Coventry City FC comes to PGE Park
Published on July 4, 2006 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers will get a rare opportunity to square off with a top English club when Coventry City FC comes to PGE Park on Saturday, July 8. Presented by Widmer Brothers, the event marks the second time the Timbers have hosted a British team in as many seasons.
A live musical performance by samba band Lions of Batucada will take place on the plazas between 6 and 6:20 p.m., followed by a performance from 6:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. on the field. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. kickoff.
THE SKY BLUES A member of the English Coca-Cola Championship, Coventry plays in the same circuit as Sunderland AFC, Birmingham City, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion ... known as the Sky Blues, Coventry is one of the oldest sides in the world and enjoys a solid U.S. following, with many of those supporters expected to attend Saturday's exhibition ... with a history dating back to 1883, Coventry was founded by a group of employees at the Singer bicycle factory ... the club was actually called "The Singers" until it changed its name to Coventry City in 1898 ... the Sky Blues finished the 2005-06 season in the Coca-Cola Championship with a 16-15-15 record to finish in eighth place ... Coventry plays its home schedule at the Ricoh Arena, capacity 32,000.
TRAINING SCHEDULE The Sky Blues will be training twice on Friday at the Nike complex in Beaverton. The team will participate in morning training starting at 10 a.m., then in the evening beginning at 6 p.m. Coventry will also have a 10 a.m. session at PGE Park on Saturday morning. The Timbers will be training from 10 a.m. until 12 noon Wednesday and Thursday at PGE Park. Portland will also train on Friday morning from 8 to 9:30 a.m. For specific media requests, contact Brad Nicholson by email at bnicholson@pgepark.com or by phone at (503) 553-5415.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Andy Marshall, Goalkeeper One of Coventry's coveted summer signings, Marshall joins the Sky Blues from Millwall. Marshall played with the London-based club for three seasons, making 66 regular-season appearances. Prior to joining Millwall, Marshall also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, among other sides. Elliott Ward, Defender Another summer addition to the Sky Blues squad, Ward became the first £1 million signing since 2001 for Coventry. A former West Ham youth, Ward spent the 2005-06 season with Plymouth Argyle, making 15 appearances and scoring a goal. Robert Page, Defender Page is a solid central defender who has garnered more than 40 caps as a Welsh international. Page made 32 appearances for the Sky Blues before an injury forced him to have hip surgery. He has recovered from the surgery, however, and expects to feature in Coventry's plans again this season. Colin Cameron, Midfielder Another of Coventry's seven summer signings thus far, Cameron is a former Scottish international who joined Coventry from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Cameron made more than 100 starts for Wolves, scoring 23 goals in five seasons with the club. The 33-year-old joined the Sky Blues on a free transfer after being bought by Wolves for £1.75 million. Gary McSheffrey, Forward A product of Coventry's youth system, McSheffrey's debut for the club at 16 years, 198 days old was, at the time, a record for the youngest player to ever appear in the Premiership. McSheffrey led the team in goals last season, netting 15 times in 43 starts. Stern John, Forward A Trinidad and Tobago international who recently thrilled crowds at the World Cup, John netted 10 goals in 21 appearances in his second season with the Sky Blues. John scored on his debut for Coventry, a feat which he has done at each of the three English clubs he has played for during his career. Coventry signed John from Birmingham City in September, 2004. John is not expected to participate on the U.S. tour, however, due to his World Cup involvement.
AGNELLO ON THE MATCH "Coventry is a tremendous test for our squad. They have a great history and a great manager, and I look forward to hosting them," said Timbers head coach and general manager Chris Agnello.
ADAMS ON THE MATCH "We're delighted to have secured this game as part of our pre-season training schedule. The game will provide us with a great challenge, while also helping us to build up our fitness ahead of the new season," said Coventry manager Micky Adams.
ABOUT COVENTRY A city of roughly 305,000 inhabitants, Coventry is the eighth-largest city in England. Located 95 miles northwest of London, Coventry holds the distinction of being the city farthest from any British coastline. The city itself is a center for the heavy motor industry, including the popular Jaguar auto company and the famous London black cabs, both of which are produced in town. Believed to have been founded in 1043, Coventry is the hometown of Lady Godiva and actor Clive Owen, as well as the inspiration for George Eliot's book, "Middlemarch."
ENGLISH TIES Timbers defender Scot Thompson is a dual citizen, being born in America but holding a British passport. Thompson was also invited to try out with Sunderland AFC after impressing the English side during its pre-season tour of the U.S. in 2005 ... assistant coach Gavin Wilkinson has also spent time in England, spending six months with Sheffield United while also trying out with Barnsley, Stoke and Aberdeen during his career ... goalkeeper coach John Galas spent the 1998-99 season with Premiersip club Liverpool, working in the community coaching program and running goalkeeper training sessions.
TIMBERS VS. THE U.K. The Timbers played clubs from the United Kingdom nine times at Civic Stadium (now PGE Park) from 1976-81, posting a 2-5-2 record in those games. Portland played Sunderland AFC to a 0-0 draw last season.
HOW MANY BALLS? Guess the number of soccer balls in the PGE Park ticket booth on 18th & SW Morrison Ave. for your chance to win four tickets to the Coventry match, autographed soccer balls from both teams and an opportunity to be included in the Widmer on-field halftime promotion. To enter, fill out a contest entry form by visiting the US Bank FanStand at PGE Park or go to www.pgepark.com to submit your guess. Guesses are limited to one entry per person. Deadline to enter is July 6.
TOSS FOR A TRIP One lucky fan could win two airline tickets as part of the halftime entertainment festivities. Fans can purchase a ball prior to the game by emailing info@pgepark.com or picking one up at the stadium until the 20th minute of the first half. One ball is $15, with $10 of the proceeds benefiting Portland Parks and Recreation. At halftime, contestants will meet on the Fred Meyer Family Deck, and the goal is to throw the ball into a basket on the field below. The first ball to land in the basket, or the closest ball to the basket after time has expired will win two tickets to anywhere Alaska/Horizon airlines flies, along with a host of other great prizes.
TICKET INFO Tickets for the match, which range from $15-$30, are available at area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.pgepark.com and at the PGE Park box office. Pavilion suite space is selling out quickly, with only a few still available for the event. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to contact the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 for discounts of $2-$6 per ticket.
ON THE AIR The Coventry exhibition can be heard live online at www.portlandtimbers.com. Veteran broadcaster Andy McNamara, in his sixth season behind the mic, will call the match.
USL First Division Stories from July 4, 2006
- Battery tops Miami FC - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Coventry City FC comes to PGE Park - Portland Timbers
- Timbers hide 50 soccer balls good for two free tickets to Coventry City concert - Portland Timbers
- Dodds to USL-1 All-Star Team; Two Matches Each This Week for Lynx - Toronto Lynx
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