provide Bermuda's under 14 national team with invaluable experience in the buildup to the next Youth World Cup.

The lessons of adequate preparation, highlighted by the senior team's recent World Cup campaign, have been taken to heart by the Bermuda Football Association whose coaching committee is putting in place long term programmes for youth competition.

As part of this preparation and an indication of the BFA's commitment to its youth teams, the under 14 team will depart on July 17 for tournaments in Northern Ireland and Portsmouth, England and return on July 31. This under 14 squad is preparing for the next Junior World Cup in two years time and has been training since March, twice a week and now four times a week now that school is out for the summer.

The first tournament the team will be involved in is the prestigious Northern Ireland Milk Cup, played on the scenic north-west of Ireland. The idea to compete in the event came from Olympic Club owner Nick Jones whose father-in-law is involved in organising the competition.

The Milk Cup is rated as one of the highest level of competitions for under 14s, as is probably shown by Bermuda's opening game on Monday, July 19 which is against Glasgow Rangers of Scotland. The following day Bermuda plays Dundonald of Northern Ireland and on the Wednesday take on the youth team from crack English club Everton.

Based on the final standings amongst the 24 teams, which are initially split into six groups, the teams will be split into groups of eight to compete for three trophies, starting with quarter final knockout rounds matches.

"We appear to be in the strongest group with Everton and Glasgow Rangers,'' admits coach Jon Beard.

Beard is confident the group of youngsters will gain an invaluable exposure from the experience. "We have some very promising youngsters coming through and what they need to do is get out and get more outside competition,'' said Beard.

"They have been playing together since the mini minors but they need to be pushed a bit harder which is what this competition will do. This is one of the highest standards in the world for an under 14 tournament.'' Other teams competing in the tournament include Scottish teams Clydebank, Partick Thistle, Hibs and Hearts, Norwich, Newcastle, Crewe and Middlesborough of England and Home Farm which is the top team in the Republic of Ireland.

Following the Milk Cup the team flies to England where they will participate in the Royal Mail Cup in Portsmouth which involves some 10 teams, from places like Sweden, England, Malta Ireland and the United States. Bermuda will play Vadetta of Malta, Solent United of England and a team from Northern Ireland in their early games.

Squad: Carlton (Pepe Dill (tour manager), Jon Beard (coach), Josef Gooden (assistant coach), Damien Butterfield, Lashaun Dill, Vincent Minors, John Barry Nusum, Wolde Place, Keemo Smith, Joey Rego (all Wolves), Damon Ming, Thomas Smith, Clevon Hill, Nasir Maynard, Damon Hewey (all Devonshire Colts), Tyrone Smith, Ryan Simmons (Somerset), Winston Paynter, Vernon Tankard, Sri Wilson (North Village), Desmond Burgess (PHC).