Blackpool to host European youth football tournament

The resort will host the Blackpool CBlackpool is to play host to its own European youth football tournament which is part of massively successful series on the Continent.up over Easter and May Day Bank Holiday next year, and the event is expected to attract up to 1,000 boys’ and girls’ youth teams from across the UK and Europe.

Blackpool Council and VisitBlackpool have announced a new three-year partnership with Euro-Sportring, which stages similar championships in 13 European countries.

Along with family and friends the events could bring in around 20,000 visitors, giving the local economy a major boost and further showcasing Blackpool’s credentials as a family-friendly resort, capable of hosting a major International sporting event.

Euro-Sportring, with over 60 years’ experience, is a non-profit organisation and Europe’s largest international youth football tournament organiser.

The Blackpool Cup will be played at the brand new state-of-the-art sports complex at the Airport Enterprise Zone, where work on the new grass pitches and changing facilities is underway.

Gavin McIntyre, Euro-Sportring UK Tournaments Director, said: “We used to stage an earlier version of this in Blackpool but now the tournament has grown and Blackpool is perfect to host it; the new facilities are very exciting.”

Coun Gillian Campbell, cabinet member for tourism & culture for Blackpool Council, said: “We are delighted to be going into partnership with one of Europe’s top youth sporting events.

"The event has the potential to bring thousands of visitors to the resort and our new facilities at the Airport Enterprise Zone will provide a fitting stage for a tournament of this size and profile.”

There will also be the opportunity for teams in the local area to benefit and get involved in Blackpool’s very own European Youth Football Championships, as there are a certain number of spaces in each age group held for local participants