Birmingham City FC To Stay At Fota

PLATINUM ONE has announced today (Friday June 10^th) that it will bring 2011 Carling Cup Champions Birmingham City FC to Ireland for a pre-season training camp in mid July which will also feature a friendly fixture against Cork City FC.  Birmingham will stay at the 5 Star Fota Island Resort for five days between July 13^th and 17^th and the match against Cork City at Turner’s Cross will be on Saturday July 16^th at 7 pm.

Birmingham Manager Alec McLeish said “This will be an important part of our preparations and the facilities at our disposal will be top class.  Cork City is a club, like our own, with a long and proud tradition and I know that its young squad is highly regarded.  It will be a good test for us as we get our preparations for the forthcoming season underway in earnest.”

Following the club’s historic Wembley triumph over Arsenal it suffered the disappointment of relegation in heartbreaking circumstances over the closing 10 minutes of the season but is widely tipped to achieve immediate promotion back to the FA Premier League.  The Blues, who will also enjoy the high of European competition next season, will be captained by Irish international Stephen Carr who has had his contract extended for a further season at St. Andrews.   Dubliner Keith Fahey and Cork native Colin Doyle will also feature in a squad that will be among the strongest in the English Championship.

Cork City Manager Tommy Dunne said “We’re delighted to get a game of this quality mid way through what is a vital season for the club.  You don’t win the Carling Cup – especially beating Arsenal in the Final – unless you have an exceptional squad of players and no one in football expects Birmingham to be out of the Premier League for more than next season.  This is a great opportunity for our young squad to test themselves and for our fans to see a top quality team play at Turner’s Cross.”

Sports management company PLATINUM ONE has an established reputation in managing club training camps and friendly fixtures and has worked with other top clubs including FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, West Ham United, Spurs, Villarreal, Seville and Newcastle United.  This is the first time it has brought an overseas international club side to Cork.

Tickets are priced at €17 for adults and €8 for concession tickets, and will be on sale to Cork City supporters at Turner’s Cross Stadium this evening, as City take on Athlone Town in the Airtricity League First Division.

Tickets are also on sale through Ticketmaster and from the club offices in Bishopstown from Monday, with further outlets to be announced in due course.