Burnley Youth Team Coach Terry Pashley insists his side are not there to make up the numbers after joining Manchester United, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals.
The Clarets beat Fulham on Wednesday night to book a mouth watering semi-final clash with local rivals Blackburn.
And Pashley, who has done a superb job of nurturing this crop of players in tandem with assistant Andy Farrell, is determined not to let the dream die as the Clarets chase an odds-defying repeat of their 1968 success in the competition.
“It’s been a great run and long may it continue,” added the long-serving Pashley.
“We have another big hurdle in front of us but we will approach Blackburn in the same manner we have every other game.”
Burnley last reached the semi-finals of the competition in 1978 before being beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Aston Villa.
However while Pashley knows that his side face a huge obstacle in the shape of their old foe, he remains confident that his men have the ability to go on and emulate the club’s famous youth cup winning side of 1968 team.
That team triumphed over a Coventry City outfit containing David Icke and Pashley is hoping that he won’t need to call for divine intervention.
“It’s a big ask but now we are talking about the chance to go to a final.”
“There are three Premier League clubs in there with big Academy status and big budgets and our boys are standing toe-to-toe with them at present.”
One of Pash’s charges, Shay McCartan reinforced that view on twitter, tweeting;
“Let’s just say we like to be the under-dogs and don’t forget we’re in the top four in England.”
