Fifty teams from nine countries will feature in this year’s Umbro Galway Cup that kicks off at Drom Soccer Park on August 8 for four days.
Now in this eighth year, the Umbro Cup has continued to grow in stature as the premier tournament for young up-and-coming football talent.
The organisers of the Umbro Galway Cup have always been successful in attracting some of the top teams from across Europe to the tournament and this year’s event promises to set the bar higher again with the first Russian team to compete in the tournament. The well-known Dynamo Moscow are set to play in the 1997 Elite league.
They will join teams from Spain, Canada, Finland and Norway who are travelling to the home of Salthill Devon.
Tournament director Denis Burk says: “It’s great to have teams from nine countries coming to Galway in August from places as far away as Moscow, Toronto and Haifa. As usual we have a great mix of Irish teams from both north and south along, with over 20 country teams competing.”
The tournament comprises five leagues, all of which were re-named at last year’s event – the 1995 Cup, 1997 Elite, 1997 Boys, 1999 Boys and 1999 Elite. The Ireland A team features in the 1997 Elite League.
The Umbro Galway Cup is viewed as an ideal platform for young hopefuls to be recognised by the FAI and other scouts present who are present throughout the duration of the league. Many of the players from this squad have gone on to be signed by teams in Britain.