Hamish heads for Derry City

Dunfermline Athletic to send youth side to the University of Ulster Foyle Cup in Derry. Group opponents Letterkenny Rovers and Institute FC.

Hamish French is preparing for a hectic fortnight that will see his youth team players involved in nine matches in the space of 11 days. First stop will be the Foyle Cup in Derry City. 

The University of Ulster Foyle Cup is Ireland's premier Youth Football Tournament.  Now firmly established as one of Europe's premier Youth Football tournaments, the Foyle Cup takes place in Derry City, Northern Ireland and surrounding areas from July 24th - 28th, 2007.

Teams from all over the world will travel for the week-long competition and this year a new record has been set with 124 clubs ready to take part and they include such clubs as Ajax, Hearts, Montpellier and Werder Bremen.  The tournament caters for Under 11, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18, Under 21 and Ladies entrants.

Dunfermline Athletic have quickly accepted the chance offered to several clubs in Scotland, to fill the vacancy at the tournament caused by the withdrawal of Hungarian side, Ferencvaros who were thought to be filling the place of IFK Goteborg.  The Pars will face a side from nearby Letterkenny on Tuesday 24th July (kick off 7.00pm) and the following evening meet Institute FC, a side from the village of Drumahoe within the City of Derry.  This is the first time the club has been represented at the Foyle Tournament since Mo Hutton and Bobby Drummond took team there over a decade ago.

There are 12 entrants in the age group meaning that there will be four groups of three teams each playing each other in the group once. Matches are all 35 minutes each way with five substitutes allowed per match.  Group winners play in Foyle Cup Semi Finals on Thursday and the Final is on Saturday. Runners Up play in Foyle Plate, remaining teams play in Foyle Rosebowl.

The nine teams in the other three groups are AFC Bournemouth, Ballyclare Comrades, Derry City, Donegal Celtic, Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Inihsowen, Port Vale and South East Academy (Essex). Hearts are sending teams in the U12 and U14 age groups

To view live results during the competition click here. 

The U19s squad will be augmented by eight players from the U17 squad.  The squad that is expected to sail across to Northern Ireland on Monday is:- Greg Paterson, Gary Leighton, Sandy Nairn, John McCulloch, Scott McBride, Derek Howie, Charlie Bradshaw, Gary McLachlan, Paul Willis, Kris Maxwell, Steven Lynch, John Paul McLellan, Scott Waddell, Ryan Thomson, Chris Gordon, Jason Hunter, Craig Bauld (GK).  Accompanying Hamish French will be Davie Hunter, Paul Donnolly and Community Coach Roger Arnott.

On their return from Ireland some of the U19s are expected to be required for a fixture at Linlithgow against the Scottish Junior Cup holders on Sunday 29th July (kick off 2.30pm). 

Next comes the U19 Fife Cup tournament at Peffermill, Edinburgh on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights (kick off 7.00pm).

The U19s played Steelend Vics last Saturday with over age Owen Morrison, Nick Phinn and David Muir making up their number.  The Pars were never behind with goals from Derek Howie, Kris Maxwell, Nick Phinn and Paul Willis (2) as they won a competitive match by 5 goals to 2.

Hamish French expects to field a fair number of U17s during the forthcoming SFL U19 league season. With just ten full time U19s the youth side will always have a place for a few up and coming U17s. The fixtures have not yet been announced but the league will have 22 teams and matches are expected to be played on Sundays.

More news from Derry next week.