County Down in the Milk Cup

Down are the most successful and progressive county in the Milk Cup.

In order to compete with the professional teams at the tournament, we need to raise a substantial amount of money each year.

We have 2 Squads of 18 players – Under 15’s (Junior) and Under 17’s (Premier).

The counties are in no way funded by the Irish Football Association, and thus rely heavily upon the generosity of sponsors.

Both players and management sell an allocation of ballot tickets and at present, pay for a two-day stay in Dublin (for a pre-tournament competition), and for the Milk Cup week in Coleraine.

What’s in it for the sponsor?

Football is the largest team sport in Northern Ireland and a hugely important sport across the country at community level.

The Milk Cup is a massive success story for Northern Ireland. It is more than just an international youth football tournament. It is a hugely significant tourist magnet that draws in people from around the world. There is an enormous sense of civic pride in it, evidenced by the massive numbers of people who turn out to welcome the competing teams from around the world.

Companies and individuals who associate themselves with County Down Milk Cup teams, experience multi-faceted benefits that strengthen their brand position and allow them to bond closely with key customer groups that conventional marketing channels cannot present. Milk Cup football can bring your brand to young families, children, 20-40 year old professional groups and also to the 40 plus groups.

Aside from the opportunities this presents to you to strengthen your brand, involvement in a sport that is so highly developed at community level also provides benefits in community and social responsibility, as well as giving your valued clients and partners the opportunity to enjoy match action and watching the boys progress.

Our aim in sponsorship is to develop a partnership with you to ensure that the people in your target markets look favourably on you. Whether this means new brand awareness, existing brand reinforcement or product promotion.

Your brand will be immediately recognisable as the tournament attracts media coverage from all over the world.

Individuals who wish to sponsor are equally as welcome.

During the 2007 Milk Cup week, the County Down Website (www.downmilkcup.com) achieved record hits. The site receives traffic all year round. Sponsors web links are positioned on the front page of the site and re-direct users.

BBC Northern Ireland, Ulster Television, Manchester United Television, and Chelsea Television are just some of the companies covering the Milk Cup on a large scale.

In 2006, BBC Northern Ireland produced a documentary following the Co. Down Junior Team through the tournament, where they eventually lost on penalties in the semi-finals. This is the furthest that any county side has ever progressed. This has been viewed on the internet more than 5,000 times and can viewed here.

In 2007, the Junior and Premier Teams reached the finals of the Dunluce Trophy. The Junior Team brought home the trophy and captain Aaron Burns received the Bertie Peacock Award for the County Player of the Tournament. Aaron was selected for the Northern Ireland Victory Shield team which was televised on Sky Sports.

The Premier Team took on Manchester United at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Tuesday 31st July 2007. This game was shown live on BBC2 Digital and was featured on Manchester United Television.

There is huge newspaper and radio coverage of the tournament. The Official Milk Cup site offers photography and reports and gives up-to-date information.

If you would like to help County Down by sponsoring at the Milk Cup, you can get further details by e-mailing barrygreene@downmilkcup.com