Academy staff have dedicated two years to the development of the programme which will see more than 200 former players remain actively engaged with the Academy and receive formal access to support, help and advice. 

A range of events will be held throughout the year under the slogan ‘United Once, United Forever’. The initiative seeks to significantly increase communication with former Academy players, offering access to informal education and workshops on personal development and life skills, further education and qualifications, support in finding new playing and post-playing career opportunities and wide-ranging wellbeing support.

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Now, the Brazilian is looking ahead to the cup semi-final against Coventry City, at Wembley.

Antony knows the importance of the occasion, having played in two of our three visits to the national stadium last season, and isn’t taking the opposition for granted as we seek to reach a second consecutive final.

“Playing in a semi-final in such a historic stadium is really important,” he said.

“Even though they are in the Championship, we have to respect them as they didn’t reach an FA Cup semi-final by chance.

“I’m looking forward to the game and how good it will be, we’ll study the opposition to be prepared to meet our objective.

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United’s Mary Earps and Nikita Parris are both up for the Football Player of the Year award, while Earps is also one of 10 players in the running to win the 2023 World Cup Hero prize.

Two Reds can also be found among the nominees for the Young Football Player of the Year accolade, with Grace Clinton – spending the season on loan at Tottenham – and Maya Le Tissier featuring.

Marc Skinner, meanwhile, has been included on the 10-strong shortlist of coaches vying to take home the trophy for Manager or Coach of the Year.

The club, as a whole, is also in contention to retain the Best Club of the Year title, while being a contender in the Best Fan Engagement category.

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The winger played against Coventry last term, while with the Black Cats, and scored in the away fixture in the Championship.

“I remember we lost that game 2-1 but I scored a last-minute goal,” he recalled. “They are a young team, Coventry and a very exciting team. I don’t know which team they’ve had this season but I remember, last season, they had a very young team and the striker Viktor Gyokeres, who went to Sporting. They’re a very strong team, who play football and attack and just attack.

“But we know there are not many games left so now, the most important thing is, as a team, every player needs to fight and we need to win every game. So that is the most important thing now, we hope to maybe win the FA Cup. That is the most important thing right now.”

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1983 United 2 Arsenal 1, Villa Park (Robson, Whiteside)
1985 United 2 Liverpool 2, Goodison Park (Robson, Stapleton), United 2 Liverpool 1, Maine Road (Robson, Hughes)
1990 United 3 Oldham Athletic 3, Maine Road (Robson, Webb, Wallace), United 2 Oldham Athletic 1, Maine Road (McClair, Robins)
1994 United 1 Oldham Athletic 1, Wembley Stadium (Hughes), United 4 Oldham Athletic 1, Maine Road (Irwin, Kanchelskis, Robson, Giggs)
1995 United 2 Crystal Palace 2, Villa Park (Irwin, Pallister), United 2 Crystal Palace 0, Villa Park (Bruce, Pallister)
1996 United 2 Chelsea 1, Villa Park (Cole, Beckham)
1999 United 0 Arsenal 0, Villa Park, United 2 Arsenal 1, Villa Park (Beckham, Giggs)
2004 United 1 Arsenal 0, Villa Park (Scholes)
2005 United 4 Newcastle 1, Millennium Stadium (van Nistelrooy 2, Scholes, Ronaldo)
2007 United 4 Watford 1, Villa Park (Rooney 2, Ronaldo, Richardson)
2009 United 0 Everton 0, Wembley (Everton won on penalties)
2011 United 0 Manchester City 1, Wembley Stadium
2016 United 2 Everton 1, Wembley Stadium (Fellaini, Martial)
2018 United 2 Tottenham 1, Wembley Stadium (Sanchez, Herrera)
2020 United 1 Chelsea 3, Wembley Stadium (Fernandes)

2023 United 0 Brighton 0, Wembley Stadium (United won 7-6 on penalties)

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