Boys’ Minor

Top class entry confirmed for Minor Section

Jan 8, 2024
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3 min read
Friday 28th July 2023 Supercup NI 2023 Minor Supercup final Celtic v Dungannon at Coleraine showgrounds Celtic boys celebrate winning this years Minor Supercup Mandatory Credit :Stephen Hamilton /Presseye

With just under 200 days until the first ball is kicked at SuperCupNI 2024, entrants for the highly popular Minor section have been confirmed.

The Minor section, which was first launched in 2018, is an U13 tournament which provides some of Northern Ireland’s best with a chance to take on teams from across the globe.

Friday 28th July 2023 Supercup NI 2023 Minor Supercup final Celtic v Dungannon at Coleraine showgrounds Celtic boys celebrate winning this years Minor Supercup Mandatory Credit :Stephen Hamilton /Presseye
Celtic boys celebrate winning the 2023 SuperCupNI Minor Section

Among the 2024 entrants are defending champions Celtic FC, who defeated Dungannon United Youth in the final last summer, thus securing their first ever win at the competition. The Glasgow giants are joined by fellow SPL outfits Kilmarnock FC and tournament debutants Ross County from the Highlands.

They are joined by English sides Stevenage FC and Plymouth Argyle, who will hope to etch their name on the trophy come the end of July. Both teams competed in the Junior tournament last summer and have made the decision to compete in the Minor section this summer.

Three crack outfits from North America will also hope to make their mark in the Minor tournament, with IDA Bermuda and Surf Select returning, while there is a debut in the Minor section for USSSA Select.

Northern Ireland is represented by eight of the top performing National Youth League sides. 2019 winners Glentoran are among a four strong entry from Belfast which includes Linfield, Crusaders and Cliftonville.

Sunday 23rd July 2023 Supercup NI 2023 Welcoming Parade & Ceremony in Coleraine town centre, Co Antrim followed by opening ceremony at the Showgrounds. Mandatory Credit : Stephen Hamilton/Presseye News release Issued on behalf of SuperCupNI SUPERCUPNI KICKS OFF 40th ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL STARS OF THE FUTURE TAKING PART IN SPECTACULAR PARADE 64 teams; 1500 players & coaches from 11 countries playing 150 games in 19 venues expected to generate millions for local economy The 40th Anniversary Opening Parade and Ceremony for SuperCupNI SuperCup NI, one of the most prestigious international youth football tournaments, kicked off in style with several thousand locals and tourists lining the streets of Coleraine and filling the stands at The Showgrounds to give the 64 teams taking part in this illustrious youth football tournament a welcome they will never forget. Clubs playing this year include four elite teams Manchester United, Liverpool, Valencia and Hertha Berlin as well as top teams from Mexico, Japan, the US, Bermuda, England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Irish League academy sides as well as six County select teams. Steven Davis, Northern Ireland Captain, most capped British player, and current midfielder with Glasgow Rangers, led the parade from Coleraine Town Hall to The Showgrounds where 1500 players and their support teams gathered to celebrate the start of a week of top-notch football when stars of the future will pit their skills against each other in 150 matches across 19 venues. However, SuperCupNI is more than just a football tournament. The economic impact across the three council areas hosting the matches is significant with research undertaken by the organisers after the 2022 event reporting that around 65,500 people attended spending an estimated £7,400,000 over the week. An impressive £4,116,166 was spent on accommodation alone, with 29% of visitors coming from outside Northern Ireland and 70% o
English side Stevenage pictured at the 2023 SuperCupNI Welcoming Parade and Ceremony

County Armagh duo Loughgall Youth and Glenavon FC will have their sights set on impressing later on this summer and Coleraine FC and Ballymena United will no doubt receive good backing on the sidelines in front of home crowds.

SuperCupNI chairperson Victor Leonard said everyone associated with the tournament was delighted with the high calibre of teams signed up for 2024.

“When we launched the Minor section in 2018 it was our intention to provide some of the best Northern Irish teams with a chance to compete against some of the best academies from England and Scotland and from across the world.

“We were inundated with enquiries from the moment we opened our entries, and we believe this is one of the strongest line-ups we have gathered since the tournament began in 2018.

Sunday 23rd July 2023 Supercup NI 2023 Welcoming Parade & Ceremony in Coleraine town centre, Co Antrim followed by opening ceremony at the Showgrounds. Mandatory Credit : Cameron Hamilton/Presseye News release Issued on behalf of SuperCupNI SUPERCUPNI KICKS OFF 40th ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL STARS OF THE FUTURE TAKING PART IN SPECTACULAR PARADE 64 teams; 1500 players & coaches from 11 countries playing 150 games in 19 venues expected to generate millions for local economy The 40th Anniversary Opening Parade and Ceremony for SuperCupNI SuperCup NI, one of the most prestigious international youth football tournaments, kicked off in style with several thousand locals and tourists lining the streets of Coleraine and filling the stands at The Showgrounds to give the 64 teams taking part in this illustrious youth football tournament a welcome they will never forget. Clubs playing this year include four elite teams Manchester United, Liverpool, Valencia and Hertha Berlin as well as top teams from Mexico, Japan, the US, Bermuda, England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Irish League academy sides as well as six County select teams. Steven Davis, Northern Ireland Captain, most capped British player, and current midfielder with Glasgow Rangers, led the parade from Coleraine Town Hall to The Showgrounds where 1500 players and their support teams gathered to celebrate the start of a week of top-notch football when stars of the future will pit their skills against each other in 150 matches across 19 venues. However, SuperCupNI is more than just a football tournament. The economic impact across the three council areas hosting the matches is significant with research undertaken by the organisers after the 2022 event reporting that around 65,500 people attended spending an estimated £7,400,000 over the week. An impressive £4,116,166 was spent on accommodation alone, with 29% of visitors coming from outside Northern Ireland and 70% o
Local side Coleraine FC at the SuperCupNI 2023 Welcoming Parade and Ceremony

“The 2023 tournament was one of the best attended in recent years and we know that from the feedback we received from the teams last summer that they were impressed with the quality of pitches, the quality of opponents and for our visitors from outside of NI they were overwhelmed with the warm welcome they received.”

The 2024 tournament will take place from 21st to 26th July, with the traditional parade and opening ceremony kicking off proceedings on 21st July and the tournament will close with finals day on Friday 26th July.