An FA Youth Cup tie between Liverpool and Manchester United ended in ugly scenes on Sunday, with four red cards on the field and crowd trouble off it, but four members of the current Accrington Stanley squad have happier memories of the fixture. Now Charlie Barnett tells us about their dreams of success at senior level this term.

THEY will cherish winning the FA Youth Cup with Liverpool for as long as they live, but their ambitions remain unquenched.

For Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Ryan, Ray Putterill and Craig Lindfield, the opportunity to achieve something together for a second time is one not to let pass by.

All four were part of the Liverpool starting line-up when they overcame Manchester United on penalties in the 2007 Youth Cup final, lifting the trophy at Old Trafford – the home of their fiercest rivals.

Now the quartet of 22-year-olds are working to return there once more – this time with the other Reds, John Coleman’s Accrington Stanley.

The Youth Cup win may not have resulted in progression to the first team at Anfield as they would have hoped – only Jay Spearing from that side has made any significant breakthrough – but it will still take quite a feat to surpass that Liverpool triumph in their affections.

Putterill admitted that a stunning goal against Newcastle, live on Sky Sports in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, did not even come close.

But victory in the League Two play-off final – switched to Old Trafford this season with Wembley unavailable because of the Champions League final – might be a little nearer.

“When you look back at some of the great players who have won the Youth Cup and some of the teams, I really do think it’s probably going to be one of the highlights of our careers,” said Barnett.

“It was a massive confidence boost for us because we were a good team and everyone was talking about the Youth Cup, because that’s the only competition you really get to play in when you’re young.

“I think a few of us felt disappointed that we didn’t go further at Liverpool after winning those Youth Cups.

“I think with most Premier League clubs, especially Liverpool because they were a top four team at the time, they were buying a lot of players, a lot of younger players, so spaces were limited.

“But I don’t think anyone’s bitter about it, everyone is just getting on with their careers.

“It’s been good for the four of us to link up again here. All of our paths went different ways after we left Liverpool but we have all managed to come together. All of us are pushing for the same thing now. It would be another great achievement for us to get to those play-offs. It would be special.”

Stanley’s play-off dream seemed far fetched just a month ago, 19th in League Two and struggling to convert performances into results.

But five wins later and tomorrow they take on Port Vale – currently occupants of the final play-off place – just six points behind the top seven with games in hand on the sides above them. Much of Stanley’s progress in recent seasons has been down to the ability of Coleman and assistant manager Jimmy Bell to use their contacts within their native Liverpool to snap up young talent from within the city.

And if the Youth Cup winning quartet – among 12 Liverpudlians in the current squad – have known each other for some time, Barnett and Ryan go back even further.

The pair first played together 15 years ago and were also part of the team that won the Youth Cup against Manchester City in 2006.

“I’ve played with Jimmy since we were both at Liverpool when we were seven or eight,” said Barnett, a doubt for tomorrow’s game with the ankle injury that has kept him out of the last three games.

“I’d go as far as to say we were best friends as well. We were always thick as thieves, so it is really nice to play with him again.

“It was good at Liverpool. There were some quality coaches there and the facilities were top drawer.

“It is difficult playing on our pitch this season but that’s league football.

"All of us are just really focused to do well here for Jimmy Bell and the gaffer.”