Sean Wood said that his next mission is to try and get his Swindon Town under-18s players to make the step up into men’s football after their FA Youth Cup defeat.

Swindon’s magical cup run came to an end against Bristol City on Thursday night as they bowed out 1-0 with a gutsy performance against a top side.

Wood said after the game that he was now turning his focus to trying to turn this historic youth side into players that can make an impact at the next level.

He said: “That would be massive for us, between now and the end of the season, trying to get as many of our under-18s around the training programme with the first team.

“That will happen because it happens every week and then hopefully they take their opportunity when they get up there and can get in and around the first team squad.

“Having an FA Youth Cup run like this is always going to be positive for that, but now it is going to be down to them: learn, move on, and push on in their young football careers.

“We have to be proud of these moments and celebrate these moments, but also move on to what is next for all of our under-18s.”

Gavin Gunning added that he was also looking to give these players the opportunity to make their mark on their first team now that their run has come to an end, but he would not be handing out appearances lightly.

He said: “It has been very tough [to get them into the first team], the first week was fine and everybody that had played in the Youth Cup trained with the first team, but it has been hard since because they have had so many games to catch up on and then the Youth Cup again, so it has been manic.

“Once this is finished, whatever happens, they will be getting integrated into the first team and we will be training more together.

“The younger lads will be coming with us to get used to it, but no one is going to play unless they deserve it and I feel they are ready.

“But it will be good for those lads to learn properly and actually integrate them all, not just one or two and show that this is the standard you have got to get to.”