Newcastle are the latest addition to Super Cup

THE Sligo Super Cup is set for its best ever line-up next year as, for the first time, two English Premier League clubs take their place among an illustrious list of entrants.

The latest and final addition to the elite tournament which will be staged at Sligo Showgrounds next April is the famed Newcastle United, who join fellow Premier League outfit, Southampton for what promises to be a feast of youth football.

Newcastle are rightly regarded as one of the top academies in British football.

It is their stated aim to ultimately develop top players who will represent the club’s first team.

The success of that philosophy is reflected in a highly impressive list of academy graduates, going back to the likes of earlier superstars such as Peter Beardsley, Chris Waddle and Paul Gascoigne to more recent household names like Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi and Tim Krul, and current first team players, Matty and Sean Longstaff.

Now, the club’s youngest crop of future stars is to grace the Sligo Super Cup, which has showcased many wonderfully gifted young footballers since its inception three years ago.

The 2020 line-up is unquestionably the best ever.

Alongside Southampton and Newcastle, under-12 teams from Derby County, Aberdeen, Linfield, Dublin District Schoolboys League, Mayo League and hosts, Sligo/Leitrim League, will compete for the coveted title from April 24th/26th next.

Since its first outing in 2017, the Sligo Super Cup has grown to become one of the top tournaments in the country’s youth football calendar, regularly attracting top class teams from across Ireland and the UK.

It not only raises the area’s profile in terms of its ability to host international events of this calibre, but it is increasingly becoming a significant player in the tourism market.

It’s estimated that the tournament now generates 1,000 bednights in local accommodation and a spend in the local economy of over 0.3million euro.

“When you consider we started three years ago with little more than a logo, the progress has been quite remarkable,” maintains Tournament Director, Packie Lynch.

“We now have a brand which has become so highly regarded that we are able to attract top English Premier League teams.

“This growth is the result of our own hard work but also due to the magnificent support of the local football community and an ever-increasing list of generous sponsors.

“However, the inclusion of higher grade teams comes at a cost, and we are continuously seeking new avenues of revenue. We have had a terrific response from the local business community so far and our fund-raising efforts will intensify over the coming months,” he reveals.

There are a number of sponsorship packages available for the 2020 tournament. Full details are available from packielynch@ yahoo.co.uk