The Isle of Man Football Association’s under-18 side embark on their latest FA County Youth Cup odyssey at high noon on Sunday.

The Manx youngsters enjoyed one of their most successful campaigns in the competition last season, ultimately losing out to eventual victors Norfolk at the quarter-final stage.

Lewis Qualtrough’s charges begin their bid for silverware away at their counter-parts from Shropshire this weekend.

At least 11 of the squad that navigated their way to the last eight are still eligible for this season’s competition, but Qualtrough and his team are taking it very much one game at a time.

Speaking this week coach Qualtrough said: ’Everyone is looking forward to the game. We know it’s going to be a tough. County Youth Cup ties are always tough because it’s a high-quality competition and every team in it is good.

’We are expecting Shropshire to be a strong side but we know we’re strong too. I’m keen on us adding another string to the bow and winning away from home. Our boys have been training hard to try to perform on the day.’

Captaining the squad will be full-back Lewis Bridson, who is one of seven St George’s players on the 16-strong travelling party which also includes the Canada Life Premier League’s Young Player of the Month Jay Skelcher-Maxwell.

Douglas Royal provide the squad with four players including winger Jacob Crook who was one of last season’s regulars.

Also meeting up with the squad for this weekend’s game in Market Drayton will be north west-based duo Sid Batty and Jack Camarda.

The latter was in action for one of Preston North End’s academy sides on Tuesday as they beat Burnley 3-1.

In-form Marown keeper Harry Horbury will vie with Michael United’s Nathan Teare for the number one shirt.

Squad:

Nathan Teare (Michael United), Harry Horbury (Marown), Adam Cooil (Douglas Royal), Jacob Crook (Douglas Royal), Joel Ibanez (St George’s), Lewis Bridson (St George’s), Jack Camarda (Castletown), Taylor Andrews (Douglas Royal), Jay Skelcher-Maxwell (St George’s), Jonny Quirk (St George’s), Sidney Batty (St George’s), Tom Chatel (St George’s), Dan Smith (Douglas Royal), Dylan Wood (St George’s), Ryan Kinrade (Ramsey), Harry Walters (Laxey).

l Lewis Bridson and coach Steve Burns are this week’s #ManxFootyPod guests. Search ’Manx Football Podcast’ on iTunes, Audioboom and Spotify to stream or download.

l Report and reaction in next week’s Isle of Man Examiner - on sale Tuesday.

IOMFA SIDE TO PLAY WOLVES’ UNDER-23S ON OCTOBER 23

The Isle of Man Football Association’s senior men’s side is to travel to Wolverhampton later this month to play against Wolves’ under-23s side.

The game will take place on Tuesday, October 23 and is part of manager Paul Jones’s preparations for next year’s inter-island competition in Anglesey.

Football will not feature in the 2019 NatWest Island Games programme in Gibraltar, therefore the competition in North Wales has been organised in its place.