SCOTLAND'S national youth football coach yesterday launched the eighth annual Glasgow City Cup International Youth Tournament.
By Daniel Bach
SCOTLAND'S national youth football coach yesterday launched the eighth annual Glasgow City Cup International Youth Tournament.
Billy Stark joined the Arsenal Boys Club from Milton, the first team to register for this year's event, for a tour and kick about at Glasgow's newest football venue, the Toryglen Regional Football Centre.
Indoor and outdoor pitches at the state of the art facility will be used for matches in the 13 and 14-year-old divisions, while the 15 to 21-year-old divisions will play at the tournament's traditional home at Glasgow Green.
Billy said: "There's nothing better than watching youngsters enjoying playing football, and this new facility at Toryglen is only going to enhance that.
"The most important thing for us as a country is to get as many youngsters training and playing as often as we can, and this facility will make sure they can play no matter the weather."
And the former St Mirren and Celtic player had some encouraging words for the youngsters. He said: "There will always be someone watching. I suspect a few youngsters will be plucked by professional clubs after the event."
The youth cup tournament, running from August 7 to 9 is the largest event of its kind in Scotland. Tournament director Jim Smith said all teams are guaranteed five games and Glasgow teams have the chance to play teams they would not normally face.
More than 2000 boys will take part in 120 teams, with teams from across the UK, Ireland and Europe lining up.
Arsenal Boys' assistant manager and former tournament player Jamie Coll, 22, said: "The boys are getting up for playing teams from Ireland and Europe. It shows them a different culture in football."
Arsenal player Gavin Hollywood, 15, said: "I'm also looking forward to getting games under my belt before the start of our season."
A few places are left in the event, backed by Culture and Sport Glasgow and the Scottish Youth FA, and volunteers are needed - visit www.glasgowcitycup.org.uk
