Swindon Town Supporters Club have announced that they will be funding the entire Centre of Excellence trip to the Northern Ireland Milk Cup in the summer of 2008, amounting to £10,000.

Roger Bunce, Chairman of the Supporters Club, was delighted to announce the news that continues the long running support towards youth development from the STFC Supporters Club.

"The Supporters Club have a long and proud record of supporting youth development at the County Ground and much of our fundraising, and in its entirety our Pounds for Points scheme, have gone towards helping the funding aspect of the Football club.

"The development of home-grown talent is one which I believe the new administration wish to foster, so it falls in nicely within their future plans.

"Over recent seasons the youth teams have won the Football League Alliance trophy, made national headlines in the FA Youth Cup and had great success in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup tournament returning with Trophies as well player of the tournament awards.

"We would like to think that our financial support has in some way has helped those tasked with and achieving success at that level just a little easier, whilst at the same time developing those players for a potential breakthrough to first team football and in recent seasons there have been some good examples."

This year's donation will be the largest ever towards one trip, with not just the flights paid for, but the entire trip.

"We have already supported the travel costs of the Centre of Excellence to the Northern Ireland tournament for a number of years but I am now delighted to announce that we will now not only be covering that cost, but also the full cost of the trip amounting to some £10,000.

"This level of support, of course would not be achieved without a lot of hard work from my committee, our "helpers" and every supporter that has participated in each of our initiatives and my thanks go to everyone for their support."

Swindon Town Chief Executive, Nicholas Watkins, offered his thanks to the Supporters Club.

"The STFC Supporters Club successfully raise money week in and week out for club related activities.

"The Board would like to acknowledge their wonderful support in providing £10,000 to fund the Centre of Excellence's participation in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup."