Organisers back Ballymena to be Milk Cup success

The borough will host the pinnacle of the week-long youth football event for the first time due to ongoing problems with the long-term venue of Coleraine Showgrounds on finals night.

Milk Cup officials were in Ballymena this week to outline their plans for the biggest night of the showpiece tournament, which will be held at the Warden Street Showgrounds on Friday, July 30.

“Ballymena ticks a number of boxes for us for finals night,” said chairman Victor Leonard, who is all to aware of the furore caused by taking the finals away from their traditional home since the tournament began.

“Our first priority is for the teams and the changing facilities and the access to a warm-up pitch from the changing rooms is excellent. There are three finals on the night and Ballymena is comfortably able to provide six top-class changing rooms.

“These are professional clubs with players who, in a few years’ time, aspire to be first team players, so the days of sitting in ‘hen sheds’ to change are long gone.

“As well as that, the facilities for spectators, in terms of seating and toilets, and also facilities for hospitality are second to none.

“It’s unfortunate that the work on the Warden Street stand is still ongoing but by bringing in extra seating, we’re hoping to provide space for around 3,800-4,000 on finals night.”

Meanwhile, the price-busting Multi Match Ticket is again a winner at the Milk Cup this year.

Adult tickets cost 22, with a youth ticket coming in at 11

The Multi Match Ticket is a great money saving way to enjoy the Milk Cup. It means that at Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Limavady Showgrounds, plus the venues at Joey Dunlop Centre in Ballymoney and Mullaghacall in Portstewart, ticket holders can enjoy as many games as they wish, in addition to the other venues across four council areas where there is no fixed charge PLUS take in all THREE Milk Cup finals on July 30.

They are on sale locally at Ballymena Tourist Information; Ballymena Borough Council, Warden Street offices; Seven Towers Leisure Centre and official Milk Cup programmes are also available from the same outlets, priced at 6.