Former Manchester United Star Ashley Young Set to Face His Son in the FA Cup

Sometimes, dreams really do come true. That sentiment perfectly captures how Ashley Young must be feeling right now. The former Manchester United star is gearing up for a unique FA Cup third-round encounter, as Everton will face third-division Peterborough United—where his 18-year-old son, Tyler, may line up as an opponent.

Ashley Young’s current club Everton welcome Peterborough United in January. From the outside looking in, this clash isn’t eye-catching by any means. After all, Everton are currently languishing in 15th spot of the Premier League standings, whereas Peterborough are a bang-average League One outfit. However, this tie could be the most significant third-round fixture in this season’s FA Cup – especially for the Young family. Reacting to the FA Draw, which pitted the father-son duo against each other, Ashley Young posted “Wow… dreams might come true,” on his social media. He added hashtags reading "goosebumps moment" and "Young vs Young" in his post. 

A former England international, Ashley Young has graced the pitch 724 times for clubs like Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Inter Milan. On the other hand, Tyler Young recently began carving out his own path in football, joining Peterborough United from QPR's academy and making his debut on 8th October. Since then, Tyler hasn’t made another appearance, which could ultimately deny fans the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle of a father-son clash in the FA Cup. But if Tyler, who plays as a midfielder, does get the nod to step onto the pitch, he could find himself in direct competition with his dad, now plying his trade as a full-back—years after earning his reputation as a dynamic winger. It’s a storyline straight out of a movie, and fans will be eager to see if this rare family face-off becomes a reality.  

Having said that, this wouldn’t be the first time a father-son duo has shared the professional stage in sports. Back in 1996, Chelsea icon Eidur Gudjohnsen made his international debut for Iceland at just 17, famously coming on as a substitute for his father, Arnor. Outside of football, basketball saw a historic father-son moment earlier this year when LeBron James and his son, Bronny, became the first father-son duo to share an NBA court. And in baseball, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. made history in 1990 by becoming the first father-son pair to play in Major League Baseball, taking the field together for the Seattle Mariners. 

Also Read: FA Cup Third-Round Draw: Holders Manchester United Set to Face Arsenal, Aston Villa to Host West Ham