The former international defender, who earned 80 caps for his country, led 62 elite boys’ and girls’ teams through the streets of Coleraine, before officially opening the 42nd edition of Northern Ireland’s premier youth football tournament in front of a packed crowd at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

More than 1,200 of the brightest young players from five continents have arrived in the region for a week of top-class international youth football, with over 150 matches set to take place at venues across the Causeway Coast and Glens, Antrim and Newtownabbey and Mid and East Antrim.

More than 55,000 spectators from across the globe are expected to attend the tournament, and culminating in the drama, emotion and celebration of Finals Day.

The Girls’ Premier and Junior Finals will take place at Dixon Park, Ballyclare on Thursday 31^st July, while the Boys’ Minor, Junior and Premier Finals will be staged at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 1^st August.

A commanding centre back during his playing days, McAuley competed in the tournament in 1994 when he represented the Dundonald Junior League in the Boys’ Junior Section. He went to play for Crusaders and Coleraine before enjoying a distinguished playing career in England with Lincoln City, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and West Brom.

Since retiring in 2019 at the age of 39, following a 23-year playing career, McAuley has remained a key figure in the international set-up, working as a coach with Northern Ireland’s Under-17 and Under-19 squads before being appointed manager of the Under-19 men’s team in 2023.

Gareth McAuley MBE, former West Bromwich Albion and Northern Ireland international, said: “It’s a real privilege to officially launch this year’s Budget Energy SuperCupNI. Playing in this tournament was a huge moment in my development as a young player and it gave me memories and friendships that have lasted a lifetime. It also offered a first glimpse of what it meant to compete at a higher level and that experience helped shape the rest of my career.

“There’s something truly special about this tournament. The welcome parade and opening ceremony are unforgettable and I know how much it means to the players to be part of it. To see thousands of people lining the streets and cheering them on shows just how important this tournament is to Northern Ireland and to the many top-class teams who travel here from around the world.

“I’d encourage every young footballer taking part this week to embrace the occasion, give it everything and take pride in representing their team and their country. I wish everyone the very best of luck for what I’m sure will be another brilliant week of football.”

The 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI boasts one of the most competitive and globally diverse line-ups in the tournament’s 42-year history, with elite clubs from the UK, Ireland, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia set to compete across five fiercely contested age categories.

Victor Leonard, Chairperson of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said: “The Opening Ceremony and welcome parade are always a special highlight of the week and this year’s was one of the best we have ever seen. To have thousands of people lining the streets and packing the Coleraine Showgrounds to celebrate the start of the tournament demonstrates its longevity, enduring appeal and special place in Northern Ireland’s sporting calendar.

“We are especially grateful to Gareth McAuley for officially opening this year’s tournament. He is a fantastic role model for young footballers here, having played in the competition himself before going on to forge a successful professional and international career.

ENJOYABLE WEEK

“I also want to pay tribute to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, who are the backbone of this tournament, and to thank local councils and our partners whose support ensures we can continue to deliver an event of this scale and quality.”

Sean O’Loughlin, Managing Director of Flogas Ireland & Budget Energy, added: “It was a real privilege to experience the Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony in Coleraine. The colour, energy and emotion made it a spectacular curtain raiser to what promises to be an unforgettable week of international youth football.

“What struck me most was the incredible sense of community, with players, coaches, families and fans coming together to celebrate youth sport on a global scale. It speaks volumes about the pride Northern Ireland takes in hosting this tournament and the impact it continues to have.

“It was also a pleasure to meet Gareth McAuley. He is a genuine role model whose journey from SuperCupNI participant to international footballer is a source of inspiration for the next generation.

“As official main partner, we are proud to support a tournament that not only showcases elite footballing talent but creates lifelong memories for everyone involved. We wish all the teams the very best for an enjoyable and successful week.”

The 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is proudly supported by headline partner Budget Energy, alongside a strong line-up of valued partners including Tourism NI; Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council; Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; Sterling Insurance; Creagh Concrete; Uhlsport; Clearer Water; Tesco; The Premier League; TrustFord; 247.tv; and BuyTicketApp.

The post Gareth McAuley leads global celebration to kick-off 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The show is coming to the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 March 2022.

Playing its role in helping the industry’s rising stars and talented professionals to battle it out in the kitchen, Salon Culinaire has always been central to IFEX and plays a key role in creating the electric atmosphere at Northern Ireland’s biggest foodservice and hospitality event.

As Northern Ireland’s largest and most prestigious chef competition programme, attracting chefs from all sectors of the industry and with all levels of experience, Salon Culinaire raises the bar in terms of culinary excellence in Northern Ireland, with the programme featuring more than 30 categories during the three days of the show.

At the heart is the ChefSkills Live Theatre – hotly anticipated as the place where the ‘best of’ culinarians in Northern Ireland are formally acknowledged – with previous winners including Michael Deane, Chris Bell and Roisin Gavin to name but a few.

ChefSkills sees an exciting series of back-to-back live hot competitions, including the hotly contended Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs-supported IFEX Northern Ireland Chef of the Year and Northern Ireland Junior Chef of the Year accolades.

Sizzling street food

Returning in 2022 is the sizzling IFEX Street Food International which will see teams of invited competitors from Northern Ireland’s catering colleges produce and serve a range of exciting modern street food style dishes.

Supported by Department for the Economy, each team will cook up innovative, high quality ‘al fresco’ street food dishes that will be served to pre-ticketed diners during lunch service at IFEX.

Following the launch of the new schedule, long-standing Salon Culinaire Director, Sean Owens comments: “I am thrilled to launch the 2022 Salon Culinaire at IFEX competition schedule; Belfast takes its rightful place as one of the top Salon Culinaire programmes in the UK and it is THE place to celebrate the skills within our industry.

“The past number of years have been a testing time for our industry, but with the return of IFEX, celebrating its 25^th anniversary, we are confident that our industry is strong and resilient, and we relish the prospects for growth and development throughout our sector.”

Sean added: “From student chefs and kitchen trainees to celebrated, leading chefs within the industry, we have a programme for all at IFEX 2022. I’m confident that we’re going to discover some extraordinarily talented young chefs, and to have uncovered and encouraged new talent to flourish at IFEX is exactly what the premier event for the food, drink, retail and hospitality industries is all about.”

Talented young chefs

Bigger and better than ever before, Salon Culinaire at IFEX is designed to nurture the talents of the province’s young chefs and it is with the help of the show’s sponsors that the show continues to be such a success – in particular the Government departments and industry-leading companies and agencies who have supported the event over many years.

Supporters for the Salon Culinaire 2022 include the Department for the Economy (DfE), Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Stephens Catering Equipment, Flogas, Budget Energy, Andrew Ingredients, Keenan Seafood and Frylite.

For those who hope to compete, ChefSkills and Edible Art are now open for entry. For more information, visit: www.ifexexhibition.co.uk/salon-culinaire

IFEX 2022 is taking place from Tuesday 29^th March to 31^st March at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast. To find out more about the show, visit www.ifexexhibition.co.uk or @ifexexhibition on social.

Caption: Catering students from Belfast MET with Sean Owens, IFEX Salon Culinaire Director and Paul Cunningham, IFEX 2018 Chef of the Year  

The post IFEX cooks up new skills competition menu for 2022 first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

NEXT March, Northern Ireland’s premier food, drink and hospitality event – IFEX 2022 – will return, opening its doors at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast and celebrating its 25th anniversary, there’s set to be even more ingredients for a successful show than ever before.

Taking place from Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st March, IFEX returns under new ownership, having been acquired via 365 Events Ltd – a company co-owned by events industry stalwart, Toby Wand and events specialist, Billie Moore – from London based Montgomery Group.

Commenting on the importance of the shows return, Toby Wand, Managing Director of 365 Events Ltd comments: ‘’As the world of hospitality recovers and realigns post-pandemic, vibrant business events like IFEX will provide vital meeting places for the industries to reconnect, uncover new learnings and discover relevant technologies to improve their businesses and customer focus.

“IFEX is firmly-rooted in NI’s hospitality industry and celebrating its 25th anniversary, next year’s show is set to shine a light on the importance of IFEX to Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector and the role that it has played in the development of skills within the sector since the show’s first event, back in the King’s Hall. We’ve exciting plans for the three-day show and are ensuring that every aspect of the event is relevant for the challenges and opportunities presenting themselves to the Foodservice and Hospitality sectors today.”

 Sell Out Show

The last IFEX took place in 2018 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, when the show was a sell-out with record visitor numbers. For 2020, the event was well on track to exceed expectations before the arrival of the pandemic, when everything came to a halt.  As the pandemic took hold, IFEX was postponed and then cancelled. Now with the re-building of industry, and particularly hospitality businesses, IFEX will return with strength in 2022.

Popular show features will be returning, including Chef of the year, the Great Taste Market and Salon Culinaire. With skills high on the agenda, NEW features on the menu include NI hospitality skills hub, a barista and mixology skills hub and the addition of IFEX Talks, a speaker stage playing host to live talks and panel debates daily.

Fabulous Showcase

‘’IFEX is a fabulous showcase for small producers and the Guild of Fine Food are keen to support the show once again with a Great Taste Market. Northern Ireland’s makers have an impressive track record in Great Taste, testament to the innovative, well-made and quality food and drink produced by people who care about their products,” says John Farrand, MD, The Guild of Fine Food.

Once again, the show is retaining its excellent relationships with industry associations in the province, including Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI and will be working hard to ensure cross-industry support. Confirmed exhibitors include show stalwarts – Stephen’s Catering, the official catering equipment partner of the Salon and Chef Skills, Flogas and Budget Energy. Paul Ruegg, Senior Marketing Executive, Flogas adds:

 Energy Partners

‘’Flogas & Budget Energy, as official Energy Partners, are delighting to be supporting IFEX 2022.  Flogas are proud to supply LPG to the Salon Culinaire and the ChefSkills Theatre, both of which play a small part in raising the bar of culinary skills throughout NI.  Flogas supply LPG & natural gas and Budget Energy supply electricity to the foodservice, retail and hospitality sectors in NI. Both Flogas & Budget Energy look forward to meeting members of the foodservice, retail and hospitality sectors who always turn out in their thousands to support IFEX.”

IFEX is a melting pot for all elements of the food, drink, retail and hospitality industries. Connecting producers and suppliers to distributors, and those in the foodservice and hospitality trade.

By booking early, exhibitors can take advantage of securing prime positioning and being included in the promotional campaign in the run up to the show. To find out more visit www.ifexexhibition.co.uk

Sean Owens, Director of Salon Culinaire pictured with students from Belfast MET;

Mark Rice, Curriculum Hub Manager Hospitality & Tourism at Belfast MET and Paul Caves,

Managing Director at Stephens Catering Equipment, at the launch of IFEX 2020. 

The post IFEX IS BACK! 29th – 31st March 2022 first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.