Stars return for Foyle Cup

Duffy returns to the Foyle Cup having won the competition as captain of the D&D team two years ago and McCourt who competed over ten years ago with the D&D, will also be in attendance.

The Foyle Cup will be held in Londonderry, Strabane and Limavady Council areas from July 19 to July 24 and will witness the largest ever entry of 144 teams from all over the world. Five teams from the USA and Canada will be competing.

Duffy made his senior debut for Everton less than two years after playing in the competition and has even played in European competition for the Premier League side.

Paddy McCourt has gone on to play for Celtic FC and was even given the 'goal of the season' award by Sky Sports, beating entries from players such as Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. Speculation has mounted over his future, with many predicting a move to the English Premier League.

Michael Hutton, Tournament Organiser is not surprised by the continued growth in the event: "I know that after the wonderful experience visiting teams have during their stay in Derry each year, they leave determined to return. The Foyle Cup standards are exceptionally high and teams comment on how efficiently everything runs and how good the playing surfaces are."

Former Foyle Cup guest of honour and Celtic manager, Neil Lennon will be entering a team and recognizes the competition as one of the best managed tournaments in Europe.

The tournament had its humble beginnings as part of Derry City Council's Impact '92 programme when 8 teams participated in a one day, eight team event.

The event is proving ever more popular to Irish professional clubs as more and more effort in being placed in the production of young players through youth academies. Irish clubs such as Linfield, Glentoran, Coleraine, Crusaders, Glenavon, Portadown, Ballymena Utd, Derry City, Institute, Lisburn Distillery, Dungannon, Ards and Finn Harps will do battle with the best that English, Scottish and European clubs can offer.

Tournament Chairman, Michael Hutton acknowledged the growth of the tournament and expressed his delight that the event is not only attracting a high quality of entrants but an ever increasing entry of Irish pro club teams: "Each year, the international appeal of the Foyle Cup is witnessed more and more as teams from far and beyond British shores travel to Derry to compete in the event - teams from England, Scotland, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Canada and America have competed over the years.

"Whilst this interest is immensely important and pleasing, what is even more pleasing about the growth of the Foyle Cup is that more and more of our Senior Irish league and Eircom league clubs recognise the opportunity being afforded them to prepare young players from their club to compete against top class opposition. These players are not simply being assembled to play in a tournament but are reaping the benefits of many years of involvement and preparation put in by their coaches at their Senior clubs.

"One only has to look at the young team Derry City is fielding in the Eircom League - all of whom came through the Derry and District Youth FA Foyle Cup teams."

Organising an event of this stature requires increased finance and Mr Hutton appealed for more support locally: "With cut backs in government sponsorship, more local sponsorship is needed if the event is to continue in its present form. We are very much appealing to local companies to get behind the 2010 event by sponsoring an age group, match balls or player of the tournament.

"We are grateful for the support afforded the event over the years by Derry City Council, Department for Social Development, DCAL / NITB, Limavady Borough Council, Strabane District Council, Tesco, Firmus Energy and Derry Credit Union."

More details regarding this year's event can be viewed on tournament website www.foylecup.com or Telephone 71359734