Football fans suffering withdrawal symptoms after the World Cup in Brazil in July will quickly find a cure when Northern Ireland’s own world cup in the guise of the DALE FARM MILK CUP kicks off in the North West on Monday 28th July.
Fifty six teams from the world’s leading professional clubs, famous football academies and National Associations from all five Continents descend on the five local authorities of Coleraine, Ballymena, Limavady, Ballymoney and Derry City to battle it out over five days hoping to end the week as Dale Farm Milk Cup champions in the Elite (under 19), Premier (under 17) and Junior (under 15) sections.
Manchester United commence the defence of their Milk Cup crown in the Premier Section against leading youth team, Gold Coast Academy from Australia at Coleraine Showgrounds on Monday followed on Tuesday with their game against Co Armagh at Riada Stadium in Ballymoney. United’s third qualifying game against CSKA Moscow, will be played at the Brandywell Stadium in Derry on Wednesday 30th July with a 7pm kick off. This is the first year in its thirty-two year history that the Milk Cup will have games at Derry City FC’s home venue.
Newcastle United, Benfica, Espanyol, Chertanovo Football Academy from Moscow, Lusaka Football Academy from Zambia, Orange County Blues from California, Bohemian FC and Cherry Orchard from Dublin as well as the six County teams from Northern Ireland are among the other teams involved in the search for the champions crown during the week.
In the Junior Section, present holders, Everton will play Middlesbrough on Monday at Castlerock, crack Brazilian side, Corinthians at Anderson Park on Tuesday and finish their qualifying games against Co Fermanagh on Wednesday at Ballymena Showgrounds.
County Antrim losing finalists to Everton last year open their fixtures against winners of the Chile Dale Farm Milk Cup, Santa Marta de Liray at The Warren Portstewart, at noon on Monday followed on Tuesday with a game against Co Londonderry at Riada Stadium, Ballymoney, kick off 1:30; Antrim’s opponents on Wednesday will be Swindon Town at Anderson Park, Coleraine at noon.
One of the most eye-catching games in the Junior Section is Liverpool against Rangers, which takes place on Tuesday at Ballymena Showgrounds with an 8pm kick off. Liverpool’s first opponents on Monday are Sheffield United at Scroggy Road, Limavady with a 7pm kick off while Rangers opponents on Monday are Co Armagh, being played at the Riverside Stadium, Drumahoe. Wednesday sees Rangers playing O’Higgins from Chile at 3:30 at Riada Stadium, Ballymoney while Liverpool’s opponents are Co Armagh also at 3:30 at Coleraine Showgrounds.
Tournament organisers have finalised all the fixtures for the opening three days of the event at Elite, Premier and Junior levels. They can now be accessed by logging onto the website at www.dalefarmmilkcup.com
The Dale Farm Milk Cup begins with the traditional parade of competing teams through Coleraine on Sunday, July 27, concluding with finals night at Ballymena Showgrounds on Friday, August 1.
In addition to title sponsors Dale Farm, Northern Ireland’s largest dairy company, the Dale Farm Milk Cup is supported by the five Council areas of Coleraine, Ballymena, Ballymoney and Limavady Borough Councils and Derry City Council, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, apparel sponsors Legea,The Sun newspaper and Dawson Whyte Insurance with BBC Sport NI as broadcast partners.
ENDS
Note for editors:
Dale Farm is part of the United Dairy Farmers Group, a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1,600 dairy farmers who supply it with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.
DFMC 2014 JUNIOR SECTION
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DFMC 2014 PREMIER SECTION
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DFMC 2014 ELITE SECTION
Please note the first three games will be played on Monday 28th July, Tuesday 29th July and Wednesday 30th July and points will be awarded, 3 points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a defeat.
After Wednesday’s games the 28 teams in the Junior Section will be placed in order 1 to 28 according to the points gained from their three games. In the event of teams being level on a number of points, additional criteria will be used to confirm their finishing positions.
Teams placed 1 to 4 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup
Teams placed 5 to 8 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Globe
Teams placed 9 to 12 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Vase
Teams placed 13 to 16 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Bowl
Teams placed 17 to 20 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Salver
Teams placed 21 to 24 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Shield
Teams placed 25 to 28 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Medallion
Semi finals will be played on Thursday 31st July, teams defeated on Thursday will play place games on Friday 1st August and of course the Finals of the seven levels of competition named above will also be played on Friday 1st August.
After Wednesday’s games the 24 teams in the Premier Section will be placed in order 1 to 24 according to the points gained from their three games. In the event of teams being level on a number of points additional criteria will be used to confirm their finishing positions.
Teams placed 1 to 4 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup
Teams placed 5 to 8 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Globe
Teams placed 9 to 12 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Vase
Teams placed 13 to 16 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Bowl
Teams placed 17 to 20 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Salver
Teams placed 21 to 24 will play in the semi finals of the Dale Farm Milk Cup Shield
The semi finals will be played on Thursday 31st July, teams defeated on Thursday will play place games on Friday 1st August and of course the Finals of the six levels of competition named above will also be played on Friday 1st August.
We hope the above detail gives you some more information about the way the tournament proceeds during the week.
Multi-Match Ticktets for tournament games are now available for order online. Priced £25 for adults and £10 for youth (under 16) the tickets grant admission to all games including the finals!