KERRY DIXON, BRYAN HAMILTON, DARREN PURSE TO ATTEND FIXTURES ACROSS THE UK
The next stage of the Tesco Cup will get underway this weekend, with four tournaments taking place across the UK. Former and current professional footballers will be on hand to give the youngsters tips as they compete for a place in the UK Final at the Reebok Stadium on May 24.
The 2008/09 event has attracted over 60,000 youngsters across the age groups (U13 boys, U14 & U16 girls)
On Saturday April 18, over 25 teams from 10 County FAs will compete in the Southern Regional Final at the Richardson Evans Memorial Fields in Putney, South West London. The event will be attended by former Chelsea star Kerry Dixon and current Chelsea and Ladies England defender, Casey Stoney who will attend the tournament ahead of the Chelsea-Arsenal FA Cup Semi final.
As the Southern England teams compete at Regional level, teams from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be playing in their National finals. Former Footballer and Manager, Bryan Hamilton, will attend the Northern Ireland girls' final in Coagh Park, Belfast on Saturday 18 April. The teams will be striving to repeat the success of 2008, when Northern Ireland were crowned overall UK champions in both U13 boys and U14 girls age group. The Scottish girls' finals will also take place on Saturday at Stirling University.
On Sunday April 19 the Welsh National Finals will take place at Cardiff University Sports Fields. Cardiff City defender, Darren Purse, will take time out from Cardiff's push for promotion to attend the event.
The Tesco Cup is part of a wider commitment to encourage children to get involved in Sport. Now in its fourth year, Tesco works in conjunction with the FA and local communities to help improve the football skills of young players.
Over 3,700 teams have entered the 2008/09 Tesco Cup, competing at County, Regional and then National level in a bid to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the Reebok Stadium in May. In 2008, Linfield FC from Northern Ireland won the U13 boys, Belfast Northern Belles won the U14 girls and Scotland's HIBS girls won the U16 girls tournament.
For more information on the Tesco Cup please contact:
Kate Brewer, Performance PR
Tel: 0208 541 3434
Mob: 07790 836932
E: kate@performancepr.co.uk
The Tesco Cup Team
Tel: (01865 822500)
Email: tesco.cup@marketing-bureau.co.uk
Website: www.tesco.com/football.
Notes for editors:
The Tesco Cup is part of a wider commitment from Tesco to encourage children to get involved in sport. Other child focused Tesco initiatives include the Tesco Great School Run and The FA Tesco Skills Programme. Launched in June 2007 FA skills is working towards getting 1m kids in England active (through specialist football coaching) by 2010, as well as 1m kids signed up to practice their own football skills on the website: www.TheFA.com/Skills.
Key Dates
