Opening Ceremony - 2 August 2008

The Twenty final teams gathered at the Opening Ceremony & Draw of the Manchester United Premier Cup at Carrington this evening. Real Madrid and host club Manchester United were both drawn in Group A and will meet in the group stages in the competition sponsored by Nike.

The group matches are to take place at United’s Carrington Training Facility 3-6 August and the final two teams, from over 9,400 participants, will face each other at Old Trafford in a curtain raiser to the Manchester United –v- Juventus friendly on Wednesday 6 August.

Manchester United Merchandising Manager David Tucker introduced two Club Legends now heavily involved in youth football development – Bryan Robson and Brian McClair.
Robson opened with the statement: ‘Do not think that the hard work is over when you join a professional club – it has only just begun…’

When asked how he managed to be the longest serving captain in the Club’s history he said; ‘I was training in the morning, and then again in the afternoon. Fitness is so important. I had to be as fit as my team mates, as well as my opponents. It is all about the hunger to be the very best’.
Academy Director Brian McClair talked about his earliest childhood memories playing football in the streets. "The most important thing in football is to have fun. You learn much more and develop more quickly when you are enjoying yourself." He confessed, "Football should be fun. I considered my job as a hobby that I was lucky enough to get paid for"
United Ambassador Bryan Robson encouraged the boys to make the most of their experiences in the tournament, ‘You have a fantastic opportunity here – make sure you do your best and live out your footballing dreams this week’.

All 20 MUPC finalists experienced Old Trafford history this afternoon, witnessing a key occasion in the Club’s History: the final Testimonial match of a Manchester United favourite, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The assembled teams and fans were keen to witness ‘Super sub’s’ final professional football appearance and the MUPC Team Captains walked out onto the hallowed turf of Old Trafford to entertain the 68,840 spectators in a pre-match display of their skills. Solskjaer congratulated the team captains on reaching the World Finals and offered words of encouragement as they posed for a photograph.

The dream continues - twenty young teams fighting for the ultimate prize, to become the Manchester United Premier Cup Champions of the World...