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10th January 2025
10:42am GMT
Ashley Young was on the brink of making history last night as the 39-year-old's Everton side faced his teenage son's Peterborough in the FA Cup.
No father-son duo has played against each other in the FA Cup in its 154-year history and the former Manchester United man said it would be a 'dream' to play against his son Tyler.
However, both men started the match on the bench and though Ashley came on as a second half substitute for the Toffees, Peterborough boos Darren Ferguson, the son of Ashley's former boss Sir Alex, decided not to bring Tyler on and he remained an unused sub.
This morning, hours after the final whistle, Ashley Young broke his silence, simply writing 'GUTTED...' on social media.
Ferguson defended his decision in his post-match press conference saying: "It was very difficult to leave Tyler on the bench, I wanted him on, but I've got to get a forward on to get a goal.
"One of their players had a pop at me which was out of order."
It is not Everton players that are having a pop at the young Ferguson this morning as fans hit out at his decision.
One fan took to X and said: "It’s quite ironic how Darren Ferguson literally has a career in football because of his Dad yet denied Ashley Young the chance to share the field with his son Tyler."
A second said: "Out of order mate, no harm throwing him on for last 10."
While another reasoned: "You have every right to be gutted, but that's football."
Ahead of the game, which Everton went on to win 2-0, Ashley said sharing a pitch with his son would 'top everything I've done in my career'.
In October last year he told talkSPORT: "I’m hoping and praying that it could be in the next couple of years. To play alongside him or play against him would be unbelievable.
"Obviously to play alongside my son would be a dream come true. You see LeBron [James, with his son Bronny] in basketball. I’ve done my homework, it hasn't been done since 1980 I think, which is obviously a long time ago."
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