Foyle Cup kicks off with Londonderry city centre parade

Thousands of young footballers from across the world have paraded through Londonderry to mark the start of the O’Neill’s Foyle Cup.

Almost 1,000 teams – some 20,000 players – will be competing for footballing glory over the next six days across the north west.

The competition, now in its 33rd year, has previously featured James McLean, Shay Given, Robbie Keane and John O’Shea as youth players.

Tournament organiser Philip Devlin said the tournament had become one of the key events on the city’s calendar.

“The work that goes on in the background is immense,” he told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, adding every year’s tournament is a year in the planning.

He said Monday’s opening parade was a special way to get the tournament under way.

“It really does the heart good,” he said.

“We used to have it on the Tuesday but moved it to Monday as we felt it really gears the kids up for the week ahead.

Clubs from north America, Europe, Australia as well as the UK and Ireland are taking part in this year’s tournament.

Referees have also arrived from across the globe.

“It is massive for not only the players but for officials as well,” he said.

The young footballers will play around 3,700 matches on pitches across counties Londonderry, Tyrone, and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

“If you live close to a pitch there will be a game there, there are games everywhere,” Mr Devlin said.

One of the clubs taking part are Derry based Oxford United Stars.

“It is like their very own World Cup,” under-14 coach Sean Whoriskey said.

His team have been put through their paces ahead of kick off, with extra gym and training sessions over recent weeks.

He said preparations have been going well.

Rory Dalzell also coaches the Oxford under-14 boys side.

He said there was a real sense of pride in taking part for local teams.

“Because we are a team from Derry, it is an event they really look forward to every year,” he said.

“It is something they start talking about months in advance, it is the highlight of our year, something we really build up to.”

Estimates suggest the Foyle Cup is worth upwards of £8m to the local economy, Mr Devlin said.

“It is a privilege for us to be able to do that and provide that for the local economy, we are very proud to do that,” he said.

South African side Sports Academy George are first-time competitors at the Foyle Cup.

“We are a non-fee paying school for underprivileged children in George, we use sport as a tool to give them a better opportunity for the future,” coach Andrew Scott, who is originally from Lisburn, told BBC News NI.

He said the team were hugely excited to be playing in the tournament.

“We want to give these guys an opportunity, we want them to showcase their talent, but I think for us it is much more than football,” he said.

“These guys come from really difficult backgrounds, we want them to have their eyes opened and to dream of a better future than their circumstances allow.”

Hotelier Brendan Duddy said the tournament had become one of the city’s key events.

“It is amazing how these guys have organised it, and how they have built it up over the years. It is fabulous for Derry, it is massive, just massive,” he said.

At his hotel, teams from America, England, Monaghan and Belfast are booked for the tournament’s run.

“We are fully-booked. It is as big a week as we get,” Mr Duddy said.

This year’s tournament was pushed back a week to avoid a clash with The Open taking place in Portrush.