Grassroots Youth Football Festival to kick off in Edinburgh

THE inaugural Grassroots International Youth Football Festival, a two-day sporting and cultural festival celebrating and supporting the finest grassroots youth footballers from the UK, Europe and beyond, will take place in Edinburgh in July.
Scottish freestyle footballers Gregor Russell and Gavin McKinney. Picture: Phil WilkinsonScottish freestyle footballers Gregor Russell and Gavin McKinney. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Scottish freestyle footballers Gregor Russell and Gavin McKinney. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Tickets for the festival on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July at Peffermill Playing Fields in Edinburgh are now officially on sale at worldyouthfootballfestival.com.

The Grassroots International Youth Football Festival, the first international football festival that Edinburgh has ever hosted, brings together the very best of grassroots football from around the globe to the UK in the first ever event of its kind on British soil.

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The two-day football fiesta will also feature a theme park, music acts, a family and lifestyle zone and will play host to the 2016 World Football Freestyle Championships.

Teams from as far and wide as Africa and Europe will descend upon the Capital to take part in the event which will feature three main competitions over the course of the weekend: a 64-team 11-a-side tournament from U13s-U17, an International pro youth invitational cup and a 40-team 7-a-side tournament from 2004-2005 age category.

The festival is the brainchild of David Walthall and Brian McNally, who is also a co-founder of Youth Football Scotland. Inspired by the success of the Norway Cup, Dania Cup and Gothia Cup in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, the duo wanted to bring the concept to Scotland in order to promote grassroots football and investment in facilities, training and coaching.

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David Walthall said: “It’s been a huge dream of us to bring this event to Scotland and we are so incredibly proud that we’re able to launch it here in Edinburgh today.

“After experiencing some of the best youth football festivals across the globe, we are passionate about creating a world class event here in Scotland for footballers, fans and families up and down the UK. The Grassroots International Youth Football Festival will be a mixture of high-quality football on the pitch, and world-class entertainment off it.”

Brian McNally said: “The Grassroots International Youth Football Festival is an exciting addition to Scottish football and will give kids and families alike the opportunity to get involved in grassroots football and help identify the finest upcoming Scottish talent. With profits being invested back into facilities, training and coaching – the festival will make a real difference and I’m thrilled to be part of the launch here today.”

For more information on the Grassroots International Youth Football Festival visit worldyouthfootballfestival.com, phone 033 0055 3181 or email [email protected].