Ainternational four-nations football tournament takes place in the region next month with youth teams from all four home countries.

England, Scotand, Wales and Northern Ireland will all grace the field at Durham City's New Ferens Park.

The squads are made up entirely of players from National Association of Clubs for Young People (NACYP) teams - formerly the National Association of Boys Club.

It is the first occasion the three-day tournament has been held in the North-East and the first time in England since Blackpool was the venue four years ago.

Attendees at the event may well catch a glimpse of England's future as West Ham United midfielder Michael Carrick featured in his country's championship win at the 1997 competition.

Other current professionals to have made the international grade in this competition include: Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley, Don Hutchison, Steve Stone, Ugo Ehiogu, Marcus Stewart and Alun Armstrong.

Lineker's launch pad into football was five years with Aylestone Park Boys' Club in Leicester, prior to signing as an apprentice with Leicester.

He said: "There is no doubting the boys' clubs and their successor, the NACYP, has been and continues to be an important influence on the formative years of many thousands of young people across Britain.

"The footballing tournament in Durham is one very good example of how far teenagers can go in developing their sporting talents."

There are nine players from the region in the English squad, coached by Alan Watson. From Durham are Ryan Rowntree, David Coulson, John Berry, Harry Flynn and Paul McDonald while Eddie Miller, Rob Wake, Kevin McDonald and Ben Eduseui all hail from Northumberland.

All games will be played at Durham City's New Ferens Park with the first game being England against Wales on July 8. There are two games on each of the three days with entry being £2 (adults) and £1 (OAPs and children).