History and rare heights are calling to York City's newest batch of young-bloods.

The kids who have put the A1 into away-day set off again in the FA Youth Cup to Ipswich Town in a fourth round tie tonight, kick-off 7pm.

A City first will be recorded. This will be the first visit by a City side to Portman Road in club history.

And should the Minster-mites topple their Nationwide First Division hosts, then they will have completed a fourth-hander en route to the fifth round and a long-awaited home tie. So far in the competition City have been on the road, winning at Burscough,

Wigan and then Stoke to set up the clash against Ipswich. The fifth round guarantees a home tie for the victors.

City are aware their task is one of the most formidable. The Ipswich ranks will include two 17-year-olds who have featured in the first team this season, including action against Everton in the FA Cup just four days ago. But as with their previous travels the City youngsters will not be fazed by the prospect.

Enthused youth coach Paul Stancliffe: "It's the match that has been on most of their minds these past few weeks. With the amount of success they have been having in the cup they are enjoying it and we feel they have a good chance of progress."

All the City squads are on stand-by for the game and their preparation will again be spot on. They set off for East Anglia this morning to enable them to have a sleep down there before a pre-match meal and then the game at Portman Road.

Added Stancliffe: "The preparation has been right all along thanks to the kindness of the club and the lads have responded to it.

They could have got a bit giddy and shot themselves in the foot, but they have been sensible about it.

"We cannot guarantee victory, but if we adapt like we have in the last three rounds then we can get something."

Stancliffe and City's head of youth development Adie Shaw have had a dossier prepared on their hosts, who were described as 'a good footballing side'.

Two of the Ipswich side have already made senior starts. At the back is polished centre-back Titus Bramble, who is tipped for the England Under-18s tour and is regarded as a defender in the mould of Rio Ferdinand. He came on as a substitute in Saturday's narrow FA Cup defeat at Everton.

Ipswich's main attacking threat will be carried by fellow 17-year-old Richard Logan, who has played a handful of games in the Nationwide First Division this term.

Awaiting the winners in the last 16 will be a home draw against Spurs or Walsall or West Ham.

York City: from Mohan, Howarth, Fox, Batchelor, Fielding, Keegan, Urwin, Farley, Bullock, Walters, Thompson, Dufton, Hakami, Whitfield, Dibie, Turley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.