Date and location confirmed for Blackpool’s FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Chelsea

The young Seasiders booked their spot in the last eight after breezing past Newcastle United at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday night.

Arnold Matshazi bagged a double, while Jake Daniels made sure of the win 10 minutes from time.

The win sets up a mouthwatering tie with one of the strongest academies in the country in Chelsea, who fought back from three goals down in their fifth round clash to beat Liverpool 4-3.

The Premier League giants have enjoyed unrivalled success in the FA Youth Cup in recent years, winning the competition seven times between 2010 and 2018.

They were also runners up in 2020 when they were beaten 3-2 by Manchester City.

The quarter-final tie will be played at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, February 24 (7pm kick-off).

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for juniors.

The game takes place the day after the first-team are in action against QPR at Loftus Road (Wednesday, February 23).

When asked about Blackpool’s chances against the Blues, head coach Neil Critchley told The Gazette: “They are very good.

“They’ve produced countless players in the last 10 to 15 years. Neil Bath (head of youth development) has done an incredible job at Chelsea in producing players for their first-team and the national team too.

“It will be an extremely difficult game obviously, but there will be no pressure on us. The lads won’t be expected to go there and win, so we can go there and enjoy ourselves.

“Who knows? With the beauty of cup football and the beauty of a one-off game is that anything can happen.”

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