State Side
COLERAINE FC extends its best wishes to three players who will be travelling to take part in the prestigious Dallas Cup…
Kirk McLaughlin (NIFL Scholarship), Conal Houston (Steven Gerrard Academy) and Jack McFeely (Steven Gerrard Academy) will all be heading to the States this week, with the competition running from April 9 to 17.
Meanwhile, under 16’s boss Gary Devenney is also heading to help coach the NIFL Scholarship squad and we wish him every success.
The Dallas Cup is the most prestigious youth soccer tournament in the United States and it is widely regarded as one of the most competitive in the world. Dallas Cup was founded by the Texas Longhorns Soccer Club in 1980 as a way for the club to return the friendship shown to their teams that had traveled throughout Europe.
Held every spring during Easter Week, the invitation-only Dallas Cup selects the best teams out of the hundreds of qualified applications the tournament receives each year. Although there have been several iterations over the years to the format, Dallas Cup is currently comprised of nine age groups in the Boys category from U-12 through U-19, including the prestigious U-19 Gordon Jago Super Group, and four age groups in the Girls category from U-16 through U-19.
The tournament traditionally consists of approximately 40% international teams, 40% state-side teams and 20% Dallas area teams. Each year more than 100,000 spectators watch teams from all over the world participating in intense games where only the best return home with the Dallas Cup Champion’s prize, the coveted Boot and Ball trophy.
The long list of players that have gone on to have professional and international careers is an impressive one. A partial alumni list includes the likes of David Beckham, Clint Dempsey, Chicharito, Landon Donovan, Raul, Andrea Pirlo, Michael Bradley, and Wayne Rooney, as well as rising stars like Alphonso Davies, Bukayo Saka, Weston McKennie, and Mason Greenwood. In fact, Dallas Cup alumni have gone on to play in over 500 World Cup matches.
Coleraine FC wishes all three players the very best of luck for the tournament.
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