Blackpool welcomes exciting European Youth Football Competition

Blackpool is preparing to welcome 350 youth football teams and over 10,000 attendees during Easter and May Day bank holiday weekends as they return for Blackpool Cup tournaments.

Blackpool Council and VisitBlackpool will once again host the events in partnership with Euro-Sportring, Europe’s largest international youth football tournament organiser.

The tournaments will bring a major boost to the local economy as well as showcasing Blackpool’s credentials as a family-friendly resort, capable of hosting major International sporting events.

Teams are travelling from seven countries across Europe, including Netherlands, Poland, Ireland and the four home nations together with more than 70 local teams in which is sure to be an exciting festival of football and fun.

Both weekends kick off with an official opening ceremony at the iconic Blackpool Tower Circus, the first on Friday 7 April, the second on Friday 28 April. Matches will be played over both weekends at the excellent new facilities on Common Edge Road at the Airport Enterprise Zone and UCLan Sports Arena.

This year the Blackpool Cup is supporting two local charities, the NHS Blue Skies Hospital Funds and Blackpool Carers along with the Butterfly Tree Charity in Zambia.  There will be donation stations set up for people to bring along any old kit and boots, which will be sent out to Zambia after the competitions along with the tournament match balls.

Gavin McIntyre, Euro-Sportring UK Tournaments Director: “The tournaments are really growing each year and we are very grateful and proud to work with VisitBlackpool and Blackpool Council.  It’s a real international football celebration for the whole family to enjoy.”

A VisitBlackpool spokesperson added: “We are delighted to welcome so many young footballers and their families and friends to enjoy not just our excellent new sports facilities, but also everything else that Blackpool has to offer away from the pitch. These weekends promise to be a real celebration of fun and football.”