Manchester United join Rangers and Newcastle in County Derry pre season tournament

Premier League superstars of the future are set to show their skills in a County Derry competition this summer.

Recently crowned Carabao Cup winners Manchester United will compete in the SuperCupNI youth tournament alongside Rangers, Newcastle, Brighton and Tigres.

Players involved on the day will be looking to emulate Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Busquets, and dos Santos who have all starred in the competition and gone on to huge success.

SuperCupNI chairman Victor Leonard said Manchester United’s support for the tournament is testament to how well respected it is among decision makers at Old Trafford.

“Over our 40-year history, we have been incredibly well supported by Manchester United and in the past the tournament has acted as a launchpad for their young players to go on and make their mark for the first team,” he said.

“They are always incredibly well supported at the tournament and attract large crowds at every game.”

One of the world's biggest clubs, United are the headline act of a 16 strong Premier Section and after success in the Junior category last summer, the Red Devils will be aiming to secure their first Premier title since 2014.

One of the stars of that last success was Marcus Rashford who has gone on to become a global star and is currently one of Europe’s in form strikers.

“I know from the conversations we have on a regular basis with Nick Cox, head of the academy, that it is a tournament their young players look forward to,” Leonard said.

“They are told about how the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga used their experiences at the tournament to progress into the first team and become household names.”

Scottish giants Rangers also confirmed their place in the Premier Section. The Glaswegian outfit were runners-up last year in the Junior tournament.

Players from the club’s B team, which currently sits top of the Scottish Lowland League will no doubt be hoping to use the tournament to further impress following a strong season.

Rangers manager, Michael Beale, is a huge supporter of the tournament and brought over teams from Chelsea when he was involved with their Academy.

Manchester United are joined in the Premier Section by fellow English Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Newcastle last appeared at the tournament in 2019 when they were defeated by a classy Valencia side. Bighton are making their debut at the tournament.

Leonard said it was exciting to see two further Premier League sides confirm their place in the Premier Section.

“Over the last decade we have been well supported by Newcastle United and they have a rich history in the tournament.

“It is also exciting to see Brighton and Hove Albion making their debut. They have had a real breakthrough year in the Premier League and the model they have in place at the club focuses on bringing through young players and providing them with opportunities to perform in the Premier League.”

Spectators will also have a chance to view future talent from around the world including Mexican giants Tigres UANL.

Tigres won the America's’ Champions League in 2020 and became the first CONCACAF club to reach a Club World Cup final, where they were narrowly beaten by Bayern Munich 1-0. They will expect to challenge for honours in what is a hotly contested Premier category.

A Surf Select side from the United States is joined by North East Rush, who primarily attract players from the North East coast of the United States and will make their debut in the male section, having played in the female section last summer.

Japanese side Ichifuna will return to the tournament for the first time since 2018.

Home grown talent from Derry, Louth, Tyrone, Antrim, Fermanagh, Down, Armagh and Dublin will also be on show.

From Louth a select team from the Dundalk Schoolboys League, who are long term supporters of the tournament will compete as will North Dublin side St Kevin’s Boys FC.

The Dubliners are widely recognised as having one of the best youth setups on the island and the likes of Robbie Brady, Damien Duff and rising star Evan Ferguson have all starred for the Whitehall based outfit.

The tournament kicks off on Sunday 23 July with the welcoming ceremony in Coleraine and concludes with finals day on Friday 28th July.

Matches will be played across three council areas, Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.