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Foyle Cup adds extra categories for this year’s event

Thursday, 19 January 2012

THE 2012 Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup will be held in Derry City, Strabane and Limavady council areas from July 16 to July 21 and the organisers, the Derry and District Youth FA, are once again expecting a bumper entry, such has been the growth of interest in the event.
The event has increased the number of entry levels with the addition of under-13, under-15 and ladies categories this year.
Tournament organiser, Michael Hutton, in expressing his delight at the committee's decision to expand the categories, explained: "Each year the teams which enter the Foyle Cup have such a great experience that they express a wish that they could return each year to the event, and with us organising competitions from every age category from 10 to 16 inclusive, this is now possible.
“We have been asked over the years as well to acknowledge the growth of interest in ladies football and include a ladies category in our event and I am delighted to announce that a ladies event is included in our schedule this year."
The Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup tournament had its humble beginnings as part of Derry City Council's Impact '92 programme when eight teams participated in a one day, eight team event. 2011 witnessed an entry of 133 teams competing in a six day festival of football.
Each year as the number of teams entered has increased so, too, has the quality of entry. Top Irish clubs, Linfield, Glentoran, Coleraine, Crusaders, Glenavon, Portadown, Ballymena Utd, Derry City, Institute, Lisburn Distillery, Dungannon, Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Finn Harps have all done battle with the best that English, Scottish and European clubs could offer.
High quality
Tournament chairman, Michael Hutton, in acknowledging the growth of the tournament expressed his delight that the event is still not only attracting a high quality of entry, but an ever increasing entry of teams.
“When one thinks about the result the recession is having on spending power not just throughout Ireland and the UK but globally, it is remarkable to note that last year we had our highest ever entry of teams, he said.
“We would like to maintain this high level of entries and hope to reach our peak to coincide with our City of Culture year in 2013."
Mr Hutton continued: "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 France, 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 Airtricity 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.
“In addition to attracting teams from our Irish professional clubs, more and more leagues, north and south are entering representative teams. The standard of entry from Irish shores is certainly rising as evidenced by results over the past few years."
The event, over the years, has been supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Derry City Council, Department for Social Development, Limavady Borough Council, Strabane District Council and Derry Credit Union.
Teams considering entering this year's event are asked to make contact with the organisers immediately. For more details regarding this year's event or to download an entry form before the closing date of January 31, visit the tournament website www.foylecup.com or telephone 02871359734.

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