CLARET and blues legend Gordon Cowans has drummed into Villa’s youngsters the importance of beating Birmingham City ever since they first kicked a ball for the club.

Cowans will have a major part to play in preparing Gerard Houllier’s players for Sunday’s Second City showdown at St Andrew’s in his current role as first-team coach.

But Ciaran Clark has revealed that ‘Sid’ has always preached about maintaining Villa’s supremacy over Blues to kids coming through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath.

Before being promoted to his job with the senior squad in October, Cowans was responsible for passing on his expertise to teenagers progressing in the academy.

And Clark recalls the European Cup-winning legend warning schoolboy Villa sides of the local pride at stake whenever they played against their Brum neighbours.

Asked if he appreciates the intensity of the rivalry between both halves of the city, Clark replied: “Yes, you feel that as a player. To get one over your rivals is a massive buzz. Even when we came through the ranks we played Blues at under-11s and u12s and it always used to be a massive game.

“It was always the same. Gordon Cowans used to take us at U16s level and it was the exactly same as it is now.

“It’s a massive game and everyone looks forward to it.