A South Belfast football club will take on Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren later this month to help celebrate a unique partnership between the sides.
Rosario YFC will host Oran Kearney's team at Ulidia Playing Fields on the Ormeau Road on Friday, June 28.
The new partnership and recent move back into Ulidia mark the next phase of Rosario's development.
One of the biggest football clubs in Northern Ireland, Rosario has been a fixture in the Ballynafeigh area of South Belfast for over a century, with the club boasting over 900 players and 50 teams.
Rosario YFC Chair Ciara Boyes believes the club is ready to leap to the next level.
“Rosario Football Club has been at the heart of the community on the Ormeau Road for generations, and welcomes members from many different backgrounds and nationalities, reflecting this wonderful multicultural area of Belfast," she said.
“The partnership with St Mirren comes shortly after we moved back into the recently-renovated Ulidia Playing Fields, as we take this hugely successful club to the next level, and the friendly between the two clubs will celebrate this.
“This gala match showcasing the two teams going head-to-head will be a great event for the local community and the club, and promises to be every football fan’s dream.”
Earlier this season Rosario YFC entered into discussions with St Mirren which were facilitated by Jed McCabe from sports tour providers inspiresport.
McCabe believes the similarities between the two clubs make them the perfect fit for a partnership.
“I am delighted to have introduced Rosario YFC to St Mirren as I see so many similarities between the two," he said.
"They are both very family orientated and give young players their chance in the game. We offer development tours to some of the world’s top clubs and I can honestly say St. Mirren are up there with the very best.”
The partnership between the two clubs will benefit both, with Rosario’s coaching programme being boosted by top level sessions at the St Mirren Academy.
Those sessions involve organised trips for all age groups to visit the Gold Award Academy at St Mirren, tour the ground and play tournaments. Rosario YFC will also showcase any potential players to St Mirren ensure they get the best chance to start a career in football.
Inspiresport are now working with Rosario YFC to organise development tours to the likes of Valencia CF, FC Porto, St Mirren FC and other top level clubs to benefit young members of the club.
Tony Fitzpatrick, St. Mirren CEO said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our club to have a new partnership with Rosario YFC as like ourselves they work in conjunction with the local community.
"We have welcomed some of their teams over to our Gold Award Academy for a train and play programme recently. We are absolutely delighted to be invited to play in this match. Who knows maybe one day a youth player from Rosario YFC will play for our first team."
This month's match and community celebrations will take place on June 28 at 7pm, with parking available at the nearby St Joseph’s College and Holy Rosary Church to limit traffic and parking disruption in the area around Ulidia.
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