| English pro soccer team will play at USA CUP |
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| Tuesday, 17 June 2008 | |
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by Tim Hennagir Life Editor The first English professional soccer team to play a match in Minnesota will do so at this year’s Schwan’s USA CUP. The Minnesota Thunder announced Tuesday, June 17 that the team will play against the storied, 126-year-old Burnley Football Club Tuesday, July 15, starting at 7:35 p.m. As the USA CUP highlight match, the contest will take place at the National Sports Center in Blaine, according to a news release. “They bring a very competitive team with a rich tradition of excellence,” Amos Magee, Thunder head coach, stated in the release. Burnley F.C. was founded in 1882 and plays its matches at Turf Moor in Burnley, Lancashire, England. It started as a rugby club. The team became a football (soccer) club in 1882 and has since grabbed every major honor with the exception of the League Championship. The club’s first honor was a Second Division title in 1897-98. Its second was a F.A. Cup 1-0 title victory over Liverpool in 1914. In the 1920-21 season, Burnley F.C. enjoyed a remarkable 30-game unbeaten streak while winning the First Division title. That unbeaten record lasted for 80 years until Arsenal F.C. finally bettered it in 2003-04. Burnley, nicknamed the Clarets, currently plays in the Coca Cola Championship. Team officials report the match scheduling coincides with the completion of new-soccer specific improvements at NSC Stadium. The NSC’s field running track has been removed and the playing surface has been shifted 80 feet closer to the main grandstand. The field’s other three sides will be enclosed with general admission bleachers. Site construction is set for completion July 1. The game will be played Tuesday of the week-long USA CUP, the largest international youth soccer tournament in North America. The Schwan’s USA CUP showcases more than 1,000 teams from 22 countries and is returning to the NSC in Blaine for its 27th year. Tickets for the historic match range from $12 to $30 with a limited number of field seats available for $55, the team reports. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 651-989-5151. Groups of 10 or more can buy tickets by calling the Thunder at 651-294-4664. Tim Hennagir is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
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