Manager Neil Young on the players from only the second team from the eighth tier of English
Football to reach the third round
Neil Young is the Merseyrail manager who has also managed Marine, of the Northern
Premier League Division One North West, to seven victories in this season’s FA Cup and a fairytale third-round tie at home to eight-time winners
Tottenham. Here he gives the rundown on only the second team from the eighth tier of English football to reach the third round in its 149-year history …
Bayleigh Passant He came in this season after being released by Tranmere and his form has been very good. He’s a young, local lad who is still learning the game and fits the profile of what we are trying to do – a hungry lad who wants to do well and get back into the professional game. And he gets the ale in on his birthday [Marine beat Havant & Waterlooville on the goalkeeper’s 20th and, still in his kit, he went to a nearby Co-op to buy some beers]. He’s a lovely lad. The other day I told him he needed photo ID for his Covid test. He said he didn’t have any so could he use a selfie on his phone!