Havant & Waterlooville may be underdogs heading into their Hampshire derby with Eastleigh, but boss Sam Game believes the goals of Tom Fripp will help his side spring an FA Youth Cup shock.
Fripp bagged himself an impressive hat-trick as Havant brushed aside Gillingham Town 9-1 in the preliminary round but there are arguably few trickier first round qualifying draws than Eastleigh, coached by former Manchester City player Lee Peacock.
Fripp is hardly the only weapon at Game’s disposal with the head coach pinpointing Sam Ashton, Sam Winterburn and Alfie Whittingham, son of Football League veteran Guy, as capable of causing the opposition problems.
Havant & Waterlooville v Eastleigh
FA Youth Cup
First Round Qualifying
7.30pm, Thursday 24 September
And while Game admits that his young side are something of a team in transition, he is convinced that the prospect of facing even bigger fish in the later rounds will provide ample motivation when they host the Spitfires.
“Eastleigh were about as tough a draw as we could have got. Lee Peacock is working with them and he’s played at the highest level, so they will be really well-coached,” said Game. “But we’ll go into the game with a degree of confidence.
“Last year the lads were beaten at Christchurch and had they won that tie they would have played Swindon.
“So there are great opportunities to play big teams and the boys are really excited about being involved.
“Tom Fripp got himself a hat-trick against Gillingham – he’s played on the right-hand side of the front three and he’s got great movement and really good feet.
Eastleigh are managed by Lee Peacock, picture here in action for Sheffield Wednesday in 2005
“But we’ve got a good few prospects. A young lad called Sam Winterburn has been very good and has got county honours.
“Then there’s Alfie Whittingham, as well as Sam Ashton in a forward role. So there are a few lads on a very positive curve.”
Havant & Waterlooville will be the first hurdle to overcome in this season’s competition for Eastleigh – who made it all the way to the first round proper before losing to Gillingham in 2014-15.
In Peacock, who is head of youth at the club, they have a coach with swathes of experience.
He made over 100 appearances each for Swindon Town and Bristol City in addition to his spell with Manchester City.
“The FA Youth Cup is the highlight of the season for the boys”
Lee Peacock Eastleigh youth team manager
The 38-year-old can still remember his own FA Youth Cup experiences and insists there is no competition like it for the players involved.
“The FA Youth Cup is the highlight of the season for the boys,” said Peacock. “It’s a chance, if you progress, to play some of the big boys who are looking to get professional contracts, so you can test yourself against them
“I know that it’s the competition that if kids aren’t involved, you have them knocking on your door asking why!
“I remember when I was playing in the FA Youth Cup that everybody wanted to be a part of it and you’re so excited to be involved.
“With Havant being our biggest rivals, it will probably add a little extra to the game. Hopefully it will also put a couple more bums on seats.”
