City to face Ashton & Backwell United Posted: Thu 13 Jun 2013 Author: Adam Baker Ashton & Backwell United Ashton & Backwell United Image by: bcfc.co.uk Community pre-season fixture announced. Bristol City will kick-off the 2013/14 campaign with a pre-season friendly at Ashton & Backwell United in a special Community Match. The match will be held at the Backwell Recreation Ground on Wednesday, July 3rd, kick-off 7pm. Ashton & Backwell United â recently promoted to Western League Division One â will benefit from all the proceeds from the visit of a full-strength City team. It will be the Robinsâ first pre-season friendly, just days after the teamâs return to training, and will see head coach Sean OâDriscoll give as many of his players a run out as possible. He told bcfc.co.uk: âWherever I've managed I've always tried to make our first game of pre-season a community game against a local non-league side. âThe gate money and other associated revenues, as well as the profile clubs can generate from these games can be a really nice bonus, while, as a club, it gives us another opportunity to enhance our relationships within the community. "From a team perspective, the local non-league lads always raise their game playing against the professionals and it gives our boys the chance to blow the competitive cobwebs off at the very start of pre-season, while we can try different players in different combinations and positions. âHopefully they are win-win games for everyone and we look forward to taking the full squad to Backwell Recreation Ground on July 3rd.â The match will be all-ticket with a 1,000 capacity, and prices are set at £6 for adults and £2 for concessions. Full details on when tickets will go on sale will follow in due course. Cityâs Community Trust team will be on site from 5.30pm on the day to offer skill sessions and free football for youngsters â akin to the work undertaken in the Community Park on home matchdays at Ashton Gate. Ashton & Backwell United chairman Jim Biggins said: âWeâre delighted to be able to host a full-strength Bristol City team in early July. âItâs a terrific opportunity for our football club to showcase itself in the local community and for the players to face a professional Football League team â itâs an honour. âJust a few years after the merger, and now on the back of our promotion to the Western League, this game is a great reward for all the hard work and effort everyone connected to the club has put in. âWe canât wait for the event and we hope to see as many people out supporting the game as possible.â Ashton & Backwell United were formed in 2010, following a merger between Backwell United and one of Bristolâs largest youth clubs Ashton Boys FC. Ashton Boys run a variety of youth teams from age groups under-six up to under-16s. Young players progress progress through the ranks before stepping up into the Ashton & Backwell United reserve and first teams.
S O'D says he will try players in different positions in that game as well Liam Fontaine Left Back in the dressing room could be a start
I think at the Gate it happens in the Hireite building. On Saturday, September 15th 2012 the Trust revealed their new Community Park. The activities in the park will take place before every weekend home game. Children and adults of all ages will be able to get involved with various things our Community Coaches and education scholars have to offer. In addition to various football skills, if you have hung up your boots or prefer watching rather than playing football then Ping Bristol have donated two table tennis tables for fans to try out something new on a matchday. . The popular indoor area, based in the old HireRite building, provides youngsters with an inflatable five-a-side football pitch, skill challenges, table tennis and much, much more. Open to all supporters and free of charge, the Community Park is must-visit place for youngsters heading to Ashton Gate. I will look for more info now
Ta.. It's free anyway, wondered what it was about, and if it was coaching of sorts. Not sure about my son charging around playing games then heading into the ground. Good idea this Mr O'driscoll playing one friendly with a local club with links to City. Keynsham next season.
