Mee: FA Youth Cup success one of the best moments of my career | OneFootball

It’s hard to believe it’s been 16 years since Ben Mee captained City’s Under-18s side to FA Youth Cup success.

The former Academy starlet captained City to a 4-2 win against Chelsea in 2008 to lift the prestigious trophy for the first time since 1985/86 where we beat Manchester United 3-1.

And City’s current cohort of Under-18s are looking to follow in Mee’s footsteps on Friday evening when they take on Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium.

Mee, who spoke to Mike Minay at BBC Radio Manchester, ahead of the cup final which kicks off at 19:00 (UK), reflected positively on the occasion and what it means to him in his career to date.

“It’s gone so fast!”, said Mee when asked if he could believe it has been 16 years since the final.

“I always spoke to people in my career, the older players, and they say: ‘enjoy it because it’s gone in a flash’. I’m not finished yet, but I’m 34 years old, I’ve played a lot of games since then.

“It’s crazy but when I look back on my career, at the end of it, I’ll definitely see that as one of the best moments even though it was so early on, certainly a highlight.”

Pre-2018, the final of the competition was played across two legs.

City first travelled to Stamford Bridge which played host to a 1-1 draw. On the reverse leg, the Etihad Stadium welcomed almost 20,000 fans who were all hoping to see City’s brightest young stars lift the prestigious trophy.

And they got what they asked for! Mee drew City level after an early Ryan McGivern own goal before Vladimir Weiss and David Ball goals saw us win 3-1, ending 4-2 on aggregate.

And it was a moment Mee has magical memories of.

“I have really fond memories of both legs,” began Mee. “Going to Stamford Bridge, playing in the stadium and knowing we had the chance to win the trophy having gone through the rounds.

“It was the first time I got a feel of how it would be to be a professional footballer, how it would be in the first team, going to hotels and things when we played Plymouth and a few other teams far away.

“And I of course have really fond memories of the final, 20,000 people come to watch you, the adrenaline!

“It was an amazing experience and one I talk a lot about with players and ex-players.

“That moment gave me that bit of hunger of ‘I want this every week’,” Mee continued.

“It felt like a big moment for the Club. I know City have gone on to win a lot of trophies now and the Club has gone stratospheric but at the time, it wasn’t that big.

“The Academy wasn’t massive, it was a small operation and a lot of really good people. It was fantastic to win it for them – such hard work over the years, talent and players that had come through the Academy at the time and for them to get rewarded as well was phenomenal.

“For us, as players, a lot of us were local lads who has been around, played a Chelsea side that had come from everywhere so it was nice for us as young players to really make a difference and put a trophy in the cabinet.”

Mee’s closest interaction with senior football at City saw him go on the Club’s pre-season tour to America in 2010 before loans spells at Leicester City and Burnley.

Mee made the permanent move to the latter in 2012 and spent 10 years with them before moving to Brentford in 2022.

And the defender is adamant that the FA Youth Cup triumph played a huge part in how his senior career has panned out.

“The experience that you get when play in big games and perform is massive,” said Mee.

“I was captain of the team and managed to score an equaliser in the final. Those are the moments you play football for.

“It gave me that hunger to go on and improve. It got us known to the first team, I went on tour with the first team straight after and then would train in and around them the next year.

“It was fantastic to lead the team as well, to captain the side that won it was special.”