George Best Community Cup - Dedicated to One of The Legends of Football

THE GEORGE BEST COMMUNITY CUP launched its festival of football with an event on Thursday evening which symbolises the social change in Northern Ireland. 600 young people from throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland turned up at the residential area of Inverwood Court, in East Belfast, to witness the unveiling of a mural dedicated to the football competition. The former paramilitary mural, is now seen as the competition’s landmark that promotes respect and mutual understanding through sporting competition.

Competition organisers and residents from East Belfast welcomed visiting teams from as far as Dublin, Dundalk, Mayo and Armagh City to be part of this historic, cross-community and cross-border event, of its like has not been seen in East Belfast before. Councillor John Kyle and Barbara McNarry, sister of George Best were also in attendance at the launch.  An added attraction of the mural is that, the winner of the U-13's and U-17's competition will be garved into the winners plague  each year.

David McConnell, George Best Community Cup organiser said

“To have 600 young people from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland travel to East Belfast represents a momentous occasion for the George Best Community Cup. The young people have come together in sporting competition – but I think more importantly it provides a platform for the players to come together in a social setting, to share and be part of an historic event like this.

“A few years ago, you could not have imagined that an event like the one we had tonight, would take place in East Belfast. It shows that change has come to Northern Ireland and that change is for the better”.

The tournament, in its second year, has already created a hugely united community atmosphere and an event the people of East Belfast Community can be proud of. After the success of last years competition, the foundations have been laid which will allow the event to grow and take place annually.

Louise Little, George Best Community Cup event manager said

“There was a magnificent atmosphere at Inverwood Court last night, a real sense of celebration and coming together. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to this years competition. For everyone involved, it will be an event that lasts long in the memory and one we’ll look back at with fond memories. Even the weather held for us.

“We wish all the competing teams the best of luck and I know that East Belfast will play great hosts. I would also like to pay tribute to all the volunteers and organising committee, who has given of their time so generously, without them this years competition would not have been possible.

The George Best Community Cup will take place from Friday 16^th July until Sunday 18^th July with 32 teams competing at different locations throughout East Belfast with the final of the U-13’s and U-17’s taking place at the Oval on Sunday.

*George Best Community Cup was established in 2009

*http://georgebestcommunitycup.co.uk/

* Principal Funders: George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast City Council, The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, McDonalds, Easyjet.com, Sunblest, Connswater Womens Group, Copius Priority Club, Walkway Community Association, Glentoran, Connswater Homes, IFA, FAI