Everton boss David Moyes is
eyeing up a Milk Cup hat-trick.
The Premier League club have
officially marked their success at last summer’s Milk Cup in front of a full
house at Goodison Park.
Tournament chairman Victor
Leonard says the Toffees’ manager was pleased to see their Under-15
representatives retain the youth title in Coleraine and wants them to return
this year to defend it.
Victor handed over the trophy
at a special reception in front of 38,000 spectators before a clash with
Spurs.
He says: “Everyone at Everton
is thrilled and the win over Watford saw Everton become the first club to win
the Junior crown four times.”
Star of the tournament,
striker Hallam Hope, also paraded his haul of trophies for a remarkable
performance.
Hope won the Golden Boot award
as well as the player of the tournament trophy and the man of the match
accolade. He scored twice in the 4-1 final victory, following up on his
hat-trick against Wolves in the previous year’s
decider.
Hope’s night was crowned by a
presentation from Arthur Noble and Alan Harris, members of the Northern Ireland
Everton Supporters’ Club, as their Everton Player of the
Tournament.
Victor, Milk Cup secretary Jim
Weir and Treasurer Dr. Tom Stark were guests of the club at the game and joined
the Everton U-15 squad in the centre of the
pitch.
“It was a terrific
advertisement for the Milk Cup and a real joy for Jim Weir who is a lifelong
Everton supporter,” says Victor.
“We have a terrific
relationship with the club and of course David Moyes has strong links to the
north coast as his late mother was from Portrush.
“We look forward to seeing
Everton back with us this summer.”