Hong Kong, 25 May 2014 – England U-18 winger Brandon Barker scored two sensational second-half goals as Manchester City came from behind to beat Hong Kong champions Kitchee 2-1 in a dramatic Cup final at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens.

Manchester City had earlier come from behind to beat Sunderland 3-2 after extra-time of a thrilling semi-final, while Kitchee had also needed a golden goal to beat Newcastle United 3-2 in the first semi at Hong Kong Football Club.

Jason Wilcox, concluding his first season as Manchester City U-18 coach, was delighted with his young players, who were devastated to lose in the English U18 Premier League playoff final just days before flying to Hong Kong.

“I thought it was fantastic and just a fitting end to our season. They’ve worked really hard,” said the 42-year-old former England winger, whose career included a Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers.

“It’s not the first time we’ve come back from being down, so I’m really pleased. They showed great character. I’m delighted for them, because we lost the U18s Premier League final just before we came, so they’ve recovered well.

“I said before we came, we’re a very exciting team and even the defenders are good attackers. I always knew we’d have goals in us, so if we could defend properly, work hard and understand the format, then I knew we’d go far.”

Kitchee captain Lo Kwan-yee deflected in a shot by Spanish striker Jordi Tarres Paramo just before the break in a match featuring two 10-minute halves. Jordi then hit the post in the third minute of the second half before Barker equalised two minutes later, firing into the roof of the net from outside the area.

Kitchee’s Christian Annan and Manchester City striker Thierry Ambrose both had one-on-one chances in a fast-paced end to a thrilling game, but Barker was the hero after cutting in from the left side of the area and curling in a right-footed shot inside the far post with just a minute left.

Barker, 17, was named Player of the Tournament ahead of several leading candidates including teammate Ambrose and Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish, who finished the event as top scorer with six goals.

Barker was confident his team could come back against Kitchee, the tournament’s 2011 winners and who recently won their third First Division title in four seasons.

“I just knew it was going to happen, to be honest,” said Barker, who scored four goals in the tournament. “It’s a great set of lads and we’ve done it in the end. It was a great experience and something very different. The weather’s a bit hot, but you have to deal with that.

“It was gutting losing the Premier League final, but obviously we’ve won another piece of silverware.”

Grealish, 18, was the star of the Shield final as Aston Villa beat Scottish giants Rangers 3-1. Villa were one of the pre-tournament favourites, but the five-time winners lost 1-0 to Sunderland in the Cup quarter-finals.

Leicester City, the 2013 Cup champions, beat BC Rangers 2-0 to win the third-tier Plate.

Jari Litmanen was named Player of the Tournament in the Masters as Aegon Ajax All Stars regained the Cup they won in 2012, beating USRC 1-0 with a strike by Olaf Lindbergh in extra-time, in which teams play four-a-side and win with a golden goal.

“When we are playing we want to entertain and enjoy. When you’re in the final, you have two choices – you either lose or you win, so I rather we win than we lose,” said Litmanen, who was also part of the team beaten 2-1 by Rangers Legends in last year’s final.

“Last year we lost with more or less the same team and now we’ve won it. It’s nice to have finished like this. In the past three years, Ajax has won twice and lost one final so I think we’ve done a good job.”

Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Hong Kong, 24 May 2014 – Daniel ‘DJ’ Johnson, the 2012 Player of the Tournament, scored four goals to help five-time winners Aston Villa record three straight 2-0 wins and top Group D at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, with their last win over Leicester City pushing the defending champions into the Plate.

HKFA U-21 earlier shocked Leicester 1-0 with a goal from Lee Ka-ho, then secured second spot and a place in the Cup quarter-finals after Villa beat Leicester with goals by 18-year-old star Jack Grealish and Joshua Webb. Johnson, 21, scored all four goals in Villa’s victories over HKFA U-21 and Yau Yee League Select.

Hong Kong champions Kitchee, the 2011 champions, topped Group B after a scoreless draw against Sunderland was followed by 1-0 wins over Chelsea and HKFC Captain’s Select. Sunderland finished second after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the last group match, leaving Chelsea joining Leicester in the Plate.

Manchester City and Rangers progressed from Group C after a 1-1 draw in their final match meant the two British clubs edged Hong Kong First Division side BC Rangers on goal difference, all three teams finishing on five points. Newcastle and HKFA U-23 progressed from Group A to complete the quarter-final line-up.

Aston Villa U-18 coach Ben Petty was delighted with his side’s opening day and said Johnson and other players requested to return to Hong Kong in a concerted bid to win back the trophy they’ve won five times.

“We’re delighted. I asked the boys for three solid performances and that’s what we got. We haven’t conceded a goal, we’ve looked good at the back, and Daniel and Jack are starting to hit a little bit of form, so we’re pleased,” Petty said.

“Danny wanted to come back here. The boys think very highly of the competition and when the squad was being considered, Danny and one or two of the older boys asked if they could be considered. We’re delighted to bring him. Janoi Donacien and Josh Webb are all in the Under-21s now and they’ve also come back.”

Petty admitted the side is determined to break their trophy ‘drought’ and that the upcoming retirement of Bryan Jones, the club’s Academy Manager, makes this year’s campaign a special one.

“It has been too long since we won. As a club, we want to start winning things and whether that’s at youth level, U-21 level, we want to put trophies on the table, so we’re out to win this,” said Petty, who is coaching in his fourth straight Soccer Sevens.

“We’d like to win it for Bryan as he’s bowing out after 20 years of service. He’s been amazing for the Academy. We all spoke before the tournament and we said he’s done a lot for all of us, including the staff, so it would be a nice way for him to bow out.”

Hong Kong national coach Kim Pan-gon was delighted with how his U-21 charges held on for a momentous victory over Leicester, whose squad includes 2013 Player of the Tournament Harry Panayiotou.

“Actually in Hong Kong our weak point is mentality, but today we improved our mentality and fighting spirit. Our players really wanted to get into the Cup, so it was great to beat a top team from England,” said Kim, who’s overseeing both the HKFA U-23 and U-21 sides at the tournament.

“The boys are just 18 or 19, so this is a good opportunity for them to learn something and to get more experience. They did well.”

Spanish striker Jordi Tarres scored in the second half as Kitchee secured a famous win over Chelsea, one of the pre-tournament favourites after bringing many players from their U21 Premier League winning squad.

“We were pleased with the win over Chelsea,” said Kitchee captain Lo Kwan-yee. “They are young, so we thought we had a 50/50 chance. In the first half, we got to know their style of play, then in the second half we tried some different movements to pinpoint their weaknesses. We’ve had a good season, so we’re trying to enjoy the tournament and hope the fans enjoy how we play.”

Jason Wilcox’s Manchester City lived up to their promise of attacking football. The young side crushed Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) 4-0 and were two up against BC Rangers, before the local club made it 2-2 with the last kick of the match.

French striker Thierry Ambrose scored three goals, England U-18 winger Brandon Barker netted twice, while captain James Horsfield and Spanish left-back Jose Angel Tasende (‘Angelino’) also scored.

Wilcox, 42, said his U-18s would need to maintain concentration if they’re to progress further in the competition.

“We got off to a great start, but then slipped into a little bit of complacency in the second game, especially going two up. In this competition, if you switch off for a minute, you can concede a goal, so it’s a real learning curve for the lads,” said the former England winger, who won the Premier League with Blackburn.

“We went into the last game needing at least a draw, so I was really pleased with how they performed. We showed courage and character to get back into it after going a goal down. We’re playing in a different climate, extremely difficult, so I’m really pleased,” added Wilcox, before paying tribute to his forward.

“Thierry’s very exciting, very powerful, so he’s got a bright future.”

In the Masters, Rangers Legends lost 3-1 to a United Services Recreation Club side boosted by five Brazilian guest stars. However, the defending champions bounced back to beat Wallsend Boys Club 3-2 and finish second behind USRC in Group A.

Michael Bridges will play no further part in the tournament after the former Leeds and Sunderland striker suffered a broken arm, having already scored his second goal of the tournament in Wallsend’s 3-1 win over Kowloon Cricket Club.

Aegon Ajax All Stars, the 2012 champions, beat 2011 champions Eastern Salon Original 1-0 for a third straight victory in Group B, as both sides moved into the quarter-finals from Group B.

Nottingham Forest Mobsters and Citibank All Stars both remained undefeated in Group C, the teams drawing 1-1 in their last match. Carlton Palmer earlier earned Citibank All Stars a crucial 1-0 win over 2010 champions KFC Tokyo.

Sunday matches kick off at 8.00am with day tickets available at the stadium entrance for HK$160. Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Hong Kong, 23 May 2014 – Former Netherlands striker Michael Mols scored a late winner as Rangers Legends kicked off the defence of their Masters title at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens with a hard-fought 1-0 win over local side Kowloon Cricket Club.

KCC, boosted by Scottish guest stars Pat Nevin and James Grady, came close to scoring in the opening minute, but Andy Goram pulled off a crucial save.

Midfielder Alex Rae played with Goram and Scott Nisbet in the Rangers sides that won the Masters in 2008 and last year, and paid tribute to the man between the sticks.

“We started quite slow and gave them an opportunity, but we’ve come to see that from Andy Goram over the years. He’s been brilliant and just as important as the people scoring the goals. From there we started to play well,” said Rae, who scored the winner against Aegon Ajax All Stars in last year’s final.

“Michael’s prolific in front of goal. He had one or two chances in the first half, but the keeper pulled off some good saves. We created enough chances and maybe we could have had one or two penalties, but it’s three points.

“We always find it difficult in the first game because everyone’s very cagey. It’s just a case of being patient and waiting for the opportunity when it arises. We’re pleased because last year we had a poor start and that puts pressure on you for the next couple of games.”

Rangers Legends lead Group A, after debutants Wallsend Boys Club drew 1-1 with local club USRC (United Services Recreation Club).

Michael Bridges, the former Leeds and Sunderland striker, scored a second-half penalty on his Soccer Sevens debut to equalise for Wallsend, after Fabio Alcantara – a Hong Kong First Division striker and one of several Brazilian guest stars in the USRC side – scored in the first half.

“It was nice to get a goal,” Bridges said. “I didn’t realise it was so tough, though! It’s a big pitch and there are only seven of us out there. It’s a great concept and I loved it, but I found it very tiring, so who knows how some of the older boys manage. I really enjoyed it and it was good to get a goal.

Aegon Ajax All Stars, the 2012 champions, beat hosts HKFC Veterans 2-0 in Group B with goals by Gerald Sibon and Kenneth Perez, Player of the Tournament for the past two years.

Also in Group B, 2011 champions Eastern Salon Original of Hong Kong opened the tournament with a comfortable 2-0 win over HKFC Chairman’s Select, the hosts’ second-string side in the Masters.

Jason Lee and David Johnson, with a penalty, scored as Nottingham Forest Mobsters beat 2010 champions KFC Tokyo 2-1. The English club, with former England star Des Walker in defence, lead Group C after group favourites Citibank All Stars were held to a scoreless draw by SCC Tigers from Singapore.

Walker said: “It’s nice to get off with a win, as I think it puts everyone under pressure if you lose or draw the first game. It was good, but I think we’ve got more to come and there are good teams out there, so we’ve got to raise our game.

“The Citibank All Stars look a strong team, so it’s going to be a difficult group to get out of. I think we’ve got a bit more legs than last year, so hopefully we can make more of an inroad this year.”

All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm), while the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass. Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)
Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), BC Rangers (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament
Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)
Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon Original (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)
Group C: Citibank All Stars (ENG), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)

Hong Kong, 23 May 2014 – Chelsea and Sunderland are both wary of facing Hong Kong champions Kitchee at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens on Saturday afternoon, with the 2011 champions posing a big threat to the two English sides progressing to the Cup quarter-finals.

HKFC Captain’s Select, the second team from hosts Hong Kong Football Club, round out a tough Group B in the 16-team Main Tournament, which kicks off with Groups C and D on Saturday morning.

Chelsea U-21 coach Dermot Drummy said Hong Kong’s weather and the presence of Sunderland and Kitchee in their group stage could threaten their bid to win the Cup after previous attempts in 2000, when they reached the final, and two years ago, when his side lost to the Black Cats in the quarter-finals.

“It’s a tough start, but we’ll enjoy it. Every game we play is tough. The thing here is the physicality and the weather. I’ve seen it in these tournaments. It drains people very quickly, so the emphasis is on keeping the ball,” said Drummy, who also managed Chelsea two years ago.

“We know Kitchee will be quick and that if we give the ball away it’ll be hard to get it back, but we’re good at keeping the ball. The difference for our boys is to play in this weather and on this [astroturf] pitch, so they’ve got to acclimatise very quickly. We want the boys to problem solve on the pitch and hopefully they’ll do that.”

Chelsea will be captained by tall centre-back Alex Davey, one of several players from the club’s U21 Premier League-winning squad.

Striker Islam Feruz, midfielders Billy Clifford and Charlie Colkett, defenders Alex Davey, Adam Nditi and Fankaty Dabo, and towering goalkeeper Jamal Blackman were also involved in Chelsea’s U21 success, which was capped by a 2-1 playoff final win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

“Jamal’s a big man and was superb for us at Old Trafford. He was a big-game player for us and I’m sure he’ll be called into service here,” said Drummy, who will start with Feruz up front.

“Islam Feruz has been our No. 9 all season. He’s a great link player and does a lot of work off the ball to get us linked up. When the ball goes into him, it normally sticks, so this will be something we do. Billy’s a very technically gifted player and gets us going forward.”

Kevin Ball is leading Sunderland at the Soccer Sevens for a third straight year, as the side look to build on reaching the semi-finals on their previous appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013. However, Ball admits that getting through the group stage could prove a tricky task, with Kitchee fielding a full-strength side from the squad that won a third Hong Kong First Division title in four seasons.

“It could be tough to get out of the group stage, but we’ve got to give it a right go and try and do it. Chelsea have had a fantastic season with their U-21s and U-18s and full credit to them, while Kitchee are the champions here, so it’s a challenge for the lads,” said Ball, the former Sunderland captain.

“Ideally we want to win and get out of the group – no different to Chelsea and Kitchee – but what’s important for me is how the players go about the game. As long as they give a performance, I’ll be happy with that. If I don’t get a performance, then obviously that’s something for me to talk to the players about.”

Ball’s squad includes midfielders Liam Agnew and Martin Smith, who were both called up to Sunderland’s first-team squad at the end of the season, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has represented England from U-16 through U-19 level and has also been involved with Gus Poyet’s first team.

However, Ball singled out Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston among the pre-tournament favourites.

“Chelsea have done very well this year, Man City have got a very good crop of younger players and we know Villa have always had a good team,” Ball said.

“But when you come here, you come with a view of doing as well as you possibly can. You’re not going to travel thousands of miles for a jolly. You’re going to come to do as well as you can and I think we and the other teams are all going to do that.”

Ball also admitted there’s a feeling of unfinished business, after losing 1-0 to eventual champions Leicester City in last year’s semis.

“When we reached the semi-final last year we felt that was an opportunity for us to have possibly progressed a little bit, but congratulations to Leicester,” Ball said. “We would always say to the players, let’s go as far as we possibly can.”

Group B kicks off in the afternoon along with Group A, which features 2012 champions NHaewcastle United, Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, HKFA U-23 and Hong Kong Football Club.

Groups C and D start on Saturday morning. Group C features Manchester City, Rangers, Hong Kong First Division side BC Rangers and Singapore Cricket Club. Group D comprises defending champions Leicester City, five-time winners Aston Villa, HKFA U-21 and Yau Yee League Select.

The tournament kicks off with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening (7.00-9.00pm). All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm), while the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass, and are available atwww.cityline.com. Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)
Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), BC Rangers (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament
Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)
Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon Original (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)
Group C: Citibank All Stars (ENG), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)

Hong Kong, 22 May 2014 – Former England winger Jason Wilcox says his young Manchester City team will “put on a good show” at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, as they look to make up for the disappointment of defeat in last week’s English U18 Premier League playoff final.

Wilcox, 42, led City to victory in the North Group of the U18 Premier League in his first season in charge, but after making it through to the final, his side lost 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park last Saturday.

The Blues are now seeking to round off their season by improving on last year’s Soccer Sevens debut, when Wilcox was part of the coaching staff in Hong Kong as City were knocked out by Scottish giants Rangers in the quarter-finals.

City have an early chance to avenge that defeat as the reigning English champions are pooled with Rangers, Hong Kong First Division club BC Rangers and Singapore Cricket Club in Group C on Saturday, with Wilcox hoping to finish the season on a high.

“We were extremely disappointed to lose the U18 final, but I’m really, really proud to be the coach of what has been a really excellent season for them in terms of development. They’ve grown as a group and the Soccer Sevens finishes the season nicely, so we’re hoping to put on a good show,” said Wilcox, who first visited Hong Kong with England ahead of the 1996 European Championships.

“We’ve very young – extremely young, actually – but I’m sure that fans will enjoy watching them play because we’ve got some really talented players with a lot of flair.”

Wilcox believes his teenage stars suit the fast pace of the seven-a-side event, which features 16 teams in the Main Tournament and 12 sides in the Masters.

“This event’s a really good format; an interesting format. Have we got players who can deal with one v one situations? Yes. Have we got players who can get around the pitch? Yes. Have we got players with pace? Yes,” said the former winger, who won the 1994/95 Premier League with Blackburn Rovers.

“Even our defenders are comfortable on the ball and they like to attack. We’re a very attacking side with a lot of individual flair, right the way through the nine outfield players. We’ve got a lot of creativity one v one and that’s what you need. That’s something we’ve got in abundance.

“We’ve got a lot of quality, but then again they’ve never played this format before and we’ve not had a great deal of preparation time because we got to the U18 final. I’m looking forward to seeing how they adapt to the situation.”

Although his side are younger than most of the other British sides, Wilcox believes there may be advantage in his side all being drawn from the same team.

“It’s certainly an advantage,” he said. “When you’ve got a squad that’s a mixture of Under-21 players, first-team players and Under-18s, then you’ve never really worked together as a group. Our lads have been together all season, they know me as a coach and what I expect.”

Former Scotland striker Gordon Durie is in charge of City’s Group C rivals Rangers and has drawn most of the squad from his U-20 side who won the Scottish FA Youth Cup this month, after being pipped by Celtic in the U20 League.

Calum Gallagher, who scored on his first-team debut in March, is one of four players returning from last year’s Soccer Sevens, when the club reached the semi-finals for a second straight year.

The 19-year-old striker believes his return along with fellow forward Jamie Burrows, midfielder Andy Murdoch and defender Kyle McAusland will help Rangers, as they seek a first Cup win, having lost in the final in 2009 and 2010.

“A lot of the newer teams come over and they don’t really take the heat and the playing conditions into considerations,” said Gallagher, who will return for pre-season training at Rangers with Ally McCoist’s first-team squad.

“I think by having the experience of playing in the tournament, you know what it’s like. Having experience of the tournament will help, but at the same time we’ve got boys who haven’t had a shot here yet, who will come in and really help us out. We’re all dead excited to get it started.”

Gallagher also paid tribute to Durie’s work in his first season in charge of the club’s U-20 side.

“We’ve had an amazing season, fighting for the league title and then winning our Youth Cup final,” Gallagher said. “He’s come in and the boys have responded really well to him. He’s really vocal, so he’s everything you’d want in a coach developing young players.”

Groups C and D will start on Saturday morning, while Groups A and B kick off in the afternoon. Group D comprises defending champions Leicester City, five-time winners Aston Villa, HKFA U-21 and Yau Yee League Select.

Newcastle United, winners in 2012 and runners-up last year, are the favourites in Group A and will face Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, HKFA U-23 and Hong Kong Football Club. Group B features English clubs Chelsea and Sunderland, Hong Kong champions Kitchee and HKFC Captain’s Select.

The tournament starts with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening (7.00-9.00pm). All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm), while the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Entry is free on Friday evening, while tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass, and are available at www.cityline.com.

Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)
Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), BC Rangers (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament
Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)
Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon Original (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)
Group C: Citibank All Stars (ENG), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)

Hong Kong, 21 May 2014 – Teenager Jack Grealish, who made his Premier League debut against Manchester City this month, is confident Aston Villa can win a sixth HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens title at Hong Kong Football Club this weekend. Villa have won the Soccer Sevens a record five times, but last lifted the Cup in 2010.

Grealish, 18, was part of the Villa squad that reached the Cup final in 2012 and was then the star striker last year, when the side lost 4-3 to eventual champions Leicester City in the quarter-finals before beating Manchester City 2-1 in the Shield final.

“In my first year here I didn’t really play much and in my second year, last year, I was our top scorer, so this year I’m hoping to win,” Grealish said after arriving in Hong Kong on a British Airways flight carrying the seven British clubs in the Main Tournament and five sides from the over-35 Masters event.

Grealish, who currently represents Republic of Ireland at U-21 level, believes the return of Danny Johnson, the 2012 Player of the Tournament, is a sign of coach Ben Petty’s strong desire for Villa to win back the Cup they won in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

“It’s maybe Brian’s last year, so I think he’s desperate to win it and that’s why he’s brought us along; that’s why he’s brought a strong team,” Grealish said.

“We’ve definitely got a good chance. We’ve got all the talent in the world, so I think we can definitely win it.”

Grealish’s star has risen this season, as he established himself as a crowd favourite while on loan at Notts County and then enjoyed his first-team debut for Villa as a late substitute against eventual champions Manchester City in this month’s Premier League run-in.

“I loved it,” Grealish said of his first-team debut. “It was a massive experience for me, after coming back off loan, so I’ve just got to keep that level up when I go back for pre-season training.”

Aston Villa face defending champions Leicester City, HKFA U-21 and Yau Yee League Select in Group D on Saturday.

Newcastle United, winners in 2012 and runners-up last year, are the favourites in Group A and will face Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, HKFA U-23 and Hong Kong Football Club.

English sides Chelsea and Sunderland are pooled with Hong Kong champions Kitchee and HKFC Captain’s Select in Group B.

Premier League champions Manchester City are the top seeds in Group C and will face Scottish giants Rangers, Hong Kong First Division side BC Rangers and Singapore Cricket Club.

The tournament will start with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening (7.00-9.00pm). All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm) before the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Entry is free on the Friday evening, while tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass, and are available at www.cityline.com.

Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)
Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), BC Rangers (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament
Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)
Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon Original (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)
Group C: Citibank All Stars (ENG), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)

Hong Kong; May 20, 2014: Defending champions Leicester City have included 2013 Player of the Tournament Harry Panayiotou in their 10-man squad for this week’s HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, which kicks off at Hong Kong Football Club on Friday.

Aston Villa are also bringing a former Player of the Tournament, 21-year-old Daniel Johnson, who received the award after the Jamaica-born midfielder led the five-time champions to the final in 2012.

Jack Grealish is also in a strong Villa squad and is set for his third straight Soccer Sevens, just weeks after the Republic of Ireland U-21 winger made his first-team debut against Manchester City in this month’s Premier League run-in. Villa are pooled with Leicester in Group D, along with HKFA U-21 and Yee League Select.

Leicester – whose first team won the Championship last month to earn promotion to the 2014/15 Premier League – upset 2012 champions Newcastle United 2-0 to win last year’s Cup final in only their second Soccer Sevens appearance.

Jon Rudkin, the club’s Academy Director, has retained Panayiotou and four other players from last year’s winning team – midfielders Jak McCourt and Michael Cain, centre-back Alie Sesay and goalkeeper Adam Smith – and says his charges are geared up for their title defence.

“Winning the Cup was a terrific achievement for us. It’s something that the players have consistently spoken about through the season and they’ve been looking forward to coming back and trying to defend that title again,” Rudkin said.

“As well as last year’s players, there are a few other additions who have been playing for us this season and they’re all looking forward to it. Hopefully when they fly back they’ll have many great memories to take back this time as well.”

Rudkin was also in charge when Leicester capped their tournament debut two years ago by beating Chelsea in the Shield final, while this year the Foxes are bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the Cup since Aston Villa in 2008.

However, Rudkin believes the seven-a-side format makes the tournament unpredictable, reflected by the fact that Leicester were the fifth different side to win the Cup in the past five years.

“We find the tournament so exciting. It’s great to watch. For the players, there are so many one-against-one scenarios around the pitch that make it really interesting,” Rudkin said.

“You look at the quality of the teams that are there, but the format means that anyone is capable of going on and winning. I think every club is going to be strong and I think it really bodes for an exciting tournament.”

Rudkin said the annual Hong Kong showpiece offered young British players the chance to compete in different climates and also benefit by watching experienced pros compete in the over-35 Masters Tournament.

“Hong Kong’s an amazing place and the weather’s so different to England, so to have that experience of playing in that type of heat is great for the players,” Rudkin said.

“Also, to have the Masters take to the field and seeing some of the fine players that have had amazing careers, it’s great for our young players to watch them and see how they still go about the game and the fashion that they play.”

Newcastle United, Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, HKFA U-23 and Hong Kong Football Club are in Group A, while English sides Chelsea and Sunderland are pooled with Hong Kong champions Kitchee and HKFC Captain’s Select in Group B.

Manchester City, the newly crowned Premier League champions, are top seeds in Group C and will face Scottish giants Rangers, Hong Kong First Division side BC Rangers and Singapore Cricket Club.

The tournament will start with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening (7.00-9.00pm). All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm) before the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Entry is free on the Friday evening, while tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass, and are available at www.cityline.com.

Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament

Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)

Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)

Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), BC Rangers (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)

Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament

Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)

Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon Original (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)

Group C: Citibank All Stars (ENG), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)

Hong Kong; May 19, 2014: English Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and Scottish giants Rangers have included goalkeepers from their first-team squads as each of the former finalists bid for a first victory in the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, which will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from May 23-25.

The six-foot five-inch Jamal Blackman, 20, has been included in Chelsea’s provisional 10-man squad for Hong Kong, having risen to become the club’s third-choice goalkeeper behind Petr Cech and Mark Schwarzer.

Dermot Drummy, Chelsea’s U-21 coach, will again lead the popular English club as they compete in the Soccer Sevens for the second time in three years. Drummy’s squad is drawn from his Chelsea side who won the 2013/14 Barclays U21 Premier League last Wednesday and the club’s U-18s, who won the FA Youth Cup earlier this month.

Scotland U-21 striker Islam Feruz and England U-18 internationals Kasey Palmer, Charlie Colkett and George Brady are also among the Chelsea squad arriving in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

“We’ve had a really fantastic season,” Drummy said. “Although we’ve got some players on international duty, we’ll have Jamal Blackman out there, who’s the number three keeper at the club.

“Islam Feruz is an exciting forward, Casey Palmer is an exciting midfielder and Adam Nditi is an attack-minded left-back, so we’ve got some exciting players coming out.”

Drummy says he has learnt from previous experience at the seven-a-side competition and is preparing Chelsea for a tough start in Group B, with matches against Sunderland, Hong Kong champions Kitchee and HKFC Captain’s select.

“We’ll definitely counter-attack because it’s so hot,” he said. “There are a lot of home-grown teams we enjoy playing against, like Kitchee, who are very fast and quick with their game. We’re bringing the boys out to travel the world, experience another culture and play against teams from across the globe.”

However, Drummy played down Chelsea’s ambitions for making it third time lucky at the Soccer Sevens and winning the Cup for the first time, the club having reached the final on their debut in 2000.

“We want to win every game, but the main thing we get out of it is that the players adjust to travelling and see the culture,” Drummy said. “We want to enjoy the tournament and we want to bring the Chelsea brand to Hong Kong. We want to represent Chelsea abroad in the best possible way on the field and hopefully we can do that by winning, but otherwise we want to win people over by the way we play the game.”

Rangers, finalists in 2009 and 2010, have included Steve Simonsen, the club’s second-choice keeper behind Cammy Bell, in their Soccer Sevens squad. Simonsen, a former England U-21 international, joined the Scottish club last year after spending most of his career with Everton and Stoke City.

Skilful winger Barrie McKay, who has returned from a loan spell and is looking to win back his place in the first team, will also be a player to watch.

Gordon Durie has selected his other eight players from his U-20 side who won the Scottish FA Youth Cup on penalties on Tuesday night, having finished runners-up to Celtic by one point in the 2013/14 Scottish PFL U20 League.

Forwards Calum Gallagher – who made his first-team debut in March – and Jamie Burrows, both 19, and defender Kyle McAusland, 21, all return from last year’s Soccer Sevens squad, when Rangers reached the semi-finals for the second straight year.

Durie, the former Scotland striker who played for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, will again lead the Scottish side in Hong Kong, where ‘Gers’ are the second-seeded side in Group C behind Manchester City.

Defending champions Leicester City, 2012 winners Newcastle United and five-time champions Aston Villa are the other British clubs competing in the 16-team Main Tournament.

Guangzhou Evergrande, who won the AFC Champions League last November after securing a third straight Chinese Super League title, will make their tournament debut, while Hong Kong champions Kitchee will lead the local charge along with HKFA U-23 and U-21 sides.

The tournament will start with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening (7.00-9.00pm), May 23. All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on the Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm) before the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Entry is free on the Friday evening, while tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass, and are available at www.cityline.com.

Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament

Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)

Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)

Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), HKFA Qualifier (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)

Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament

Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)

Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)

Group C: Citibank All Stars (INT), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)

Des Walker, who won 59 caps for England and reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, will again represent Nottingham Forest Mobsters in the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens.

Hong Kong; May 14, 2014: Former England midfielder Carlton Palmer has been added to the Citibank All Stars squad for next week’s HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, as the side organised by the English PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) bids to win the Masters Tournament for the first time.

Palmer will make his Soccer Sevens debut at Hong Kong Football Club from May 23-25 after a career in which the towering central midfielder won 18 caps for England and played for West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United.

Seth Johnson, 35, will also make his tournament debut for the Citibank All Stars, having played for Derby County and Leeds United, and represented England in 2000. Powerful target man Steve Howard, Deon Burton and Jamie Cureton, all in their late 30s, offer lively options up front.

Frank Sinclair, who spent eight seasons at Chelsea and another six with Leicester City, former Leeds defender Rui Marques and goalkeeper Alan Fettis all return for the 2011 runners-up. Former Leicester defender Gerry Taggart, who won 51 caps for Northern Ireland, and former Aston Villa left-back Alan Wright also join the squad.

Weber Lo, Citi Country Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong and Macau, said: “Citibank is a proud title sponsor of the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens and we are also excited to support the Citibank All Stars, which each year comprises top players selected by English PFA.

“The presence of former England internationals Carlton Palmer and Seth Johnson and other top players looks set to help the Citibank All Stars as they again bid to win the Masters Tournament, which always features many former stars and internationals and is a popular part of the overall event.”

Defending champions Rangers Legends and 2012 winners Aegon Ajax All Stars, last year’s runners-up, have already named similar squads to last year, while other teams have recruited strongly for the over-35 tournament.

England legend Des Walker, who won 59 caps and helped England reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, and Jason Lee will again star for Nottingham Forest Mobsters, who have recruited former Blackburn Rovers captain Andy Todd.

John McGovern, who captained Nottingham Forest to their First Division triumph in 1978 and successive European Cup titles in 1979 and 1980, forms an all-star management team with fellow Forest favourite Neil Webb, whose career also included three seasons at Manchester United and 26 caps for England.

Alan Thompson, the former Aston Villa and Celtic midfielder, and Michael Bridges, the former Sunderland Leeds forward, will join Soccer Sevens favourite Peter Beardsley in representing Wallsend Boys Club, the legendary youth club in Newcastle where they all learned their football.

Hong Kong-based Roberto Losada, the 37-year-old Spanish forward who helped Kitchee win the Hong Kong First Division in 2010/11 and 2011/12, has also been recruited to boost the side.

Kowloon Cricket Club, who won the Masters Plate in 2009, have secured the services of Pat Nevin, the former Chelsea and Everton winger who won 28 Scotland caps from 1986 to 1996.

In the Main Tournament, newly promoted Leicester City will defend their title against English champions Manchester City and fellow Premier League clubs Chelsea, Sunderland, 2012 winners Newcastle United and five-time champions Aston Villa, as well as Scottish giants Rangers.

Guangzhou Evergrande, who won the AFC Champions League last November after securing a third straight Chinese Super League title, will make their tournament debut, while Hong Kong champions Kitchee will lead the local charge along with HKFA U-23 and U-21 sides.

The tournament will start with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening (7.00-9.00pm), May 23. All the Main group matches and the remaining Masters group games are held on the Saturday (9.00am-8.15pm) before the knockout rounds take place on Sunday (8.00am-7.30pm).

Entry is free on the Friday evening, while tickets for the weekend are HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass, and are available at www.cityline.com.

Citibank has title sponsored the event since 2011 and other sponsors this year include British Airways, Nike, Aegon, The Excelsior, Tsingtao and Boase Cohen & Collins.

Main Tournament

Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), HKFA U-23 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)

Group B: Chelsea (ENG), Sunderland (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)

Group C: Manchester City (ENG), Rangers (SCO), HKFA Qualifier (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)

Group D: Leicester City (ENG), Aston Villa (ENG), HKFA U-21 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)

Masters Tournament

Group A: Rangers Legends (SCO), Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG)

Group B: Aegon Ajax All Stars (NED), Eastern Salon (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)

Group C: Citibank All Stars (INT), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), KFC Tokyo (JPN), SCC Tigers (SIN)