More details regarding this year’s event can be viewed at www. foylecup.com, or by calling the tournament office at Foyle Arena, Limavady Road, on 02871376555
THE 2018 O’Neills Foyle Cup kicks off today with the biggest ever entry seeing over 400 teams competing in venues across the north west with games in Derry, Strabane, Limavady, Eglinton, Greysteel and Coleraine as well as cross-border in Lifford, Killea, Buncrana, Moville, Greencastle, Burt and Carndonagh.
Over the next six days there will be more matches played than in the equivalent of four Premier League seasons, with approximately 1,500 games in total.
Commenting on the huge increase in participants this year, Foyle Cup chairman Michael Hutton said: “To think that we witnessed an entry of 164 teams in our City of Culture year in 2013 which we thought would not be surpassed and to have an entry of 400 teams this year is just incredible.
“The fact that 16 teams are travelling from America — plus teams from Africa, Sweden, France, Finland, England, Scotland and from all over Ireland — is a credit to those involved in organising the event and those involved in tourism who cater so well for all of our visitors.”
What started off as a one-day eight-team tournament in 1992 has now developed into a truly wonderful international festival of football in the north west.
Stressing what the competition brings not only to the city but the whole north west in general, the cup organiser stressed: “It is great to witness all the events that have taken place in recent years and the Foyle Cup ranks up there with them all — it is probably the biggest event in terms of bed-night numbers occupied.
“It is an event where we profile what is best about our city, its people, its youth, its hotels, its leisure facilities, its welcome to visitors.
“I have always maintained that as a city we have nothing to learn about welcoming visitors — it is part of our natural behaviour.”
He also emphasised: “Whilst the O’Neills Foyle Cup has been a passport into professional football for the likes of Robbie Keane, Stephen Ireland, John O’Shea, Kevin Kilbane — indeed many of our current Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland international teams have played in the tournament — we in the Derry and District Youth FA are delighted that our event has been a means into professional football for so many of our local players developed through the association such as Darron Gibson, James McClean, Paddy McCourt, Dean Shields, Daniel Lafferty, Shane Duffy, Micheal Kennedy, Shane Ferguson, Shay Given and Seamus Coleman to name but a few.”
In conclusion Mr Hutton commented on the high standard of entry in this year’s even.
“Many of the clubs featuring at youth level are also competing in Europe in the Champions League or Europa League.
“We talk about the ‘healing process’ or the Way Forward Mission to launch: Shane Duffy joins John Murphy of O’Neills at the launch of the 2018 O’Neills Foyle Cup, while (right) Oliver Plunkett celebrate after their victory in last year’s under-16 final
Document in Northern Ireland — I think this can best be achieved through our young people and sporting events like the Foyle Cup tournament are a means for delivering such objectives.
Excited and delighted about their first year of sponsoring the
event, Kieran Kennedy, managing director of O’Neills Irish International Sportswear stated: “O’Neills is proud to be the title sponsor of the O’Neills Foyle Cup, it is a major opportunity for young footballers to compete against players from all over the
world, make friends and showcase their skills.”