New manager for Co Down Milk Cup squad

The County Down Milk Cup Premier squad has a new manager.

John Bailie – who has been in charge of the Junior team since 2009 – replaces Donald Malomo-Paris who has been forced to step down due to work commitments.

Bailie, who also manages Northern Amateur Premier Division side Comber Rec, is relishing the challenge.

“Having been the Junior manager over the last two years, I have been able to watch most of the Premier games,” he said.

“Many of the boys who gave a good account of themselves two years ago at under-15 level, will now come into the reckoning for the 2011 competition.”

He went on to pay tribute to the sterling efforts of the previous manager - Donald Malomo-Paris. “Donald deserves a lot of credit for what he has achieved over the last few years in ensuring that his squads were very well organised and competitive, achieving a number of notable results in the process. I aim to continue his good work and to have a squad of players determined to do County Down proud once again.”

The new man at the helm of the Premier team wasted no time in getting the process of picking the finest players for the 2011 Northern Ireland Milk Cup underway.

“I hope to have a preliminary squad of thirty players in place by the end of March. The boys will have training sessions during April. Following this, a final trial match will take place in May to select 23 players for the provisional squad that will go to a pre-tournament weekend in Dublin,” Bailie added.

If you are a coach or parent and you know of an under-17 player who has the ability to represent County Down at the world-renowned Milk Cup tournament, which takes place from 24 July to 29 July 2011, make sure to contact one of the trial co-ordinators with details of name, date of birth, contact number, position played and club/school.

To be eligible for the County Down Premier squad, players must be born on or after 1 January 1994. Furthermore, parents or guardians of players must currently live at an address in County Down.

Soth Down trial co-ordinators are Peter Houston (07867 767787) and Damian McCorry (07740 909603).

Once the Zones have selected their respective panels they will play off against each other in front of the management team for the selection of the training squad of 30 players.

Selection for the Junior (under-15) team will remain as it was, meaning trials will begin at Easter. Details for these trials and the new Junior managerial appointment will be published in the coming weeks.

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