Rule change makes Arsenal talent now eligible for Youth Cup

A rule change appears to make Arsenal youngster Max Dowman eligible for the Gunners’ next FA Youth Cup match against QPR, despite having to sit out against Hertford Town.

The FA Youth Cup is in full swing now, with Arsenal winning their first match against Hertford Town 4-3 before drawing Queens Park Rangers in the fourth round.

But one player who didn’t feature in the opening fixture was top talent Max Dowman, whose age restricted him from taking part.

In the past, the FA Youth Cup rules have specified: “Only those players are eligible to take part who have reached the age of 15 years by midnight on 31 August of the current season and not reached the age of 18 years as at midnight on 31 August of the current season.”

Dowman was just 14 on August 31st, making him ineligible. Yet the rules have been updated for this season, and he may now be allowed to play.

The new rules state: “In all matches where a National League System Club is involved only those players are eligible to take part who have reached the age of 15 years by midnight on 31 August of the current season…”

The “National League System” is the step below the English Football League’s League Two, so it doesn’t include the top-four English divisions.

The rules then add that for Premier League clubs, only the 18-year age cap applies, with no reference to a lower limit.

Arsenal’s opening fixture was against the u18 side of National League side Hertford Town, meaning Dowman was still ruled out. With a National League team involved in the game, the lower age limit rule applied.

But with the next game against Championship QPR, it seems Dowman will be allowed to play.

Whether the midfielder is selected is up to his coaches. There are still other National League sides in the competition, so Arsenal may opt to stick with a squad they’ll be able to use throughout the tournament. If they use Dowman and win, they may have to leave him out again in the next round.

Alternatively, they may simply decide to use him in the u21 Premier League 2 game on the same day, with Dowman making his u21 debut against Brighton earlier this month.

But it would be a boost to have the option to use Dowman if they wish to, as one of the u18/19s’ standout players in the u18 Premier League and the UEFA Youth League this season.