Foyle Cup kicks off with city centre parade

Thousands of young people are competing in the O'Neill's Foyle Cup this year

Thousands of young footballers from across the world have paraded through Londonderry to mark the start of the O'Neill's Foyle Cup.

Almost 1,000 teams – some 20,000 players – will be competing for footballing glory over the next six days across the north west.

The competition, now in its 33rd year, has previously featured James McLean, Shay Given, Robbie Keane and John O'Shea as youth players.

South African side Sports Academy George are first-time competitors at the tournament.

Sports Academy George from South Africa will make Derry their home for the next six days

"We are a non-fee paying school for underprivileged children in George, we use sport as a tool to give them a better opportunity for the future," coach Andrew Scott, who is originally from Lisburn, told BBC News NI.

He said the team were hugely excited to be playing in the tournament, that is "much more than football".

"These guys come from really difficult backgrounds, we want them to have their eyes opened and to dream of a better future than their circumstances allow," he said.

This team travelled all the way from Connecticut, USA, to take part in the football tournament

The young footballers will play around 3,700 matches on pitches across counties Londonderry, Tyrone, and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

Some of the thousands who took part in the parade through Derry city centre on Monday

One of the clubs taking part are Derry based Oxford United Stars.

"It is like their very own World Cup," under-14 coach Sean Whoriskey said.

His team have been put through their paces ahead of kick off, with extra gym and training sessions over recent weeks.

He said preparations have been going well.

Rory Dalzell also coaches the Oxford under-14 boys side.

He said there was a real sense of pride in taking part for local teams.

"Because we are a team from Derry, it is an event they really look forward to every year," he said.

"It is something they start talking about months in advance, it is the highlight of our year, something we really build up to."

This team, from County Antrim, did not have far to travel to compete in this year's tournament

The tournament organiser Philip Devlin said the tournament had become one of the key events on the city's calendar, boosting the local economy by an estimated £8m.

"It is a privilege for us to be able to do that and provide that for the local economy, we are very proud to do that," he said.

"The work that goes on in the background is immense," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, adding every year's tournament is a year in planning.

He said Monday's opening parade was a special way to get the tournament under way.

"It really does the heart good," he said.

"We used to have it on the Tuesday but moved it to Monday as we felt it really gears the kids up for the week ahead.

"If you live close to a pitch there will be a game there, there are games everywhere," Mr Devlin said.

Clubs from north America, Europe, Australia as well as the UK and Ireland are taking part in this year's tournament.

Referees have also arrived from across the globe.

"It is massive for not only the players but for officials as well," he said.

'As big a week as we get'

Hotelier Brendan Duddy said the tournament had become one of the city's key events.

"It is amazing how these guys have organised it, and how they have built it up over the years. It is fabulous for Derry, it is massive, just massive," he said.

At his hotel, teams from America, England, Monaghan and Belfast are booked for the tournament's run.

"We are fully-booked. It is as big a week as we get," Mr Duddy said.

This year's tournament was pushed back a week to avoid a clash with The Open taking place in Portrush.

Traffic concerns being 'reviewed'

Meanwhile, some politicians said that ongoing roadworks during the start of the youth football tournament had caused "traffic chaos" on Monday.

There were lengthy traffic delays on the Foyle Bridge city-bound due to road works on Madam's Bank Road on Monday afternoon and for a time in Ballykelly.

The SDLP's Mark H Durkan and Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy were among those to raise concerns about traffic issues affecting a number of people on Monday.

In a statement, NI Water said they are laying new wastewater infrastructure on Madam's Bank Road to support new development in the city, with sewer improvements also planned to get underway this week on Queens Quay.

"The projects have been scheduled to take place – as far as possible – during the summer months to minimise disruption to school traffic, and all traffic management is in line with the road permits issued by Department for Infrastructure (DfI) roads.

NI Water said that, following delays for The Open and the Foyle Cup parade, it is reviewing traffic concerns with contractors.

Pipe laying on Madam's Bank Road is paused for the rest of this week, they said.

From Tuesday, they also said that traffic will be reduced to one lane only where necessary, keeping two lanes open near the Culmore Road Roundabout.

Traffic controls on Culmore Road and Foyle Bridge will also be lifted with work resuming on Monday.

A decision on further postponing works on Queens Quay will be confirmed later.

NI Water thanked its contractors for adapting plans, but warned that delays may extend work into September, potentially affecting school traffic.