NI ARMY RESERVES SUPPORT THE SUPERCUP NI

Guests at the opening dinner of the SuperCup NI (one of the World’s best youth football competitions), including guest speaker James Nesbitt, were welcomed by Pipers from 152 (North Irish) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, based in Holywood and Coleraine. 

While guests were arriving, the Pipers helped to set the scene, whilst being photographed by guests from the many different countries attending the competition.  In the words of the organisers, the pipers made the evening “that little bit more special ”.

But the Army Reserve support was not just limited to the opening dinner.  Warrant Officer Burns from 253 (NI) Med Regt and his band of chefs are also catering for the Chilean football team that has been coming to the tournament for many years and that, due to financial restraints, has always set up camp in the Coleraine Scout Hall. Some 5 years ago, Warrant Officer Burns started to liaise with the organisers and his crew now provide 3 meals a day for the Chilean team and their staff. This is not an easy task when you have to cater for different diets and juggle the timings of meals to suit training and match timings.

To be given the right to play in the competition here the teams must first play a similar competition in their home country and the winners then get to take part in the SuperCup. This will be the first and possibly the last time that some of these players will ever be outside of Chile therefore the desire and commitment to win their own tournament is high.

Chefs from 253 and 2 R Irish are working hard throughout the week and they are under strict instructions that cakes are only allowed after completion of the day’s training and of course their matches. Warrant Officer Burns said:  “The kids are so great to be around and their manners and appreciation for our support is humbling.  There is sometimes a problem with the language barrier but it does not take them long to learn “Chips”, “Burgers” and of course “Chocolate”.