A football tournament is being used as new way to attract visitors to the Isle of Man.
Irish people account for around sixty per cent of visitors to the Isle of Man. With tourism numbers down this year, the Manx tourist authorities have embarked on a special promotion in the form of a football festival.
The competition saw Irish football teams from Athlone and Bray compete with teams from the Isle of Man and mainland Britain. Athlone performed well drawing with Carlisle United from the second division and Sunderland from the first division. Sunderland went on to win the tournament. Athlone beat the Isle of Man team 3-1 to take third place in the competition. Bray City drew their first game in the tournament and beat an Isle of Man selection 3-2.
The football competition served not only to bring the clubs to the island but also football fans who travelled to support their teams.
The junior teams also performed well in what was the highlight of their summer school break.
They got great satisfaction from actually playing foreign teams at an exciting away venue.
Apart from football, there was also a go-karting competition at one of the many leisure centres on the island. Competitors reached speeds of up to 40 miles an hour as they tore around the track.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 August 1984. The reporter is John O'Donoghue.
