Academy manager Tony Daws provided his reaction to iFollow Iron after Scunthorpe's Under-18's side battled Manchester United all the way at Old Trafford on Monday night, being edged out 4-2 in the FA Youth Cup third round.
Harry Lewis and Josh Robertson got the Iron's goals on a night to remember for all involved against some of the world's elite players in their age category.
Daws said: "I'm really proud of the boys, they've had a right go going to one of the biggest clubs in the world and we've acquitted ourselves pretty well. I have nothing but praise for the lads.
"Manchester United have a fantastic academy with some fantastic players and staff, but our lads have come and given it a real go. We've not been disgraced in any way, stayed in the game and came away with our heads held high.
"It was fantastic for them to score at Old Trafford, and I thought we could have had another couple of opportunities as well where I felt at times the referee didn't give us free-kicks when we perhaps could have got them, but while we're disappointed we've lost the game we're really pleased with what the lads have done.
"They'll remember this game for the rest of their lives. There are professional footballers who play 500+ games who don't get this opportunity. It's a fantastic stadium, a brilliant football club and it is an experience our boys will never forget."
Lewis, who scored his side's first goal to pull it back to 2-1 late in the first-half, added: "You see it on TV, but to experience it and to score here was unbelievable. To go from App-Frod to scoring at Old Trafford was a bit unreal.
"It was a good shift from the lads, and everyone was tired at the end because of the size of the pitch and the quality we were playing against. It's unfortunate about the result but we move on."
Meanwhile, Robertson netted in the second half to pull it back to 4-2 and said: "It was a brilliant experience and I'm struggling to put it into words (about scoring), I really really can't.
"We work on set-pieces every week before a game and it worked wonders there, leading to a goal.
"I thought in the first half we played well and had chances to score, but when they came forward they were so quick with their play."
See much more from Tony Daws, Harry Lewis and Josh Robertson on iFollow Iron.