Simon Parker column

It must have been a long journey from Bradford to Southampton late on Tuesday night. A very long drive indeed.

Saints stalwart Jason Dodd and his young academy prodigies will have suffered every mile.

They were fancied to go a long way in the FA Youth Cup; possibly even outdo the class of 2005 and win it.

Having gubbed Arsenal and Chelsea in the league this season, that was no pipe dream.

But it won’t be happening this year, sunshine.

Instead it was unheralded City who will be treading in the uncharted waters of the fourth round – even if a trip to Preston is hardly the mouth-watering prize they had hoped for.

The starlets from the well-financed youth system that had spawned Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale were knocked out by a side whose coffers rely heavily on soul nights and half-time raffles!

How the ‘have nots’ had their day.

It was a privilege to be among the couple of hundred fans at Valley Parade to witness City’s triumph. The first team will struggle to top the scenes of unadulterated joy after Chris Cheetham had saved that final penalty.

Cheetham, or ‘Cheesey’ as he is known around the club, was engulfed by a mass of amber shirts after his double grab at Calum O’Connor’s spot-kick did enough to steer it round the right-hand post.

The shoot-out had been a gripping marathon of gut-wrenching tension.

From the moment that unfortunate right back Elliott Holmes had seen his opening penalty blocked by Southampton keeper David Wooton, all eyes were transfixed on the net beneath the Bradford End gloom.

Goal was matched by goal; every penalty – from both teams – seemed to be perfectly placed. Cheetham saved one early, then the deadlock remained.

Just as the keepers themselves were preparing to step up to the spot, the City youngster dived correctly to his right and the cup upset was secured.

In the cold light of day, you wonder how many of those players who gave it so much in midweek will go on to make a professional career.

Look back at the list of FA Youth Cup winners down the years – many of those pictured gleefully with the silverware are now kicking around in non-league circles. Not even a medal can guarantee a contract.

But football is about how you handle the big occasion. Ability will get you so far but it’s having that mental strength and determination to be able to perform in front of a critical crowd on a regular basis.

For some in that City team, Tuesday night may prove as good as it gets. A few months down the line, they might get the “sorry, son” patter from the coaching staff when the retained list is drawn up.

It will be a special memory.

For others, it will hopefully just be the start. As they love to gush on X Factor, the start of a long journey.

But it won’t feel as far as the one back to Hampshire in the middle of the night.