ONE team is the Manchester United of women's football, the other is a group of youngsters, some of who are fresh out of school.

Yet in true FA Cup style, they will meet in a match at East Durham and Houghall Community College's Howletch site, in Peterlee, County Durham.

In a match equivalent to Saturday's FA Cup game between Premiership leaders Arsenal and semi-professionals Farnborough, Fulham will play East Durham Ladies.

Despite entering the competition for the first time this year, East Durham, part of the National Women's Football Academy, has sailed through two qualifying rounds and four mainstream rounds to reach the quarter- finals.

Player-coach Gill Coultard, a former player with Doncaster Belles and ex-captain of the England, said she was delighted they had come this far.

"From day one, we set out to go at least to January, and we entered the competition as a learning experience," she said.

"Now, we've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

"The pressure is not going to be on my team, we're just going to enjoy the game."

As the country's only professional women's team, Fulham are funded by Mohammed Al Fayed and have players from as far afield as Norway.

Ms Coultard acknowledged that the East Durham team, whose players are mostly in their teens, had a tough battle on their hands.

"There's a massive difference between us and Fulham," she said.

"We are top of the Northern Women's Football League, but Fulham are top of the National Women's Premier League.

"I would imagine that on the fitness side, we are probably a bit behind, but we do train every day."

As well as providing football training, the National Women's Football Academy, at East Durham and Houghall Community College, runs academic courses for its students, aged 16 to 19.

Ms Coultard said: "We are just one big happy family, that's how we have got here.

"Win or lose, the team has done the college proud."

East Durham and Houghall Community College principal, Ian Prescott, said: "The region is very proud of its football heritage and we believe we are contributing to it in a phenomenal way."