The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier

Nantwich Town have brought forward their reunion with Manchester United at the Weaver Stadium to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of their record-breaking 23-0 victory over the Dabbers in the FA Youth Cup.

Jimmy Quinn's side are now due to take on United’s academy stars in a prestigious commemorative friendly on Tuesday 25 September after Nantwich announced last night [Tuesday] that it was bring brought forward after a new date was agreed to help the Premiership club avoid a League Cup clash.

While Monday night's news was being announced Quinn was lining up in a Northern Ireland side to play a QPR Select XI to honour Alan McDonald who died this summer aged 48. 'Big Mac' was adored in the green jersey of his country and also by Queens Park Rangers fans who saw him make over 400 appearances. The match, which ended in a 3-2 victory for a QPR side including Les Ferdinand, officially launched the Alan McDonald Trust.

The upcoming friendly with United is being staged to mark their record breaking win in the inaugural season of the FA Youth Cup when a young Duncan Edwards inspired the Busby Babes. Edwards had just turned 16 but he netted five times on an historic evening at United’s Broughton training ground, The Cliff.

David Pegg and John Doherty also scored five times in a line-up that included Albert Scanlon and Ronnie Cope – names that were to become Old Trafford legends.

Centre-half Cope went on to play for Nantwich in the twilight of his career and now, aged 77, will be a guest of honour for the match. And his counterpart, Frank Stubbs, the Nantwich number 10 who came up against him on that wet November night will also be a guest of honour as the pair meet up again 60 years on.

Nantwich Chairman Jon Gold said the Dabbers see the switch as a positive move as even more fans will now be able to make the midweek trip to the Weaver Stadium.

"Bringing the game forward by 24 hours means there will not be a clash with United’s first team game against Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup. Hopefully, as many United fans as possible will now be able to come along," he said.

"It will be a great opportunity to see their Academy stars of the future and, who knows, there could even be another Duncan Edwards in the making.

"Everyone at Nantwich Town is delighted that Manchester United are sending a side to mark the occasion. That FA Youth Cup match 60 years ago lives on in football folklore.

"Duncan Edwards was a magical footballer and he clearly led Nantwich a merry dance all those years ago. It is great that we can commemorate the match and give the people of South Cheshire a chance to see United’s rising Academy stars of the future."

Admission to the match which kicks off at 7.30pm is £9 adults, £6 concessions and £2 for children.