Down Milk Cup 2008

Thursday 8th May 2008 - Zonal squads in place ahead of final trial matches

The squads from East, North and South Down have been assembled ahead of the final round of trial games which will take place at the Billy Neill Stadium from Tuesday 13th May onwards. The zone teams will play against each other in matches that will determine the Junior and Premier panels ahead of the 2008 Milk Cup. Any players involved in the underage Northern Ireland international teams wishing to be considered for County Down (boys who have yet to trial), should contact their respective trial co-ordinator immediately.

Important dates for your diary:

Tuesday 13th May to Tuesday 20th May – Zonal trials at Billy Neill Stadium (situated between Comber and Dundonald).

Tuesday 13th May - The draw for the 2008 Milk Cup takes place at W5 in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast.

Tuesday 20th May – Final trials and panels announced thereafter.

Tuesday 27th May – Parents Night at Ballynahinch Leisure Centre. Special guest for the evening will be Sunderland and Northern Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper Trevor Carson who twice played for County Down at the tournament. Carson captained Northern Ireland in the Elite Final of last year’s Milk Cup.

Saturday 14th June – Mourne Cup tournament (Juniors).

Friday 20th June to Sunday 22nd June – Dublin pre-tournament weekend.

Sunday 27th July – Milk Cup report date - Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.

Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August – Northern Ireland Milk Cup tournament.

Monday 14th April 2008 - Milk Cup zonal trials underway

The selection process for identifying County Down's finest players for the 2008 Milk Cup has started. There's still time for players to be included in one of the trials for either the Junior (players born on or after 1 January 1993), or Premier (players born on or after 1 January 1991), age groups. If you feel that you have the talent to represent County Down at this year's Milk Cup, be sure to contact your respective trial co-ordinator.

North Down

This area covers the whole of Belfast, south of the Lagan and the Ards Peninsula including Bangor & Holywood. Trial co-ordinator for the Junior team is Colin Stanex (07718 983589). The Premier team co-ordinator is Marc Wilson (07912 484344).

South Down

This area takes in Newry, Warrenpoint, Kilkeel, Banbridge, Rathfriland and Dromara. Trial co-ordinator for the Junior squad is Linda McAdam (call or text 07814 127573). Damian McCorry (07740 909603) will co-ordinate trials for the Premier team.

East Down

East Down covers the Annahilt, Ballynahinch, Carryduff, Downpatrick, Newcastle area and takes in Killyleagh and Comber. Trial co-ordinators for the Junior side are Ronnie Cromie (07788 441342) and Barry Greene (07788 880090). Dixie Murray is the Premier squad co-ordinator (07788 651261).

Once the Zonal panels have been selected, they will play off against each other in front of the Junior and Premier Management.

Sunday 30th March 2008 - New Past Player added

Stephen Craigan and Andrew Waterworth now have another mate in the Past Players section, where Sunderland keeper Trevor Carson joins them.

Sunday 9th March 2008 - Selection begins ahead of 2008 Milk Cup

The process of picking the finest players for the County Down Junior and Premier squads for the upcoming Northern Ireland Milk Cup is about to commence.

If you are a coach or parent and you know of a player who has the ability to represent County Down at the world-renowned Milk Cup tournament, which takes place from 28 July to 1 August 2008, make sure to contact one of the trial co-ordinators with details of name, date of birth, contact number, position played and club/school.

The Junior squad (Under 15’s) is managed by Paul Ritchie, and will be made up of boys born on or after 1 January 1993. Boys born on or after 1 January 1991 are eligible for the Premier squad (Under 17’s), managed by the newly appointed Donald Malomo-Paris.

Trials for both age groups will be split into three Zones as follows:-

North Down

South Down

East Down

Once the Zones have selected their respective panels they will play off against each other in front of the Junior and Premier Management. You can email the County Down Milk Cup committee directly at info@downmilkcup.com.

Friday 22nd February 2008 - Hugh’s parting gift to Co Down Milk Cup Commitee

Hugh Bonner has provided a welcome parting gift to the County Down Milk Cup committee. Read More...

Friday 22nd February 2008 - Paris appointment for our under-17’s

Donald Malomo-Paris has been appointed the new manager of the Premier team ahead of the upcoming Northern Ireland Milk Cup. Malomo-Paris, who is also first-team fitness coach at Lisburn Distillery, is delighted to have secured the position and is very much looking forward to the challenge. “It’s a world-class competition and like so many other people, I have always admired it. I can’t wait to get involved with County Down and to build on the success of my predecessor Damian McCorry”. Donald, who originally hails from Nigeria, has a wealth of coaching experience and holds the coveted UEFA Pro licence. He will be assisted by former Cliftonville and Glenavon goalkeeper Paul Rice. Marc Wilson will act as kitman, while Katie Lannon comes on board as physio.

The management of the Junior (under 15) squad remains the same. Paul Ritchie, who in 2006 took us to the semi-finals of the competition, stays at the helm. Paul will continue to be ably assisted by Kyle Spiers.

The Northern Ireland Milk Cup takes place from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August 2008. Players born on or after 1st January 1993 are eligible for the Junior age group. For the Premier Section, players need to be born on or after 1st January 1991. Trials for the County Down Junior and Premier squads start after Easter.

Friday 8th February 2008 - Audi sponsorship for 2008

Pictured below is Mr. Richard Eakin, Managing Director of Isaac Agnew Audi Belfast, presenting County Down Junior Team Manager, Paul Ritchie, with new bench coats for the 2008 Milk Cup.

Tuesday 5th February 2008 - New Past Player added

Stephen Craigan now has a “wee friend” in the Past Players section of the site in the form of Hamilton Academicals new signing – Andrew Waterworth.

Thursday 10th January 2008 - Dates for Milk Cup Week

This years Northern Ireland Milk Cup 2008 26th Edition Tournament will take place between Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August 2008.

The Age Groups for the tournament are as follows:
Junior Section: Players born on or after 1st January 1993
Premier Section: Players born on or after 1st January 1991

Wednesday 9th January 2008 - Past Players

We have added a new section to the site called Past Players. Within this section we will be profiling past players who have represented County Down at the Milk Cup and who kick-started their footballing careers by doing so. The first victim for the new feature on the site, interrogated by new PRO Barry Greene, was none other than Northern Ireland's centre half – Stephen Craigan. Enjoy!

Monday 12th November 2007 - Hugh Bonner steps down

Hugh has stepped down after 15 years involvement with the County Down Milk Cup set up. Hugh was appointed County Down’s first ever chairman when the county structure of the Northern Ireland Milk Cup was invoked in 1992. He remained as Chairman until 2004, when he took up the role of Public Relations Officer.

At a recent function at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, current County Down Chairman Bobby Reid marked Hugh’s service by presenting him with the Dunluce Trophy won by the Under-14 side in the 2007 competition.

The Chairman paid tribute to Hugh’s dedication since the inception of the county teams. “Hugh’s impact on the County Down Milk Cup scene has been immense. He has been involved right from the word go and a lot of our success in recent years was aided by his hard work. Last year, the Junior team won the Dunluce Trophy for the first time. Giving Hugh the trophy to keep goes some way to repaying his unstinting service to County Down.”


County Down Milk Cup Chairman Bobby Reid (left) and Treasurer John Hamilton (right) pictured with sponsors David Gilmore and Roy Ferguson	Members of the County Down Milk Cup Committee present Hugh Bonner with The Dunluce Trophy. Back row from left: Ronnie Cromie, Trevor McAdam, Linda McAdam, Jeremy Bell, David Taylor. Front row from left: Paul Ritchie, John Hamilton, Bobby Reid (Chairman), Hugh Bonner, Damian McCorry

Barry Greene takes over from Hugh as County Down PRO. Barry can be contacted by e-mail barrygreene@downmilkcup.com.

The 2008 Milk Cup competition takes place Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August. Trials for the County Down teams will commence after Easter 2008.

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