Paul Lake column: Bernardo and Stones admiration, FA Youth Cup memories and Cherki X Factor

Paul Lake column: Bernardo and Stones admiration, FA Youth Cup memories and Cherki X Factor Check out the latest column from City cult hero Paul Lake. Lake, now a committee member of City’s relaunched former players association ‘Once a Blue’, offers his thoughts on sky blue matters. This month he discusses the impending departure of legends Bernardo Silva and John Stones, his own memories of the FA Youth triumph in 1986 on this 40th anniversary, our battle for honours in the FA Cup and Premier League as well as much, much more.

FA Youth Cup MEMORIES I don’t want to believe it’s 40 years ago today since we triumphed over Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup final, but the calendar doesn’t lie! Every young player strives to win the youth equivalent of the FA Cup, and I remain very proud to have gained that honour by playing alongside some fabulous team-mates like David White, Ian Brightwell, Paul Moulden and Steve Redmond. To have such a tough route to get to the final – winning against Fulham and Arsenal – and then beating your arch rivals over two legs was simply unbelievable.

There was nothing sweeter! The memory of that fabulous final at Maine Road, played in front of an amazing home crowd, is something that I will always cherish. I know the club will be marking the anniversary in the run-up to the 2026 FA Youth Cup final, which again pits City with United!

FA Cup final awaits What an amazing achievement to reach four Wembley finals in a row. This FA Cup side has not played regularly in the Premier League, don’t forget, and yet the standards and the expectations of each other, through Pep Guardiola’s stewardship, have been brilliant. They have been a pleasure to watch.