Immediately following a meeting of the ERREA CHALLENGE CUP EXECUTIVE earlier today, Tournament Director MICHAEL BRADSHAW issued the following Statement:

On behalf of the Tournament Executive, I am delighted to announce that we have received full clearance from the FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION to proceed with the Tournament on terms and conditions acceptable to all parties. This clearance was particularly important given the composition of the Competition and the Rules and Conditions that will apply.

In addition, we have secured a full schedule of FA/DEVON FA nominated and approved Match Officials to cover all games including and up to, the Semi-Finals of the Competition. The Officials to be assigned to the Final scheduled for Sunday 27^th July will be announced later.

Whilst it may appear a formality for the respective Associations to approve the Competition, the fact that we advocated a different and potentially more entertaining format involving, amongst other things, a different points award system at the Group stage and ground/venue rotation, necessitated the authorities approving our proposals.

Having previously released to all participating Clubs the formal TOURNAMENT GUIDE, we are now in a position to distribute the Competition Rules and schedule of Match Officials, a whole 14 days before their arrival here in Devon.

This week also sees the launch of a Poster campaign in Appledore, Barnstaple and Bideford highlighting the dates and venues of all ELEVEN GAMES to be played. All three of the host Clubs were represented at a Planning Meeting last Thursday ( 3^rd July) and it was confirmed that ALL ground preparations and spectator facilities installation were on schedule. The 36 Page Tournament Programme has now been placed with the printer and it is expected to be on sale from Friday 18^th JULY.

Through the media, I would like once again to thank all our colleagues at DEVON FA, the FA and of course the three host Clubs for the magnificent efforts that are going in to this inaugural Challenge Cup. We have 14 days left to complete an awesome amount of work, but we will do NORTH DEVON proud.

We do need to remind local supporters that the ADVANCE TICKET SAVER covering ALL GAMES up to the FINAL will be on sale at the HOST CLUBS, BLIGHTS MOTORS, BREND HOTELS AND SPORTSFOREYOU, UNTIL SATURDAY 19^TH JULY only!! The cost is £ 15.00 for an ADULT+ 2 Children to see ALL 10 GAMES if they wish; £ 1.50 per game!!! Tickets for the FINAL will be available from MONDAY 21^ST JULY at selected sales-points to be announced.