HINCKLEY United’s Youth team has played league football in the Midland Floodlit Youth League since the 1997 amalgamation of the Hinckley Athletic and Hinckley Town, entering the Northern Division for the 1997-1998 season and moving into the Premier Division from the following season to the present.

The club’s only honour so far in the Midland Floodlit Youth League is the winning of the League Cup in the 1999-2000 season when Stourbridge were beaten 4-3 in the final held at Bromsgrove Rovers’ ground. Amongst the goalscorers for the Knitters that evening was goalkeeper James Green who scored with a clearance from his own penalty area.

Entry into the F.A. Youth Cup has been made in each season and following is the club’s full record in the competition, highlighted by a home draw with Reading before narrowly losing the replay at the Madejski Stadium in the 1998-1999 season.

The club has also competed for the Leicestershire & Rutland County Football Association Under 18 Invitation Cup and lifted the trophy in the 1999-2000 season with a 5-1 win at Holmes Park in the final against Aylestone Park. The final was also reached in the 2001-2002 season before going down 2-3 to Huncote Sports & Social at Holmes Park.

Words by Alan Mason.