Crusaders to play Liverpool in pre-season friendly at Ravenhill

[King Binny]

They finished 5th in N.Irish league. with 64pts (Linfield were Champions with 85 pts). Ravenhill Stadium capacity at 12.3k.

Ravenhill will be the venue for a pre-season friendly between Crusaders and a Liverpool XI on Tuesday 14 August.

The home of Ulster Rugby will provide a larger capacity for the game than the Crues' own home ground at Seaview.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rogers will name his squad for the game in late July.

"We are delighted to work with Ulster Rugby to jointly promote this game in what we intend to make an entertaining, family friendly, night out," said Crusaders chairman Stephen Bell.

"We are also working with Ulster Rugby, the GAA and the Peace Players to promote a "game of three halves" at Seaview in mid-July and hope that these collaborations will be the first of many," added Bell.

The Crues enjoyed a successful season last time out by winning the IRN-BRU League Cup and the Setanta Sports Cup.

"We are delighted that Ravenhill is able to host some of Europe's best sporting entertainment," said Fiona Hampton, Senior Sales Manager at Ulster Rugby.

"The Liverpool friendly will kick start the season for the team at Ravenhill and will be followed closely by two pre-season friendlies for Ulster Rugby."

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

First Liverpool game I ever went to was against Crusaders in The European Cup in 1976.

 

[refugee]

Hooray.

*Goes googling for ticket info*

 

[Ryan]

Seaview is the shittest ground in the Irish League by miles, so thank fuck it's not there.

It'll probably be our U-16's or something, but good for the Crues nonetheless.

 

[King Binny]

League Cup and All Ireland Setanta champions, Crusaders FC, have announced a pre-season friendly against a Liverpool XI, a match to be held at Ravenhill Stadium on 14th August at 7.30pm.

It is expected that Brendan Rogers’ Liverpool will bring a strong squad to Belfast, to be announced in late July.

Crusaders Chair, Stephen Bell said: “Liverpool played a proud part in our history, with the 1977 European Cup winning side of Keegan, Toshack and Clemence starting their journey with a memorable two legged victory over the Crues. Thirty five years on, and after one of the most successful seasons in our history, winning the Irn-Bru League Cup and the Setanta All-Ireland Cup, we are keen to ‘kick on’. Given the limited capacity at Seaview, we are delighted to work with Ulster Rugby to jointly promote this game in what we intend to make an entertaining, family friendly, night out.”

“We are also working with Ulster Rugby, the GAA and the Peace Players to promote a “game of three halves” at Seaview in mid-July and hope that these collaborations will be the first of many. Modern sport competes for business in the leisure and entertainment markets and we need to try innovative ways of promoting our product. Why not come along and try it.”

Fiona Hampton, Senior Sales Manager at Ulster Rugby said: “We are delighted that Ravenhill is able to host some of Europe’s best sporting entertainment. The Liverpool friendly will kick start the season for the team at Ravenhill and will be followed closely by two pre-season friendlies for Ulster Rugby.”

Details on tickets from www.crusadersfc.com and from www.ulsterrugby.com or 0289049322 from 1st July 2012