The Irish Football Association’s Intermediate Cup has a new lead sponsor and two new associate sponsors.
McComb’s Coach Travel is now the lead sponsor of the competition, which dates back to 1892.
Match on Tuesday, the Daily Mirror’s popular junior football supplement, which has sponsored the Intermediate Cup for the past couple of seasons, remains a supporter as an associate partner.
And Toals Bookmakers has become the official betting partner of the historic competition.
Caroline McComb, director of McComb's Coach Travel, said: “We are delighted to be the sponsor of this year’s Intermediate Cup. We have provided luxury coach travel to teams across all leagues since we started 25 years ago and this sponsorship solidifies our commitment to local football.”
Jerry Stewart, vice-chair of the Irish FA’s Intermediate Cup Committee, said: “Football at this level continues to thrive and it’s fantastic the Intermediate Cup is being supported by well-known local companies in the form of McComb’s Coach Travel, Match on Tuesday (Daily Mirror) and Toals Bookmakers.
“I and the committee are confident these partnerships will help promote and grow this prestigious competition further. We all look forward to working with our partners throughout the upcoming campaign.”
The McComb’s Coach Travel Intermediate Cup is Northern Ireland's premier competition for clubs of intermediate status.
Linfield Swifts are the most successful side in the competition’s history, having won it 11 times, most recently in 2003-04, with Dundela following closely behind with 10 victories.
Current holders Crumlin Star defeated Queen's University 1-0 in last season's final at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
The first round of the competition in the 2019-20 season kicks off in earnest tomorrow (Saturday 19 October) and features some mouthwatering ties.
They include Crumlin Star away to Albert Foundry, Linfield Swifts away to Newbuildings United, Lurgan Town taking on Brantwood at home, Rosario (home) up against 2017 winners Limavady United, Lisburn Distillery (home) versus Glebe Rangers plus Bangor away to Colin Valley.
The full list of fixtures can be found here.
Image: At the launch of this season’s McComb’s Coach Travel Intermediate Cup were Caroline McComb, director of McComb’s Coach Travel, along with (from left) Ronnie Haughey from associate sponsor Match on Tuesday, Intermediate Cup vice-chair Jerry Stewart and Kyle Thompson of betting partner Toals Bookmakers.
