Floodlit Cup Preview: Palace face Potters for chance of national glory

Match previews

11 May 2023

Crystal Palace Under-15s will be facing Stoke City tomorrow (Friday, 12th May) at 19:00 BST in the U15 Floodlit Cup National Final - a game you can watch LIVE on Palace TV+.

Floodlit Cup explained

The Floodlit Cup is an U15 tournament, part of the Premier League's Youth Development Phase (YDP), designed to provide an experience of playing matches in the evening in tricky conditions. This is to ensure the players are prepared for similar situations as they progress to the Professional Development Phase (PDP) and beyond into professional football.

The young Eagles compete in the U15 Floodlit Cup each season. They have made the Regional Final in at least the last four iterations of the competition and last won the National Final in 2018/19 - with players such as Owen Goodman, Ademola Ola-Adeombi and Jack Wells-Morrison all featuring in that side.

The competition is generally seen as one of the hallmarks of the YDP phase and has been very sought after by youth sides up and down the country since its inception in 2016. The National Final is the culmination of the competition and you can watch it LIVE on Palace TV+. Click here for more information.

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Palace’s road to the National Final

Palace initially faced a tough group against West Ham United, Fulham and Charlton Athletic, though they managed to come out on top and were drawn against Norwich City in the quarter-finals. The young Eagles swept aside the Canaries with a 5-0 victory and faced a semi-final against Aston Villa.

In a repeat of last season’s semi-final, Palace comfortably dispatched The Villains 5-1 to progress to the Regional Final. Goals were scored by Somade, Judd, Casey and Lusale (x2)

Commenting on their progress at the time, Academy Director Gary Issott said: “Two comprehensive wins in the quarters and the semis have seen us reach the Regional Final of the Floodlit Cup two years in a row.

“This now presents a great opportunity to reach the National Final, like the group last year did, but they have to be at their best to beat Arsenal.”

Indeed, the young Eagles were at their best to overcome the Gunners. They put in a performance of the highest order, as they managed to score five once more to put Arsenal to the sword on their own turf, to win the U15 Floodlit Cup South. Casey (x2), Lusale, Oduro and Osei found themselves amongst the goals.

Match Preview

Last season, Palace narrowly lost out to Sunderland in the National Final after going down to 10-men, so a chance of doing one better and claiming the trophy is on the cards.

Stoke City await the young Eagles, after they managed to overcome Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United in their knock-out games. They are managed by former professional footballer Darren Potter.

Palace, under the leadership of Joe Antonelli - a coach who has been at the club for seven seasons - will look to play quick, incisive and attacking football to get on the front foot and really take the game to the Potters.

His side are prolific in front of goal, as demonstrated in recent results, but also resolute defensively - with a clear intention of keeping a clean sheet in every game.

As this is the YDP phase, the final will be slightly shorter than a standard match, with the halves being 40 minutes each, the half-time interval being 10 minutes. Extra-time, in knock-out ties, is 20 minutes long - 10 minutes per half. Penalties are still contested in the traditional manner.

Match details

Stoke City Under-15s v Crystal Palace Under-15s
Friday, 12th May
The Pirelli Stadium
KO: 19:00 BST
LIVE on Palace TV+

Academy
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