Youth Tournaments
JUNE 2010
June Tournament – 21/06/10
Congratulations to all who took part in our 2nd Annual Youth Football Tournament 2010. We would like to thank everyone who took part and also those who came to watch the talent on show. We were impressed by the quality of play on show and hope to see everyone back next year plus more! We intend to make even more improvements for next year so all suggestions are welcome. Please download the questionnaire and return it to us by email. Also available for download are the results from the final nights play. Photos coming soon!!!
Congratulations to Dale Robinson who plays for Dungannon Swifts for picking up the player of the tournament award. This award was given not only chosen on abaility and performance but also on attitude, desire and commitment. Well done!
We would like to thank Andrew Jonathan Hairdresser (028 38350616) and John McStravick Painter and Decorator (07934233011) for sponsoring this years tournament.
Please contact us for more information.
JUNE 2009
The second project organised by “Playing for the Future” was in the form of a youth tournament for 10-12 year olds. The tournament was funded by The Big Deal NI and sponsored by Game-on. Teams that took part came from from all over mid-ulster and beyond. They include St. Mary’s YC, Loughgall Youth, Dungannon United Youth, Moneyslane, Lisburn Rangers, Lurgan Town, Armagh City, Barcroft, Seagoe Youth, Glenavon F.C, Cookstown Youth and Warrenpoint town.
With Glenavon F.C the eventual winners of the cup competition and Lurgan town the winners of the shield the event past off leaving a positive memory in the minds of everyone involved. The tournament organiser Thomas McStravick said,
“It was great to see how much everyone enjoyed the tournament and all have said they will be back next year which pays great tribute to the level of professionalism in which we operated. This tournament has been in the planning process for quite a few months now and we will now start to prepare for next year’s event. We are looking to further expand the teams for next year and maybe add in another competition to play for as well. One strong possibility is to introduce a girls section to the tournament”
“Playing for the Future” are beginning to make big footprints in the local community. Already in such a short existence they have provided two youth tournaments and a soccer camp programme reaching out to over 400 kids in just a few months providing opportunities, education and a very high standard of coaching. McStravick said,
“Our aim is to provide young people with a chance to develop their social, personal and sporting skills by providing educational experiences through the power of sport. Our youth tournament will be an annual event and we will expand it each year opening up to a wider network of people”
Playing for the Future has been welcomed by the local community and the local business community as well.
“We have managed to achieve a positive glow of hope through the recent economic downturn and this has been reflected through the kind sponsorship received by many local businesses. It is of course greatly appreciated especially with the way the economy is at the moment so a big thank-you to all who have helped out. Game-on provided us with valuable sponsorship that has helped increase the success of the recent tournament along with backing from The Big Deal NI. I have received various emails and phone calls from other businesses looking to help out in any way they can and I would just like to thank everyone who has offered their support”
DECEMBER 2008 – JANUARY 2009
Sponsored by Sports Relief Unltd and partnered with the IFA’s grassroots department, the first project under the ‘Playing for the Future’ banner began with a football tournament. A coaching day was also introduced to truly demonstrate the effectiveness of dual focus development – coaching and small-sided games. The project was organised over a six-week period during December 2008 and January 2009.
Playing for the future promotes cross community opportunities for young people and their mentors/ coaches along with tackling social cohesion. Together through the power of sport and football in particular Playing for the Future successfully managed to create a challenging and respectful environment.
The project leader, Thomas McStravick, said “The tournament was a fantastic success and we are all proud of what we managed to achieve.”
McStravick said “A lot was learned as a result of the project and we have already got plans for another tournament in June for the u12 age group this time with 12 places available, an expansion of 4 teams on our previous project”
Competing in the tournament was Armagh City (2 teams), Newry City Soccer Development School, Loughgall, Sunnyside, St. Mary’s, YC Portadown and Tandragee youth.
The competition was truly competitive with Armagh City the eventual winners after an entertaining final. YC Portadown won the shield prize.
McStravick said “The competition was a huge success, everyone was impressed with how well organized and professional everything was”
The final day of the tournament attracted players from Portadown F.C and Glenavon F.C with Wesley Boyle and Ryan Harpur pledging their support to present the trophies and medals. “It shows the quality of the service we provided when we attracted such quality players and coaches to the tournament along with the many sponsors as well. When we attracted sponsorship from many local businesses and a company the size of McDonalds, McKeagneys chemist and Game-on Sports it also shows how professional we were and the good causes we were promoting. One boy in particular missed training with the international development squad to play in the tournament which shows how professional and enjoyable the experience was”
A big thanks to all who helped out, the funders Sports Relief Unltd and my team of volunteers. I would also like to thank Keith Gibson and Malcolm Roberts from the IFA for providing valuable support”
Playing for the Future would like to thank the following sponsors:
- Game-on Sports Portadown
- McKeagneys Chemist
- Malachy Judge
- Charlie McKeever bar and restaurant
- Charlie Mallon Butchers
- McDonalds
- Eamon Wilson, Costcutters
- Classic mineral water
- Lavery’s filling station
