Rangers FC have sent two academy teams—Under-17s and Under-15s—to compete in the Northern Ireland Youth Soccer Tournament for its 2024 edition.
Our Under-17s team will compete in the ‘Boys Premier’ section, a twenty-team open tournament which kicks off on 22nd July. An Under-15s team will take part in the ‘Boys Junior’ section, a sixteen-team open tournament.
The Under-17s won their first match on 22nd July 2-0 against County Tyrone, and followed it up with a 0-0 draw against Otago on the 23rd. However, they lost 0-4 to Hamilton Academical on the 24th in the third and final group stage match. The results mean the team finished in second place with 4 points and a goal difference of -2, which was not enough to rank us amongst the 3 best placed group runners-up for a place in the SCNI Globe semi-finals.
We will now play West Cork Academy on 25th July in the semi-finals of the SCNI Vase, and hope to meet either Toluca or Skouted FC in the final.
Our Under-15s lost their first match 1-2 against Fermanagh on 22nd July but recovered to win 3-1 against FC America on the 23rd. In the final group stage match, they lost 1-3 to St. Patrick’s Athletic, and finished third in the group with 3 points and a goal difference of -1.
We will now play Old Firm rivals Celtic on 25th July in the semi-finals of the SCNI Vase, and hope to meet either Blackburn Rovers or St. Francis in the final on the 26th.
What is the SuperCupNI?
The Northern Ireland Youth Soccer Tournament was founded in 1983 by Jim Weir, Victor Leonard, George Logan and Bertie Peacock.
Its first edition was won by Motherwell’s Under-16 side, and the competition has since gone from strength to strength, gaining in prestige over the decades. The ‘Junior’ section was added in 1985, and an Under-14 team from Rangers FC became its first champions.
Today, the SuperCupNI is comprised of five competitions: Boys Premier, Boys Junior, Boys Minor, Girls Premier, and Girls Junior.
Boys Premier - Competition Rules
Teams qualify from the group stages, based on their performances, to compete in the semi-finals for one of the following trophies:
SuperCupNI: The best 4 of the 5 groups.
SCNI Globe: The remaining group winner and the 3 best placed group runners up.
SCNI Vase: The remaining two runners up and the two best placed third placed teams in the groups.
SCNI Bowl: The three remaining third placed teams in the group and the best placed fourth placed team in the groups.
SCNI Salver: The remaining four fourth placed teams in the groups.
Boys Junior - Competition Rules
Teams qualify from the group stages, based on their performances, to compete in the semi-finals for one of the following trophies:
SuperCupNI: Winner in each group.
SCNI Globe: Second place in each group.
SCNI Vase: Third place in each group.
SCNI Bowl: Fourth place in each group.