Welcoming Parade & Ceremony

**The Welcoming Ceremony for the 30th Anniversary Milk Cup 2012 tournament starts at 7pm in Coleraine on Sunday 22nd July**

Dairy Council's David Ross pictured with Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and NI Milk Cup Chairman Victor Leonard

Coleraine's colourful carnival to welcome our guests...

This year games start on Saturday 21st July but the Welcoming Parade of all competing teams takes place on Sunday 22nd July.  The Parade leaves the Town Hall in The Diamond in the centre of Coleraine at 7pm.

For our 30th Anniversary celebrations we expect an even bigger crowd than usual! This year we welcome 46 teams from all five continents and six FIFA Confederations.

Also in the line up are bands from across Northern Ireland who provide a wide variety of music; our special guests; referees plus organising committee members and volunteers.

Video highlights of the 2011 Milk Cup Welcoming Parade/Ceremony in Coleraine. Shot & chopped by Alex Cheung.

The parade, watched by thousands of wellwishers, makes its way along the main street, Church Street, into Kingsgate Street, then swings left into Railway Road and passes the Leisure Centre before eventually swinging right at the Railway Station gates into Ballycastle Road and on to the Showgrounds, home of local Irish League Premiership club Coleraine FC.

Teams arrive at Coleraine Showgounds around 7.30pm for a Welcome Ceremony where they parade onto the pitch and a special guest declares the Milk Cup open with the traditional raising of the tournament flag.

Matches in the three competitions, Elite (Under-20s), Premier (Under-17s) and Junior (Under-15), continue on the following day, Monday 23rd July.

Scenes from previous Welcome Parades in Coleraine...