Club News

Albion heading to USA for pre-season trip

Baggies going stateside for second time in four years

ALBION will prepare for a fifth successive season of Barclays Premier League football with an 11-day training trip to the USA from Thursday, July 17 to Sunday 27.

The Baggies will be based in Sacramento, California.

And, in conjunction with Revolution Sports Management, the club has arranged two friendlies – both against new USL Pro side Sacramento Republic.

The matches will take place at Bonney Field (capacity 8,000) on Monday, July 21 and Friday, July 25 (both ko 7.30pm West Coast USA time).

It is the second time in four years the Baggies have headed stateside during pre-season, after a successful trip to California and Oregon ahead of the 2011/12 Barclays Premier League campaign.

Albion Technical Director Terry Burton said: “With another season of Barclays Premier League football to look forward to, this trip will provide Alan Irvine and his coaching team with a good platform to get his ideas across to the players.

“As always in pre-season, there will be plenty of hard work to get the players in shape for the challenge ahead and the weather over in the USA in July will also offer a good climate to train and play in."

Republic, who also host Glasgow Rangers next month, are flying high in fifth spot in what is the third tier of US Soccer.

And the Baggies will face them during a crucial spell in the 2014 US season, which climaxes in early September.

Full ticket and travel details will be announced in the coming weeks here at www.wba.co.uk.