Stuart Dallas makes special SuperCupNI homecoming to open 2024 tournament

Steven Crawford
·2-min read
A picture of Stuart Dallas
-Credit: (Image: INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry)


Former SuperCupNI graduate Stuart Dallas will officially open this year's tournament. Dallas, who shone at the tournament for County Tyrone between 2005 and 2008, will lead 66 teams from all four corners of the globe through the streets of Coleraine on Sunday 21st July before officially declaring the 2024 tournament open.

The recently retired Cookstown native started out at his hometown club Coagh United and ended with the NI international starring for Leeds United in the English Premier League. Over the course of his career, Dallas made 390 appearances, scoring 60 goals and he was an integral part of Michael O’Neill’s squad at the European Championships in France in 2016.

SuperCupNI chairperson Victor Leonard said the organisers of the tournament were delighted when Stuart agreed to open the 2024 tournament. “Stuart’s journey as a footballer is one which we believe will resonate with so many of the young people participating in the tournament this summer," he said.

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“He shone in the domestic game locally with Coagh United and Crusaders, before making the well-deserved move to England and you could see from the reaction of Stuart’s announcement that he was having to retire due to injury, just how well respected he is in the game. Stuart has been very fulsome of his praise for the tournament, and I know he has very fond memories of his time playing with County Tyrone.”

The 2024 tournament gets underway on Sunday 21stJuly, when the teams and guests participate in the parade and opening ceremony in Coleraine. The parade will get underway at 7pm, leaving from the Mall car park before making its way through Coleraine and ending at the Coleraine Showgrounds, which is once again hosting the finals of the boys tournament this summer.

The action gets underway the next day on Monday 22nd July, across three male age groups and two girls’ age groups, with the tournament concluding with finals day on Friday 26th July. Matches will take place at venues in three council areas, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

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