Having won the FA Youth Cup with Middlesbrough during his time with Pools' North East neighbours, Gary Liddle is in a good position to offer words of advice to Micky Barron's Youth Team ahead of tonight's Third Round tie with Sheffield United.

"Until the promotion season with Hartlepool, winning the FA Youth Cup was the highlight of my playing career to date," Liddle told hartlepoolunited.co.uk.

"As a youngster, you don't obviously play at the big grounds as often as you'd like to but this competition gives you the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd in the main stadium.

"And it does tend to bring in a decent crowd, especially the further on you get in the competition."

Liddle was part of the Middlesbrough team that lost to Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup Final in 2003 and also the team that beat Aston Villa 4-0 to win the competition the following season,

"I experienced it two years' running and playing in the main stadium with a big crowd is a massive experience for any 16/17 year old.

"Obviously Sheffield United have the experience of playing other Premier League teams and, no disrespect to our lads but they don't often come up against them so this will be a good test and one they will be looking forward to.

"Anything can happen on the night and it should be a good game."

And Liddle admits he will be out to support the Youth Team in tonight's game and hopes to see a good crowd at The Vic,

"I'll probably be turning up myself to cheer the lads on as I'm sure some of the other local lads will be and hopefully we'll see them get the result with some good support and push on into the next round."