Harry Redknapp was at the Odyssey in Belfast for the Milk Cup draw

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has given Milk Cup organisers a guarantee that Spurs will make a return to the youth tournament.

Redknapp, speaking at Thursday's draw in Belfast, said it was important for his club to renew its ties.

"I didn't realise Spurs were not involved any more," said Redknapp.

"I was here when West Ham were playing and it was a terrific event then but it has become even better over the years and we should be sending teams."

Spurs won the Premier title in 1990 when Nicky Barmby was already a rising star but the White Hart Lane outfit haven't been on the north coast for several years.

Redknapp said he was proud of his former club West Ham's record at the event when he was in charge at Upton Park.

He added: "We had Joe Cole in two finals and he still talks highly about his achievements at the Milk Cup which just shows how big an impact it had on him."

"The organisers deserve credit for continuing to attract entries from all walks of the game while still preserving a high degree of quality. That's not easy but somehow these guys have got that down to a fine art."

Reaching the Milk Cup final is like playing in a Champions League decider for a teenager - that's how high an opinion former Newcastle United star Lee Clark has of Ulster's international youth football tournament .

Clark, now manager of League One club Huddersfield Town, said he has never forgotten the buzz winning the final gave him 20 years ago.

He added: "The Milk Cup was special for me. It helped prepare me for the rest of my career and it was important in making me more mature in many aspects.

"I think kids who get to play in the competition know it is a privilege because tournaments of this quality are small in number and the organisation at the Milk Cup is exceptional."

Clark was in the Magpies team which beat Manchester United 2-0 in 1989 - no mean achievement with United coached by two Old Trafford legends, 1968 European Cup winner Brian Kidd and England 1966 World Cup hero Nobby Stiles.

Organisers revealed Spartak Moscow would be returning in the Premier competition with newcomers Sudan debuting in the Elite Under-20 section and Deportivo Brazil in the Junior tournament.

Big names in the line up include Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Galatasary, FC Porto, AIK Stockholm, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.

The draw for the opening two games in all three events is as follows:

JUNIOR SECTION

Monday, 27 July - AB Copenhagen v Queen of the South; Maccabi Tel Aviv v Necaxa; Maccabi Haifa v Club Packuca; Donegal Schoolboys League v Everton; North Dublin Schoolboys League v Swindon Town; Dundalk Schoolboys League v Chelsea; Co. Londonderry v Palestinian FA; Co. Down v Spartak Moscow; Co. Fermanagh v AIK Stockholm; Hull City v Co. Armagh; Watford v Co. Antrim; Plymouth Argyle v Co Tyrone.

Tuesday, 28 July - Hull City v Necaxa; Watford v AIK Stockholm; Plymouth Argyle v Palestinian FA; Swindon Town v Maccabi Tel Aviv; Chelsea v Maccabi Haifa; Everton v Spartak Moscow; Queen of the South v Co. Antrim; Dundalk Schoolboys v Co. Fermanagh; Donegal Schools v Co. Tyrone; Co. Down v North Dublin Schoolboys League; Co. Londonderry v Club Packuca; Co. Armagh v AB Copenhagen.

PREMIER SECTION

Monday, 27 July - Shamrock Rovers v Otago; Cruz Azul v Deportivo Brazil; Cherry Orchard v FC Porto; South Coast Bayern v Galatasary; Co. Down v Trudovye v Rezervy; Co. Armagh v Cantolao; Co. Fermanagh v Aspire; Sheffield Utd v Co. Tyrone; Manchester Utd v Co. Antrim; Burnley v Co. Londonderry.

Tuesday, 28 July - Otago v FC Porto; Burney v Trudovye Reservy; Sheffield Utd v Aspire; Manchester Utd v Cantoloa; Co Down v Galatasary; Co. Antrim v Cherry Orchard ; Co. Tyrone v South Coast Bayern; Co Armagh v Shamrock Rovers; Co. Londonderry v Deportivo Brazil; Co. Fermanagh v Cruz Azul.

ELITE SECTION

Monday, 27 July - Northern Ireland v Sudan; Israel v Bulgaria; USA v Denmark.

Wednesday, 29 July - Sudan v USA; Denmark v Israel; Northern Ireland v Bulgaria.

The competition begins with a parade of all 50 teams through Coleraine town centre to the Showgrounds on Sunday, 26 July. All three finals will be staged at Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday, 31 July.

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