Spurs v Co. Armagh (Milk Cup 2012)

An article from the local Portadown Times (1st June) about Spurs playing County Armagh at Shamrock Park in the NI Milk Cup 2012 on Saturday, 21st July.

Spurs Set to Tackle Cream of the County  

EUROPEAN football will take centre-stage at Shamrock Park next month with Portadown playing host to Tottenham Hotspur and CSKA Moscow.

Shamrock Park, Portadown

The Ports – alongside Craigavon and Armagh and City District council officials – have secured the Brownstown Road ground as a venue for Milk Cup group games on Saturday, July 21.
County Armagh under 14s will face CSKA Moscow, with the area’s Premier side then set to take on Tottenham Hotspur.

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the Milk Cup tournament, with organisers opting to allow county sides to kick off the youth competition at home venues as part of the celebrations.
Ronnie Stinson, Portadown’s director of football, considers the appearance of the Orchard County’s two leading teenage squads as another link between the town club and youth development.

“Over the past year we have really worked hard at pushing on our development strategy by implementing the Academy coaching programme, establishing connections with Falkirk and strengthening existing links with the Portadown Youth club,” said Stinson. “In keeping with that commitment to aiding youth development in the area, we are delighted to welcome the two County Armagh squads.

“Tottenham Hotspur and CSKA Moscow should attract plenty of football fans given the rich history both clubs enjoy.

“However, it is also a great opportunity for supporters to get a look at some of the most promising players in the borough.

“Our extensive ground redevelopments were implemented to help Shamrock Park become a greater focal point for the community and certainly we are delighted to have a connection to this year’s anniversary Milk Cup.”

Both visiting squads will stay in The Armagh City Hotel on Friday, July 20 before heading over to Shamrock Park for the opening group fixtures.

“What a draw,” said the Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Alan Carson. “It’s really good news for the borough that we have these teams playing here.

“I hope that as many people as possible will support these young players and give them the credit they deserve on July 21.”

The Milk Cup link also presents the perfect platform from which to promote the area.
“This is another opportunity to showcase Portadown’s first-class facilities at Shamrock Park,” said Craigavon Borough Council’s chair of leisure services, Alderman Meta Crozier. “It’s a great opportunity that Armagh’s junior and premier sides can play their first matches in front of large home crowds.”

The Armagh teenagers will also face County Tyrone and Desportivo Brazil in the Premier group stages.  In the Junior group, the boys meet Watford and County Tyrone.

Spurs' Opponents in NI Milk Cup 2012

The draw fro the NI Milk Cup was made today at the BBC Blackstaff studio in Belfast.  Spurs are playing in the Premier Section which has twenty teams and is a competition which they have won twice and in which they finished fifth last year.

The NI Milk Cup commences on Saturday, 21st July and today the draw was made for the first three matches.  The tournament is in its thirtieth year and was described as 'the premier youth tournament in Europe" by local commentator, Jackie Fullerton.   Among the special guests at today's draw was Michael O'Neill, the Northern Ireland manager, and two internationals who have played in the competition in their earlier days, Corry Evans of Hull City and Andy Little of Rangers.  A South American delegate from FIFA was also present, Harold Mayne-Nicholls from Chile.  He spoke of the quality of the tournament making it easy to attract South American teams to the competition.  The Chairman of the Dairy Council Northern Ireland, the main sponsor of the tournament for many years, referred to the NI Milk Cup as "one of the best youth tournaments in the world".

Premier Section:
Spurs are playing in the Premier Section for players born on or after 1st January, 1995.
The twenty teams taking part are:

The six local County teams: Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone and Londonderry.

Otago (New Zealand), South Coast Strikers (USA), Revo Express (Norway), Pachuca (Mexico), Desportivo Brazil, Ichfuna (Japan), CSKA Moscow, Bolton Wanderers, Benfica (Portugal), Etoile Lusitana (Senegal), Cherry Orchard (Republic of Ireland), Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs' Premier Section Fixtures:

Saturday, 21st July, 2012:  v County Armagh (venue: Shamrock Park, Portadown) 

KO: 2pm (probably)

This year the six local County teams are playing their first game at a venue in their own county before the tournament returns on the Monday to its traditional North coast venues.  This was first done to mark the twenty first anniversary of the competition and is being repeated this year to mark its thirtieth anniversary.

Monday, 23rd July, 2012:  v South Coast Strikers (USA)  (Evening KO)

Tuesday, 24th July, 2012:  v Otago (NZ)  (Evening KO)

(The venues for these two games will be announced later)

Spurs' Opponents:

County Armagh

Spurs have played a local County team in their last two Milk Cup tournaments.  The local sides usually give a good account of themselves.  In 2010, they defeated Londonderry by four goals to nil in their opening match and had a more difficult game than the score suggests.  Last year it was Fermanagh who gave them a difficult match.  Spurs were a goal down at half-time and only two goals from Kenneth McEvoy in the last ten minutes earned Spurs the points.

South Coast Strikers (USA)

Spurs played South Coast Strikers from California twice last year.  They met in the third match of the tournament and the 1-2 defeat suffered by Spurs denied them the opportunity to play in the play-offs for 1st - 4th.  They were a strong, well organised team and took an early lead last year.  Spurs fought back to draw level but after much pressure from Spurs, SCS scored late on the win the match.

The teams then met in the play-off for 5th and 6th place with Spurs winning a penalty shoot-out after a 1 - 1 draw.

Otago (NZ)

Spurs played Otaga in the opening match of last year's competition and won 4 - 0.  Dominic Ball who has Northern Ireland family connections, scored twice for Spurs who made an impressive start to the competition.

Following the opening three matches the places determine the play-off spots (1st - 4th/5th - 8th etc)

Spurs to Play in Milk Cup 2012:  Report

Spurs at the Milk Cup in 2011:  Report

Spurs at the Milk Cup 2010:  Report