The Foyle Cup is a week to remember for many young football players in Derry and their families.
Now with a global reach, with teams from America, Canada and Europe having competed, those who were there when the Foyle Cup began find it hard to believe how far it has come.
Philip Devlin, Foyle Cup secretary, has coached local team Oxford United Stars for 20 years and played in the first ever Foyle Cup match against Star of the Sea from Belfast in 1992.
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In the first ever Foyle Cup, it was a one-day tournament with eight teams.
This year, the Foyle Cup returns after a two-year break due to COVID-19, welcoming over 450 teams to the week-long tournament across Derry and beyond.
Philip spoke to MyDerry about the evolution of the tournament and how it has impacted the city more than they could have ever expected.
He said: "When I played in that first ever match 30 years ago, I never imagined all these years later I would still be involved and the tournament evolved the way it did.
"Time went on and the tournament just got stronger and stronger. I remember speaking to Michael Hutton just before we reached 200 teams saying we never thought we would expand that much.
"When COVID hit, we were unsure what the tournament was going to look like on its return. We thought if we get half the numbers as we had in 2019 we would be happy.
"We actually ended up having to turn teams away after we reached capacity, the applications came flooding in."
Philip spoke of the impact that the tournament has had on the city over the decades it has grown.
He said: "It is a festival of football. Not only is it important for the football following of the city, it is vital for tourism in the city. The hotels are booked out, the restaurants are booked out, places like the bowling alley see a huge increase in visitors in the week of the Foyle Cup.
"During the week itself there are always spectators out watching, families of younger kids but also football fans across the city. Finals day in the Brandywell is always an amazing atmosphere."
The Foyle Cup has integrated itself as one of the key events in the city's calendar. For those who take part, they make memories which last a lifetime.
Philip said: "It is amazing to be part of a tournament that benefits the young people so much, giving them a platform to showcase their skills.
"It is a memory making tournament. In my 20 years coaching, boys I coached in the Foyle Cup still chat to each other about the tournament and things that happened in the week. Now their kids are playing in the Foyle Cup.
"A lot of competitions come and go but the Foyle Cup has gotten stronger and stronger. A lot of that is down to the people of Derry. Visitors coming to the city get an amazing welcome and want to come back again year after year!"
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