Everton U18s draw at Liverpool Academy in the micro-derby

10.55AM GMT Live U18s football: Watch Liverpool v Everton

You have to subscribe to LFCTV GO (Arrrgh!) but you can get a month free using the code GOFREE23, and then cancel after the game.

Back in the day, we used to benefit hugely here on ToffeeWeb from the submission of youth team match reports provided by a certain Steve Milne (perhaps you know him?).

Then, one day, they just abruptly stopped.

Apparently, the club didn't take kindly to all this excellent scouting analysis and talent-spotting service, aimed squarely at their young proteges gleaned from his attendance at such games, that was being provided free gratis for all and sundry to plunder the Academy.

Hmmm… perhaps that's why the Academy hasn't produced nowt worth a shout ever since...

All together now.. It's the Fans's Fault!!!

I've watch the Ajax youth teams training.

Our culture at the elite level seems to be about nabbing talent and locking them behind closed doors.

We are currently being afforded the privilege of first team training and smiley faces on the official website.

Sorry, it's match day and I'm trying to stay positive.

Maybe I’m cynical Michael, but your story about Steve Milne, (who I don’t know) took me back to a lad who used to try and watch every Nottingham Forest game, whenever the youth team, reserves or first team were in action.

I hope I’m not being boring but this fella had come from Glasgow, to live in Nottingham, such was his affection for Forest, and I actually helped to get him a lift home on the team coach on more than one occasion, when it became clear he was going to be stranded overnight because he didn’t drive, and it might have got him to give me, a much more favourable analysis, in his match reports!!

He died very young this man, very sad, but he told me about the time Brian Clough, gave him one of the best moments of his life, and this is also why I always felt confident asking the coaching staff, (who I never had much time for) could they give the lad a lift home.

He told me he was stood outside the Jubilee club, partly inside the Forest stadium and connected to the main stand after Forest had just played one Easter Saturday. Suddenly Clough appeared, and asked him and two other fanatical Forest Fans, where they going to Man Utd, on the Easter Monday? Yes boss they replied, he said to them that the first team coach leaves at 10.45 from here, so make sure you get here in time if you want to come with us. (What’s this got to do with Everton, I know)

I always loved that story, it warmed my heart, one of the greatest managers of all time, showing his appreciation to some incredible fans, but nowadays you can’t even get into the training ground to watch the younger kids play.

Football isn’t what it used to be Michael, it’s full of money, but it hasn’t half lost its soul!