SuperCupNI 2024 - Rangers FC U-17s Win SCNI Vase
By Umair Mirxa
Rangers FC’s Under-17s team have won the SCNI Vase trophy in the ‘Boys Premier’ competition of the SuperCupNI 2024. They played the final against Toluca on 26th July, and won the match 2-1.
The team finished second in their group, after three matches:
22nd July: Won 2-0 vs. County Tyrone
23rd July: Drew 0-0 vs. Otago
24th July: Lost 0-4 vs. Hamilton Academical
They qualified for the semi-finals of the SCNI Vase as one of two runners-up in the group stages who were not among the three best-placed.
25th July: Won 5-0 vs. West Cork Academy
Our Under-15s, meanwhile, won 9-1 against St. Francis in the SCNI Vase Play-Off match to finish third in the trophy.
They had finished third in the group stages of the ‘Boys Junior’ competition:
22nd July: Lost 1-2 vs. Fermanagh
23rd July: Won 3-1 vs. FC America
24th July: Lost 1-3 vs. St. Patrick’s Athletic
It meant they qualified for the semi-finals of the SCNI Vase where they played against Old Firm rivals Celtic, and lost the match 2-5 on 25th July.
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.