Ballymena has key role in Milk Cup - tournament chiefs

That is the message of the tournament organisers, who have underlined the importance of the Ballymena area to the overall success of the world-famous youth football tournament.

Ballymena Showgrounds will host the showpiece of the week-long competition - the prestigious finals night - for the first time this year due to ongoing problems at the long-term venue of Coleraine Showgrounds.

"Ballymena is as essential a part in the overall package of the Milk Cup as Coleraine, Ballymoney and Limavady, our other supporting Council areas," explains Milk Cup chairman Victor Leonard.

"I can understand the frustration of people in Coleraine at seeing the finals go to, of all places, Ballymena, in a football sense their traditional rivals but the MIlk Cup is not about Coleraine Football Club or Ballymena United Football Club - it is about all the areas in which games are played.

"Ballymena has certainly embraced the Milk Cup in the number of years since it became a venue and we always hear fantastic reports from teams who have played in or stayed in Ballymena about the reception they have received.

"That is equally true in Broughshane, which is one of the best attended council pitches in all four areas," added Victor.

The indications are that the issues in Coleraine are unlikely to be adequately addressed in the short-term, meaning that the finals are likely to stay in Ballymena beyond this year, with officials pouring cold water on whispers that it might eventually move to Belfast, with Victor insisting that is "not part of our thinking".

The Milk Cup kicks off on Monday 26th July at 12.00pm in Broughshane with Swindon Town playing Cruz Azul. With Broughshane mainly involved in hosting Junior matches, the Quarter Finals and Play-Offs from the Premier Section will bring added interest on Wednesday and Thursday. The main matches at Broughshane will be held on Friday 30th July where teams will compete in the Slemish Trophy Final, which is followed by the Dunluce Trophy Final.

Over at the Ballymena Showgrounds, all eyes will be on the opening match as a full crowd is expected for the showpiece between Manchester United and Co Tyrone in the Premier Section at 6.00pm on Monday 26th July. The Elite section follows the Manchester United match at 8.00pm where the U.S.A. takes on the newcomers of China. Both Monday night games are due to be broadcast live, Manchester United's game on MUTV and China's game being broadcast live to the People's Republic of China with the potential to enhance the Milk Cup reputation in the Far East.

The big games don't just stop there! On Tuesday, the Showgrounds plays host to the Co Antrim squad who, on home soil, take on South Coast Bayern from the U.S.A. On Wednesday, the Showgrounds facilitates Mexico and Japan in the Elite Section and a Quarter Final in the Premier Section.

If the prospect of Manchester United, USA, China, Mexico, Japan and Co Antrim all playing at the Showgrounds hasn’t made you think about coming down and supporting your favourite or local teams then there is surely going to be another three massive matches on Friday 30th July at 4.00pm, 6.00pm and 8.15pm where the final’s of the Junior, Elite and Premier Section take place.

In total, four Premier matches, three Elite matches and one Junior match will be held at the Ballymena Showgrounds and to round off the week in Ballymena, the Milk Cup Finals.

This year, Ballymena Showgrounds will also have the finals broadcast live on Friday 30th July - another great opportunity for Ballymena to be showcased on the world stage.

This year's Milk Cup will be officially opened in Coleraine this Sunday evening by US Open golf champion Graeme McDowell, followed by the traditional parade through the town's streets.

After a start like that, Ballymena will have a tough act to follow when it comes to finals night, but expect our borough to come up trumps once again.