Ipswich Town to play Battery on May 9th.

Ipswich Town to play Battery on May 9th.
03/30/2001 - The A-League Charleston Battery today announced that it will play an exhibition game at Blackbaud Stadium against the English Premier League's Ipswich Town on May 9th. Ipswich are currently third place in the English Premier League behind Manchester United and Arsenal. The team will arrive in Charleston on May 7th and will stay for a week, taking advantage of the Charleston Battery's state-of-the-art training facility. They are expected to bring a full-strength squad as the game will be played a week before a potentially crucial league clash with Derby County - their final game of the season. Ipswich is currently in an excellent position for entry into the Champions League or the UEFA Cup competition.

Said Battery President Nigel Cooper, "We are absolutely thrilled to be playing a side of Ipswich's caliber here at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston. It is going to be a real treat for our fans who can honestly look forward to seeing some of the best soccer players around, in one of the best soccer venues in the United States. Hopefully we can bring even more teams of this stature to Charleston."

The Ipswich Town roster includes several high-profile players; Goalkeeper, Richard Wright is believed by many to be the best young goalkeeper in England. He is a current member of the English National Team. Midfielder Matt Holland, is a current Irish International, Midfielder Jim Magilton is a current Northern Irish International, Striker, Marcus Stewart is enjoying a tremendous season and is the second leading scorer in the English Premier League (15 goals).

Coach Dicks Charleston Battery Head Coach Alan Dicks was influential in bringing the high-flying English club to Charleston. He still maintains extensive contacts within English soccer, a result of his many years of work there, including coaching spells at Coventry City, Fulham and Bristol City.

"Having coached and played in England, I know exactly what these teams are looking for. The Charleston Battery can offer the perfect package. We have a first-class complex that includes good training facilities and of course, a great stadium. The weather here is ideal for soccer, I think that clubs like Ipswich can really benefit from this type of visit".

Tickets for the game against Ipswich Town are on sale now; call the Charleston Battery ticket hotline (843) 971-GOAL. Prices range from $8 to $15. Three Lions Club members will receive a complimentary ticket to the game - 2001 Charleston Battery Season Ticket holders can purchase their current seats at a discounted rate until Monday April 16th. After this date, all seats will be made available to the general public.

The Charleston Battery will kick-off their 2001 season on Saturday, April 14th. Season tickets are currently on sale at the Battery box office. For more information please call the ticket hotline at (843) 971-4625 or click here.