James Ferry believes his side are fully prepared to return to Northern Ireland to defend their Dale Farm Milk Cup title.

The Bees won the Under-15 Junior Section of the prestigious Youth Football tournament in 2012 after wins over Liverpool in the Semi Final and Everton in the Final.

The majority of that team, again led by James, now returns to take part in the Under-17 Premier Section of the Milk Cup.

Brentford’s Milk Cup squad returned to pre-season training in mid-June with the sole aim of preparing for the week-long football festival which begins with the traditional parade around Coleraine on Sunday.

James said that the intensive preparation time has been excellent in preparing the side to return to defend their crown.

Speaking to Bees Player after their final intensive training session, James said: “Preparations have been really good.

“We have been focusing on going to Northern Ireland since the start of pre-season.

“Everyone has been putting in a lot of work, on and off the pitch tactically and technically, and I think we are in a good state to go other there in the next few days.

“It always helps the chemistry if you are training together regularly.

“You can’t go over to a tournament having had a couple of training sessions together.

“The boys are starting to get used to playing with each other and the chemistry there is good.

“It will be a bit more physical than when we went as Under-15s.

“Obviously we have improved since we were 15 and the other team have as well.

“I think we will be ready for whatever team we have to play.

“Going over to the Milk Cup is something that everyone is buzzing for.”

James was an ever-present in captaining The Bees to victory in 2012, scoring three times in five games, including the opener in the final against Everton.

Naturally James said he has great memories of that week and of the tournament in general.

Ahead of this year’s tournament James believes his side have every chance of doing just as well as they did two years ago.

As captain James said there was an extra buzz in leading his side last time out and he wants to lead by example again in next week’s tournament.

“I have great memories of the Milk Cup,” said James.

“Going over when I was 15 it was one of the best tournaments I have been to.

“It was a great experience for all the boys and hopefully we can get the same result.

“Being captain always gives you a little extra buzz to lead the boys out there and be successful.

“You have to lead by example and hopefully get the results that you want.

“I think we can go very far.

“It would be brilliant if we could win it.

“It would be something that we would all really love.

“Hopefully we can get to the final which is what we are aiming for.”

The format of the Milk Cup will see Brentford play five 70 minute matches in five days.

Each side plays three league games: the points for which add up to an overall league table of all 24 sides in the Premier Section.

After the third game the competition splits as the top four sides play-off for the main title while the teams in fifth to eight, ninth to 12th, 13th to 16th, 17th and 20th and 21st to 24th also play-off for the minor places.

James admits that playing five games in five days is tough but, given the extensive support staff of physios, coaches and analysts travelling, feels The Bees will be well looked after over the course of the week.

“Playing 70 minutes every day is tough,” said James.

“We don’t do that as we only play once a week.

“Physically it will be really tiring but we will do recovery sessions to help deal with that.

“We will be over there with the analysts and that will help us prepare for the different styles that we are going to play against.

“We are going to be up against teams from different countries who will play in different styles.

“The week away really shows what life would be like in the first-team.

“You can’t ask for anything more when you go away.”

James and his teammates have been drawn against the Lusaka Academy, County Fermanagh and Benfica in their three group games.

The standout tie is the one against 33-time Portuguese Champions Benfica in Coleraine on Wednesday.

Despite their name and reputation James said Brentford will treat them as just another team and that they hold no fear for the young Bees.

“It will be a great game to play in,” said James.

“To play against a team from Portugal of their calibre will be a good test and I think we will stand up to it well.

“The name has no fear for us.

“They are just another team from Europe really.

“It will be slightly different than playing a team from England but we will still be looking forward to playing them.”

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