Young wants another cup upset on his CV
Friday 27 January 2012
Scott Young TEN years after helping Cardiff dump Leeds out of the FA Cup, Scott Young is hoping for another upset at Carmarthen's Richmond Park.
Young scored the winner as the League One Bluebirds beat the Premier League giants 2-1 at Ninian Park in January 2002 but, a decade later, his attentions are focused on managing Rhondda outfit AFC Porth, who are riding high in the Welsh League.
With Carmarthen struggling in the basement zone, an away win would not be the biggest shock the Welsh Cup has seen, but Young knows exactly the size of the task.
"Julian Alsop, their new striker, is probably on more money than the whole AFC Porth squad," said Young, whose team will be followed to West Wales by more than 100 supporters tomorrow.
Rhondda-born Young was just a teenager when he played alongside Old Gold boss Mark Aizlewood for Cardiff.
"For me, AFC Porth have always been my local club," Young added. "The group of people who run this club do a fantastic job and I love being a part of that.
"Our youth structure is, for me, the best in Rhondda football and that is such a help to the first team.
"We work hard in training, twice a week, and, while we know we will start as underdogs at Carmarthen Town we will do everything we can to be competitive."
AFC Porth’s squad includes ex-Merthyr Tydfil defender Adrian Needs and former Cardiff City midfield player Michael Hayward.
Meanwhile, Aizlewood was heartened by a League Cup win over Port Talbot in his first game in charge: game in charge.
"It was a good, hard-earned win and I was encouraged by what I saw," he told the South Wales Evening Post, but will be without new signings Paul Fowler and Jonathan Hood who are both cup-tied.
Photo: Young celebrates his winner against Leeds 10 years ago [Wales Online].