Mark Peters takes his Corby Town side to Ewen Fields to face Manchester City tomorrow evening in the FA Youth Cup third round.

The manager has been delighted with his team’s progress in the competition to date and is relishing the chance to face his former club.

Peters said: “Colchester has probably been our toughest game so far. We played three games before then, beating teams in and around our level, but then we got Colchester who we knew were a very good team. On the night we out-played them and got a good victory against them.

“Then it was Dagenham & Redbridge at home. We had a little bit of a fairy-tale against them because our goal-keeper got sent off and our striker went in goal. The game went to extra time and penalties. To be fair to the lad, he’s only 16. Not only did he save two penalties, he took the winning penalty too. It’s been a hell of a run and adventure so far.

“We knew before the Dagenham game that the winners got City, so that was incentive enough for the boys to go out there. I think they performed a miracle on the night, against all odds they came through. We’ve already set it up for the lads to have a stadium tour and hopefully get to Carrington to make it something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives."

Looking back at his time on the books of the Premier League leaders he said: “I was in a hell of a youth team at City. We got to the FA Youth Cup final and most of the players in that team went onto play for the first team or played Premier League football. I believe that the coaching I got from Tony Book and Glyn Pardoe gave me the tools to have a 23-year career in football. I had great times there and also very thankful to the staff who were there at the time.

“I was a schoolboy at City in 1986. I did my YTS at the club in 1988 and then signed my professional contract two years later. I was at City for six years in total. We had a good squad and good coaching. It was a brilliant time of my life to be honest.

“If you want me to say that we plan on parking the bus or will be trying to do anything to try and stop City, I wouldn’t quite put it like that. We know the calibre of the players. We’re not looking to come, just make the numbers up and roll over, but we have to be realistic.

“We plan on making it an evening and a trip for the boys to remember. It will be a great experience for them to play against lads that are lucky enough to be selected from a worldwide stage. My boys are local lads that have had a good run.

“They’ve got to be respectful of City. They are the cream of what’s out there at their age. It will be great to see them in action. It will be a challenge for my boys to deal with the movement, the pace and all the elements that make the City lads top players."

Corby Town do not have the financial backing of their opponents however, and the Steelboys manager was quick to praise those who have helped to ensure that they have had the best opportunities to progress.

“It’s been a financial battle for us during the competition, but the Wilson Foundation, Manor School and Corby Town Football Club have all contributed to help us get this far."