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It has been a while coming with suggestions that there might only be one game and even a rumour that there could be none at all. But all along Steve Cotterill has insisted that there would be two and that he wanted them on the Tuesday and Friday.
Two games in Italy
It has been a while coming with suggestions that there might only be one game and even a rumour that there could be none at all. But all along Steve Cotterill has insisted that there would be two and that he wanted them on the Tuesday and Friday.
He's got just that and both games will be played at the clubs training camp at Veronello, Bardolino which is situated on the east side of Lake Garda (see map below).
The first of the two games will the toughest against Spanish club Recreativo Huelva who have just won promotion to La Primera Liga following a successful season. Formed in 1889, just two days before Christmas, they are their country's oldest club and previously played at the top level three years ago.
They are coached by 40 year old Marcelino Garci'a Toral who joined the club two years ago having previously been with Sporting de Gijón. They play in blue and white stripes and our game against them will be played on Tuesday 25th July although the kick off time is yet to be confirmed.
There will be Italian opposition for the second game but certainly not a familiar name to any of us. We will be playing on Friday 28th July against Alense, and it is thought the club carry the full name of Alense Ala di Trento.
If so they are a club who once played in Serie D but that was as long ago as the 1972/73 season at a time when Colin Waldron was scoring a title winning goal for us at Deepdale.
If so they are a club who once played in Serie D but that was as long ago as the 1972/73 season at a time when Colin Waldron was scoring a title winning goal for us at Deepdale.
It is believed they now play in the Trentino Group of the Promozione League which is a couple of levels below Serie D. This second game, at the same venue as the first will kick off at 6:00 p.m.
Manager Steve Cotterill admitted that it had been difficult organising the games and said: “We are delighted to finally have everything sorted out. Even in the last three days we have had three different sets of opposition because we want what we want, which is games on Tuesday and Friday.
“We have wanted to nail pre-season down as soon as possible, but unfortunately through all the disruptions in Italy – and probably another delay after winning the World Cup – we have been held up. But we have finally got there in the end and I am just sorry for all those supporters who like to follow us fantastically well every year.
“That is the most frustrating part about sorting out pre-season games in another country. We have been very lucky before to get things nailed down very early. This year it is in Italy and unfortunately it has taken a long time, but we are finally there.
“We will be playing both games on our training pitch and I have spoken to the organiser who said our fans will be welcome there, which is a weight off our minds. I think the Spanish side will be stronger than the Italians, but we are really looking forward to both games.”
So we are organised at last, just eleven days before the team fly out to Italy, and Clarets Mad will be at both games and will report back in our daily diary – The Italian Job.
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