Melbourne City FC will embark on a 17-day pre-season training camp in Manchester.
Melbourne City FC will embark on a 17-day pre-season training camp at Manchester City-s Carrington training centre this week, playing three pre-season matches against opposition based in the Greater Manchester region.
Coaches and players will depart for the UK on Sunday and next Monday 7 July, setting up base at the English Premier League club-s Carrington headquarters between July 8 – July 24, before returning to Australia ahead of the FFA Cup-s Round of 32 clash against Sydney FC.
The Club will play three matches against English teams while on the camp; against Football League Two side Bury FC; Oldham Athletic FC, which plays in Football League One and a select side from Football League Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers FC.
Melbourne City FC Head Coach John van-t Schip will travel with a full squad for the camp, while recent signing Damien Duff will join his new club in Manchester. Duff, who played 100 times for the Republic of Ireland, signed on a one-year deal for Melbourne City FC in early June.
Van-t Schip expects his squad to continue to gel in the UK over the 17-day period, building on the positive pre-season preparations started in Melbourne.
“This tour will form an important part of our pre-season and it is a great opportunity to prepare for the A-League season, utilising Carrington – an exceptional Premier League level facility,” van-t Schip said.
“It also presents us with a great opportunity to play teams from the English leagues, for our squad to gain fitness and experience, and to ensure we are progressing well ahead of our season.
“It is unique for teams and players in the A-League to have this kind of opportunity, so we are looking forward to forming further bonds with Manchester and Manchester City.”
Carrington is home to five pitches and includes a state-of-the-art medical centre, player analysis unit, boot and dressing rooms and a wide array of further player support facilities.
Jason Hoffman, an inaugural player at the Club, said the camp would help the raise the bar in the Club-s preparations for the upcoming 2014/15 season.
“It-s going to be a great experience for the whole team to go over to Manchester and to use what is a top class training facility at Carrington,” Hoffman said.
“We-ve got some great matches lined up against some quality opponents and as a group it will be a great opportunity for us to prepare in the best possible way for the A-League season and the FFA Cup.”
The match against Bury will take place behind-closed-doors at the facility during the camp. The Club will then play the first of two open matches against Oldham Athletic FC at Boundary Park, Oldham, on Saturday 19 July at 3pm (BST).
The second open match will be against a Bolton Wanderers XI at the County Ground, Leyland, which commences at 7.30pm (BST) on Wednesday 23 July.
Melbourne City FC Manchester Training Camp – July 8 – July 24
Match Details
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 19 July 2014
Oldham Athletic FC vs. Melbourne City FC
Boundary Park, Oldham
Kick-Off: 3pm (BST)
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 23 July 2014
Bolton Wanderers XI vs. Melbourne City FC
County Ground, Leyland
Kick-Off: 7.30pm (BST)
Ticketing information for both matches will be released soon. Visit www.melbournecityfc.com.au for details or sign up to Melbourne City FC’s weekly newsletter here for regular updates.
