Hutton thrilled by succcessful Foyle Cup

However speaking during finals day at the Brandywell, on Saturday, Hutton was thrilled by how the tournament turned out.

"It has been a superb week, we had apprehension because we had 144 teams but to be honest everybody I have spoken to have told me this has been their World Cup," he said.

"The kids have loved it, the parents have enjoyed it even more than the kids, as parents do whenever they see their kids smiling and enjoying themselves.

"The standard of football has been superb and to be honest it couldn't have went any better."

Hutton also conceded that a couple of years ago he and his fellow organisers took a chance by introducing the Under 18/19 section, but he feels that age group has been a massive success particularly for senior clubs throughout the country.

"We took a gamble a few years ago with the Under 18/19 tournament and this year I have concentrated in that section mostly in the evening, because you have less to do in the evenings, but the standard of football in that has been brilliant.

"Because of that it has to serve Irish football immensely well, I mean Institute must get most of their team next year from their Under 19 side and you look at the Derry City team, there is five playing Under 19 who could have been in his squad against Salthill Devon, so as I have said it has to be really great for Irish football."

Once again this year the spectators have come out in their hundreds to watch the Foyle Cup, something which hasn't gone unnoticed by the chairman.

"The town has been absolutely buzzing, even the rain on Wednesday didn't put the crowds off and no one was in bad form about getting soaked, the spirit in which this competition has taken place has been unbelievable.

"We are a welcoming city and we treat people well and we are a hospitable city and that is what the Foyle Cup message has always been about and if we keep putting that message out then we don't need titles, we just need events and the more events we have in this city to profile our city, the better it will be for all concerned.

"The hotel and catering industry has been first class again; I have been to the hotels this week with the kids and to be honest they are treated like professional footballers and that's an unbelievable experience for them.

"But I have to say that it takes so many people working together behind the scenes to make this all happen," concluded Hutton.

On the field there was local success for the NW Coleraine Youth League, which featured a number of children from the city in their squad, which defeated Linfield in the Under 12 final, thanks to goals from Caolin O'Donnell and Gareth Doherty.

In the Under 16 section NECSL surprisingly defeated English Championship kingpins QPR, while Celtic defeated Hearts after penalties in the Under 14 final.

On Friday night cup holders Derry City lost 1-0 to neighbours Finn Harps in the Under 19 final, while Hearts lifted the Under 11 section and Ballinamallard claimed the Under 10 category.