TOMORROW’S National League Cup Final means everything to York City under-19’s star Bill Marshall.

Marshall, who is set to start in York’s under-19’s National League Alliance Youth Cup final match with Maidstone United tomorrow evening (5.30pm), is relishing the opportunity to play at England’s St George’s Park, with City on the hunt for back-to-back silverware in the competition.

The young midfielder has recently been involved with the first-team and even travelled with the squad to York’s final day defeat to Solihull Moors in the Vanarama National League, alongside fellow academy midfielder Harley Dawson, and hopes that a shot at silverware could be the platform he needs to push for a place in Adam Hinshelwood’s first-team next season.

“It means everything, this game means everything,” Marshall enthused to the Press.

“This game is probably the biggest game we may play in our careers, because it could be the end for many of us next week, so this game is humongous for everyone.

“I’m really excited to be playing in it. Last year I wasn’t in the squad and I didn’t get much minutes last year, so this year I have been really working towards it all season and it has motivated me a lot. I’m really excited to be playing in it.

“I started when I was eight-years-old, and I’ve stayed all the way through.

"It’s what I’ve been building towards since I first started, I’m hoping to get a contract.

“In the under-12’s it was a two-year contract and then it all changed a little bit when we got demoted out of League Two, but from under-eight’s this has been all I’ve been dreaming of.

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“Travelling with the first-team, training with them, being around them, and now this National Cup final is massive for all of us.

“Some of the squad are disappointed about the team and not making it, but everyone is together.

"We’re all together and we’re ready to win this final.

“It would be massive, I can’t even describe how it would feel to lift that trophy. Especially after being here for so long.”

Marshall feels as if he has progressed a lot as a footballer this season, becoming a key part of Tim Ryan’s under-19’s side, after admitting that he struggled during last campaign.

The 17-year-old is now keen to earn a professional contract with the club he has been at since he was just eight-years-old, and spoke on the potential experience of playing at England’s St George’s Park.

Marshall continued: “I feel like it’s gone really well for me, I’ve really kicked on this year as last year I wasn’t really prepared for the massive jump from the under-16’s level to the full-time under-19’s league.

“I’ve played a lot with the under-18’s and have really mixed in, but this year I have really kicked on, grown my game and I’ve become a lot more confident with how the team have been playing.

“Considering that last year I only started one league game for the under-19’s, this year I feel much closer and travelling with the first-team last week helped with my situation. I’ve still got to play better and prove that I deserve a pro contract.

“I went last year [to St George’s Park] but I didn’t play, so I’ve not really experienced it properly.

“I’m excited to be playing tomorrow and starting in the team. I’m 100 per cent [confident], it’s been quite a progressive year where we have started off quite slow with a young team with only one or two pro’s playing with us, and the young team has progressed really well.

“With the new gaffer’s [Hinshelwood] tactics we have been really confident on the ball and the past few weeks have been really good."

Marshall also spoke on his positioning and where he believes there are improvements to be made in his game, with his versatility being a key factor in his growth throughout the season. 

Marshall told the Press: “The biggest problem in my game is my physicality and that’s what I need to work on, but this year has proved that I am better on the ball than I was last season.

“When I was younger I was a centre-halve all the time, and as it gets bigger and tougher, I’ve moved into CDM [defensive midfielder].

“The versatility helps a lot because I understand more positions within the game and I can help others a bit more in positioning.

“It helps me to understand a bit more of the game and it’s good to have that understanding.

“I feel like I’ve progressed a lot, it’s been a good year for me to close the gap between me and the first-team.”