While welcoming all the teams taking part she is especially happy to offer céad míle fáilte to those sides playing at the two Limavady venues, the Roe Mill and the Showgrounds.

She said: "It is a great tribute to the town that teams like Watford, the English Colleges, Manchester United, Hertha Berlin,Otago, Rosenborg and Maccabi Tel Aviv will play there."

Colr. Chivers said: "It is a great boost to Limavady, not only to the economy but to the morale of a town that has had more than its fair share of negative publicity recently. Limavady is a great and friendly town and those footballers who have come here for the Milk Cup have commented on that and love to come back again."

East Derry MLA Francie Brolly is urging the Limavady community to come out in great numbers to support the tournament and to show their appreciation of the young soccer players who come from all over the world “to entertain us with their skill, athleticism and sportsmanship.”