my legs are being sapped under.

“Fortunately, I just managed to get to the ball before he got to it.

“Words can't describe that moment for me because, I knew what it meant in terms of the game.

“Another big memory was the crowd that night. They were unbelievable.

“I know it was put at 21,000 but I think that may have been a bit of creative accounting shall we say! There were thousands more there that night and they were everywhere!

“For that many people to come out to watch a bunch of young lads said everything about the fans.

“Being the first City side to win the FA Youth Cup was also a testament to people that took us on. Special people like our coaches Tony Book and Glyn Pardoe and Chief Scout Ken Barnes and Eric Mullinder.

“They had spotted us as kids and then developed us. We owe them a lot.”

Though admitting its scary to think its now 40 years since that moment of history, pride is the overriding emotion when Paul thinks back to those halcyon days.

And he says like all great teams, it was a collective effort that got the City youngsters over the line with every member of the squad playing their own individual part.

“I look back now and realise how lucky I was – it was a special, special team and I’ve got mates for life from that group,” Paul concludes.

“We're all really good friends. And every single person played a big part. Would we have been a better team without Ian Brightwell? No.

“Would we have been a better team without Dave White? No. Without Redo at centre half? No. Steve Crompton in goal. Huge!

“I was just lucky enough to put the cherry on the cake.

“And at the end you couldn't have wrote the script better – to beat United and lift the FA Youth Cup.”

Paul Lake was a year younger than many in the Manchester City line-up but knew how good that team were. Steve Redmond and Paul Moulden had already made their first team debuts and he could see that with the players from his year, they were more than capable of becoming the first City team to win the trophy.

“Between us, when the first year and the second years came together we were an unstoppable force,” he says.

“At the start of that season, we lost our first game, and then we won every single game right through to end of the season, apart from the semi-final first leg against Arsenal.

“They had such a strong side with Paul Merson, Michael Thomas, all those kind of guys. But then we beat them in the second leg.”

City had beaten United in the A League - what was then the division for under-18s – as well as in the Central League for the reserves which many of the youngsters were already playing in, even though it meant coming up against hardened professionals who liked to put up-and-coming young players in their place.

In the first leg, Aiden Murphy put the Reds in front before he was sent off along with City’s Andy Thackeray in the second half.

The young Blues won a late penalty which Lake converted past Gary Walsh, a goalkeeper who would go on to make 50 appearances for United as well as playing for Middlesbrough and Bradford amongst others.

“We pummelled them at Old Trafford but we drew 1-1,” Lake says. “Gary Walsh was a very good goalkeeper – and a nice lad as well.

“He got his hand to it. It wasn’t a brilliant penalty. As much as I was our penalty taker and hadn’t missed all season - it was just that moment, the pressure.

“It was a situation where you were expected to win and they knew that we were better than them, so they had nothing to lose and we didn't take our chances. It was a learning curve for us.”

Around 20,000 people were at Maine Road at the second leg but those that were there, including Lake, believed it was considerably more.

Reserves fixtures were played at Club’s main stadiums back then, generally in front of handful of supporters.

So to walk out onto the pitch and see such a passionate crowd was a thrilling moment for the rising stars.

“You can hear the studs as you go from the changing room into the tunnel and that long walk down to the pitch,” Lake recalls. “And you go out hear the noise, you look up, and the Kippax is full, and the Main Stand, the North Stand, which were pretty full as well.

“When you go out onto the pitch for the first time, it's full and it's noisy, it gives you such a buzz. But it's also a gulp moment where you’re thinking: ‘Right, here we go, this is what it's all about’.

“That's when you look to each other, help each other, encourage each other, and you match them. You match the individuals that you're playing against from a physical perspective, psychological perspective, you get in their faces and you're relentless in terms of your approach.

“Some players at times can hide and that's the difference. We went on the front foot, we just took the game to United and we just overpowered them. We just got a stranglehold on the game. And there was only going to be one winner.”

David Boyd got an early goal to settle nerves before Paul Moulden wrapped up the victory in the dying minutes and it was a proud moment for Lake that he’ll never forget.

His entire family were there watching in the stands and he was also grateful for the support that came from Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe and Ken Barnes at guiding a young side with so many going on to have success in the game.

“Tony and Glyn were City legends, as was Ken Barnes and it was the history and the fact they made us aware of what had preceded us, and that was the journey that lots of them had gone on to get to this first team,” he says of the coaching staff.

“There was a legacy and a respect, pride, and an expectation. All these things were instilled in us.

“They used to say that you can't call yourself a first team player until you’ve played 10 games back-to-back so that became a challenge for a lot of us.

“It was about keeping your feet on the ground. Glyn Pardoe and Tony Book had played in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley and they were driving the minibus. That tells you all you need to know about humility.

“The older players made you aware as well. Paul Moulden, for example, was such a consummate professional - on the pitch and in training. They inspired you and they drove you, because the standard was set.”

City icon David White looks back fondly on our 1986 FA Youth Cup final triumph over Manchester United – although insists beating Arsenal in the semi-final was probably a more difficult feat than seeing off the Red Devils in the showpiece.

White recalls the run to the final vividly looking back now 40 years on.

After beating Tranmere 7-1 in the first round, where White himself bagged a brace, the Blues then enjoyed another 7-1 triumph over Blackburn before a narrow 1-0 victory over Blackpool. Then a 4-1 success over Leicester followed before a 3-0 win over Fulham in the quarter-final.

City lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the semi-final first leg before Paul Moulden hit two – making it a whopping eight in the competition overall – in the return leg as the 2-1 success set up a penalty shootout that the Blues triumphed in 5-4.

That double header with Arsenal - to set up the tussle with our neighbours and rivals – was the one White pinpointed as the most difficult en route.

 “In 1986, we walked through the tournament to the semifinal really. But Arsenal in the last four was really, really tough.

“Michael Thomas was playing left back directly against me. He was in the Arsenal first team.

“It was a massive step up for me, even though I’d played reserve football by then.

“Michael was obviously an unbelievable footballer for his age so it was hard.

“I think Arsenal were a much better team than United. Those semi-final ties we were well matched. We really did well to get beyond that tie. We got through on penalties in the end to set us up for the derby final.

“We were playing in the Lancashire League that season and we were playing Everton 18s, Liverpool 18s, United 18s and my memory, if it’s right, was that we lost the first game of the season against South Liverpool and then I’m pretty sure we didn’t drop a point after that.

“We were playing our peers in some really difficult places like Morecambe and Marine and playing really strong, aggressive reserve teams, and beating absolutely everybody.

“I think we went into the United game confident because we’d already beaten them a couple of times in the League.

“But it was still tough, going to Old Trafford and the second game was probably more of a stroll than the 2-0 suggests.

“I didn’t think my contribution was anything special but within a few weeks of that game I was on a plane going to the United States with City’s first team and that was the start of a long career for me.

“Beating United meant more, of course, than if it’d have been another team. There’s not the media glare you have these days but there was always that big, big rivalry between the clubs and they were important games whenever we played against them, at any level.

“It was important to get the bragging rights and always great to beat them.”

White did it alongside a cohort of starlets whose names are remembered fondly by Blues fans past and present.

There was cool and cultured captain Steve Redmond who went on to play 287 times for the Blues over eight seasons.

How about ever-dependable Ian Brightwell who starred in 380 games over 12 seasons.

Andy Hinchcliffe, he of the sweet left foot and the fantastic final goal in the 5-1 massacre of United in 1989 as well as versatile Paul Lake who would have gone on to star for club and country for an eternity had it not been for injury.

Add to those, Paul Moulden who bagged 289 goals in 40 games – 7.2 goals every match on average – yes you read it right! – for all-conquering Bolton Lads Club ahead of his switch to City and 79 goals plus 26 goals for the Blues as well as midfield marvel Ian Scott who spent three seasons and 33 games with City before a switch to Stoke.

It was truly a young pool of pedigree and White has fond memories of lads who were friends as well as teammates.

“Reddo was a centre forward,” said White.

“He joined as a centre forward and then almost immediately moved to centre midfield and then after a while moved to centre back and went on to play 700 league games and had an amazing, amazing career.

“He and I went on to play well over 200 games together for the first team which is ridiculous when you think about it.

“He was a great leader and great lad and brilliant player.

“Brighty was a great defender, fit as a fiddle, great runner, set great standards in training. He could play everywhere.

“You knew what you were going to get with him, he’d never let you down and he’d always give you a good performance. He never fell below that.

“He went onto play more games for City than all of us which is testament to what a good player he was. He was Mr Reliable.

“Lakey was gifted but incredibly versatile too.

“When he made it into the first team, he was the guy who if anyone was injured, Lakey would fill in and they’d be worried their position was at risk.

“Usually, you’d miss a game and then come straight back in but with Lakey, you’d know he could go and play there and keep his place in the team.

“It wouldn’t be a guarantee that you’d be back in the next week.

“He moved back to centre midfield and a lot of people think he would have ended up as a central defender had serious injury not struck but I think centre midfield was where he excelled.

“I roomed with Andy up to when he left for Everton. He was always a great player. If you look at the famous 10-1 over Huddersfield, Andy and Paul Simpson were irresistible that day.

“He was dogged, strong, quick and had a great left foot.

“He had a brilliant delivery of a ball and always took a great corner.

“When he left, he was always a difficult opponent and only once or twice I got the better of him. He ended up with seven caps for England which is some accolade.

“Paul was incredible as a kid.

“He was very developed. He’d never been a big guy but he’d done more training as a kid. There was definitely an element of us making more marginal gains in our fitness, our strength, our pace, our game but he’d already hit those really, really high standards.

“The fans loved him. He was an unbelievable goalscorer. He wasn’t a scorer of great goals but he was a great goalscorer. He really was prolific.

“Scotty was an unbelievably talented player. The centre-back or full-back would feed the ball to Scotty and he’d hit a diagonal behind the full-back and I’d cross for Mouldy who’d score. We’d do that two or three times every Saturday.

“He got his injuries and it wasn’t to be for Scotty but he was a really good player and a great passer of the ball, probably one of the best we’ve ever had.

“I’ve got to say, too, that everyone looks at us guys. But then there’s John Beresford, Earl Barrett, Jason Beckford, Ashley Ward, Michael Hughes, Neil Lennon, the list goes on.

“There’s a massive group during that time period of several years who went on to have brilliant careers.
“From our team, too, Andy Thackeray and Steve Macauley as examples, their longevity in the game was incredible.”

Steve Mills was a right-back for City during the FA Youth Cup final and had played for England at schoolboy and youth level.

From Sheffield, he signed schoolboy forms as a 14-year-old and remembered joining up with his City team-mates and knowing the quality in the side.

“I was playing for a club in Sheffield which in loose terms was a kind of feeder club to Wednesday,” he recalls.

“I got spotted playing for my school and got invited over. There were quite a few of us that came through together. In fact, we were a Sunday League team, and it was just ridiculous the players that we had.

“If I look at that team that started the final, I think only Boydy and Paul Moulden who weren't playing with us from Sunday League team from about under-14/15.

“It was weird, because it would never happen, but you just get thrown in training with the first team. It's just unreal. You're 15, and if you're good enough, you're old enough kind of thing.

“I moved to Manchester when I left school at 16, I piled up with Lakey already and we became good mates, and eventually I ended up living in Denton, where he's from.”

The road to the FA Youth Cup final was a little bit of a journey into the unknown with City facing teams from the southern section for the first time.

In the semi-finals, City beat an exciting young Arsenal team. The Gunners had produced fine first team players in the years before such as David Rocastle and Niall Quinn, and the latest batch included future England stars Paul Merson and Michael Thomas.

“Up to that point, we've never been out of the north so I think going down to Fulham, I won't say we were apprehensive, but it was like almost going into the unknown,” Steve adds.

“We didn't know any of their players. The Arsenal game in the semi, that was the toughest match we had. It was the only one we lost. I know Michael Thomas played, and I think they shifted him from right back to left back in the second leg just to mark Whitey.”

When the match came around the sight of a huge crowd at Maine Road was thrilling although it wasn’t a first for the young defender.

The players were determined they wouldn’t freeze in the atmosphere and believed they were better than our city rivals.

“I’d played at Wembley in front of 40-odd thousand and at the Berlin Olympic Stadium against the old West Germany when there was 60,000 there,” Steve says.

“I had played in front of a big-ish crowd. I can't speak for everybody else, but that didn't bother me. We knew the United lads, and we knew we were better than them. If we all did what we knew we were good at we'd win whereas I personally didn't have that feeling against Arsenal.

“I remember that during the game they had to open up more of the Kippax - I think because there was so many people wanting to come in, and they'd obviously not realised that there was going to be as much demand.

“I don’t know how big the commercial department was back then but they missed an open goal by the marketing division. It was the first time we had a chance of winning it and secondly, it's a Manchester derby.”

Certainly the backroom staff knew the importance of the game with first-team physio Roy Bailey, Jimmy Rouse and John Collins giving support.

“It was Jimmy Rouse who was just desperate for us to win,” Steve says. “He kept saying, you lads need to win it before I die, and all of that. He’d been part of the part of the club for all his life, so it was nice that he got to see us win it.

“The actual game - I don't remember much. I remember trying to high-five Brighty at the end and jumping up and getting cramp in my calf.

“It was a good, good, good night and it was sort of the icing on the cake.”

Steve didn’t get the chance to play for the first team after suffering an ACL injury, he was released by the Club before being picked up by Sheffield Wednesday.

But he was proud to see how well his former team-mates did when they got their opportunity after living such a special moment with them.