|
Yes the Clarets, who are currently looking to secure a play off place in a bid to get into the Premiership, have committed themselves to a tournament that has been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of a club who are in 18th place in Division Three, just three points clear of next to bottom Bristol Rovers.
Not that we need to worry because there is every chance we won't have to play the competitions prized capture at all, we have been placed in a group with such apparent low lifes as Wrexham and Luton Town.
In fact the tournament opens up as the last one ended with the Clarets playing Wrexham at the Douglas Bowl and this will be on Sunday 21st July with a 2:00 p.m. kick off. Then two days later we move across the road to take on Luton Town at the NSC. If results go badly we could be home then as the club finishing bottom of the group can wave goodbye to the tournament.
Should we stay in then we have to hang around for three days when we get the chance to take part in a play off game for the chance of playing in the final. If so we will play either Wrexham or Luton again. Can it get more exciting than this?
Yes it can. if we win that then we are in the final and then we come up against the group and play off winners from the other group and that will be one of Darlington (yes we could meet the big draw in the final), Rochdale (saves us going to Spotland) and Isle of Man (no thankyou).
I've made visits to this less than exiting island on more than one occasion but not even the football could get me to show any interest this time. We could be a Premiership club by the time this thing comes around. What are we doing wasting our time with it? It is famous though, read on.
David Cretney from Isle of Man Tourism and Leisure is delighted with the whole thing and said today, "It is a welcome endorsement of this popular pre-season tournament that many of the team's clamour to return year on year, and that we are never short of newcomers wishing to play. We look forward to welcoming all the players, officials and supporters to what promises to be another week of top class football, and to enjoy the unique friendly atmosphere that the tournament has become famous for."
The fixtures are as follows:
GROUP A
Burnley v Wrexham Sun, July 21 2.00pm The Bowl
Wrexham v Luton Mon, July 22 7.15pm NSC
Luton v Burnley Tue, July 23 2.00pm NSC
GROUP B
IoM v Darlington Sun, July 21 7.15pm Ramsey
Darlington v Rochdale Tue, July 23 7.15pm The Bowl
IoM v Rochdale Wed, July 24 7.15pm Ramsey
Play Offs
Group A Fri, July 26 2.00pm The Bowl
Group B Fri, July 26 7.15pm Ramsey
FINAL
Sat, July 27 2.00pm The Bowl