Pre-Season: Port Vale to USA/Canada...Also Oxford

[Macmoish]

Gianni, if only,...!

Port Vale Official Site
TOUR OF NORTH AMERICA

Posted on: Wed 16 Mar 2011

Port Vale FC are delighted to announce an exciting pre-season tour of North America for summer 2011.
Vale will travel to America and Canada in July to take on four fast growing football clubs from the Northwest Division of the USL Premier Development League. Vale will take on North Sound Sea Wolves, Tacoma Tide, Kitsap Pumas and Victoria Highlanders during a ten day trip which will provide the perfect setting for Jim Gannon and his side as they prepare for the new season.

The tour has been made possible thanks to a new partnership with Ameriturf Systems who will sponsor the tour and Port Vale Chairman Bill Bratt is excited about the matches that Vale will play:
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"A pre-season tour is a vital part of our preparations for the new season and we will be looking forward to top quality training facilities and conditions as well as some excellent competitive games. While our focus will be on the forthcoming season we will also see this as a great opportunity to build relationships with our host clubs off the field of play and hope that we will be able to establish some long term partnerships in this part of the world. The game is such a global game now and it is vital that we ensure that we make the very most of this exciting opportunity."

Tim Hollinger, President of Ameriturf Systems is looking forward to Vale's visit:

"The continued growth of soccer in North America has seen our business diversify dramatically over the last few years and we are dedicated to support local and international initiatives especially those encouraging the development of "the beautiful game" at grass-roots level as well as clubs who strive to impact upon at-risk and disadvantaged communities through the power of the sport. Following on from our strategic partnerships in South America we are now excited at building a long term relationship with our new friends at Port Vale as well as those host clubs closer to home in Washington and across the border in British Columbia."

Port Vale will travel toAmerica on July 12th and train for two days before the first gameagainst NorthSound Sea Wolves on Friday July 15th. They then take on Tacoma Tide on Sunday 17th before facingKitsap Pumas on Tuesday 19th. The final game will be against Victoria Highlanders FC on Thursday July 21st.

Supporter packages will be available through Thomas Cook, official travel partners of Port Vale. Full details of how supporters can join Vale for this exciting pre-season tour will be announced very soon.

Itinerary

Tuesday July 12th

Port Vale Depart UK

Friday July 15th

Game 1

NorthSound Sea Wolves v Port Vale FC

Sunday July 17th

Game 2

Tacoma Tide v Port Vale FC

Tuesday July 19th

Game 3

Kitsap Pumas v Port Vale FC

Thursday July 21st

Game 4

Victoria Highlanders v Port Vale FC

Friday July 22nd
Port Vale return to UK from Vancouver


www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2316960,00.html

[Macmoish]

A little embarassing...On the other hand, these are NOT MSL Clubs

Port Vale Official Site

PRE-SEASON TOUR

Posted on: Thu 24 Mar 2011

Port Vale's pre-season tour of North America has caused quite a splash on the other side of the Atlantic.

Vale will travel to America and Canada in July to take on four fast growing football clubs from the Northwest Division of the USL Premier Development League. Vale will take on North Sound Sea Wolves, Tacoma Tide, Kitsap Pumas and Victoria Highlanders during a ten day trip which will provide the perfect setting for the Vale manager and his side as they prepare for the new season.

The clubs involved are genuinely excited about the opportunity to test themselves against The Valiants. Kitsap Pumas' Executive Director Ben Pecora typified the reaction:

"Bringing high-level international clubs to Kitsap has been a major objective for us since Day One. This is a critical element in improving not only the play of our boys and the kids in our community, but these friendlies also provide a great chance to show our fans and the community as high a level of our sport as possible"

North Sound Sea Wolves General Manager Alex Silva echoed those thoughts;

"The Sea Wolves FC are very excited to host Port Vale. This will definitely be the biggest soccer event for the Snohomish County Community."

Drew Finerty, General Manager of Victoria Highlanders where Vale will end their matches, said:

"Vancouver island football fans will be treated to exciting international competition and our club is pleased to bring a quality brand of football to the region, giving us an opportunity to elevate our play in preparation for moving up to the professional level in the near future."

Tacoma Tide General Manager Jon Billings added:

"Soccer is truly the world's game and bringing in English clubs like Port Vale is an opportunity to show that. For Tacoma's community and for our players this is a tremendous opportunity to compare styles and skills. The match will be a chance to gauge where our game has progressed from and where we are heading."

Vale supporters looking to support their team on the tour will soon be able to book a great deal through our partnership with Thomas Cook. Full details will appear here very soon.

www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2322883,00.html

[Lonegunmen]

Port Vale are "High Level" Go on then Gianni, buy them.

[rootbeer]

I was away when this was posted and just had it emailed to me
Just so you know I put this tour on
Its a good opportunity for them as they are in for the long haul and not the quick buck
We had a The Victoria Highlanders U18 side over from Victoria BC a few weeks ago and had them play Sheff Wed, Port Vale and Notts County, unfortunately there was not enough time for them to play QPR as it would have been good as Birch is a Canadian ex International , when they next come over we will make sure a game against us is arranged

[moriarty]

Apr 19, 2011 17:56:06 GMT rootbeer said:

I was away when this was posted and just had it emailed to me
Just so you know I put this tour on
Its a good opportunity for them as they are in for the long haul and not the quick buck
We had a The Victoria Highlanders U18 side over from Victoria BC a few weeks ago and had them play Sheff Wed, Port Vale and Notts County, unfortunately there was not enough time for them to play QPR as it would have been good as Birch is a Canadian ex International , when they next come over we will make sure a game against us is arranged

Are you a match agent rootbeer?, must have been a lot of work getting that together...

[rootbeer]

I have a sports media company acting for players, also have put on several pre season games in the past few years. The States is a place I have been working with for some years and this opportunity came up with friends i have worked with for the past 10 or so years. It was a lot of work , but a lot of fun as well...its football so it has to be fun
H'aag Sameach

[moriarty]

Apr 19, 2011 18:06:40 GMT rootbeer said:

I have a sports media company acting for players, also have put on several pre season games in the past few years. The States is a place I have been working with for some years and this opportunity came up with friends i have worked with for the past 10 or so years. It was a lot of work , but a lot of fun as well...its football so it has to be fun
H'aag Sameach

Happy Holiday?

I was talking to a match agent who had recently organised a tournament in Egypt - suffice to say, lots of hard work, and the tournament was called off.......

[rootbeer]

Ours will be on PG

[moriarty]

Good luck with it.

I wonder where QPR will be going pre-season this year?

[rootbeer]

will probably depend on which league we are playing in

[Macmoish]

If things had turned out differently, Rootbeer, you'd have been Chairman of QPR. And Gianni...Ah Gianni, would have been Chairman of Port Vale.

[londonranger]

We are getting Manure.

[coitparkrangers]

Apr 19, 2011 18:17:48 GMT moriarty said:

Apr 19, 2011 18:06:40 GMT rootbeer said:

H'aag Sameach

Happy Holiday?

It's Passover.

[Macmoish]

Also Oxford United coming to the USA

Waiting!

Oxford United Official Site

US opposition and dates announced
Posted on: Tue 26 Apr 2011

Oxford United can now confirm the opposition and dates for matches during their historic tour to the United States this summer.

The first match will be against Seacoast United of the USL Premier Development League on Thursday14th July with kick-off at 6.30pm. The match will take place at Exeter High School in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Two days later the U's will take on Mass United FC, of the National Premier Soccer League. The match on Saturday, 16th July will begin at 3pm and also be held at Exeter High School.

The third and final match of the pre-season tour will be against Seacoast United of the National Premier Soccer League on Monday, 18th July with kick-off at 6pm. The match will take place at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Both venues are within 20 minutes of each other by car.

All three matches will be open to members of the public with tickets costing $8 for adults and $5 for children for each game.

How to buy tickets for the games will be released shortly.

Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "A full squad will be heading out to the US this summer for our pre-season tour and we're hoping to strengthen our links with Seacoast United and develop the relationship between the two clubs.

"We hope supporters appreciate the chance of watching Oxford United play in the United States on this historic tour and will be delighted to see them in New Hampshire."

For more information on flight details, fans are asked to call Virgin Atlantic on 0844 8111519 and quote "Oxford United".

Meanwhile, Seacoast United and their partners Ocean Properties Ltd will be offering preferential accommodation rates for United's fans while staying in the US.

For personal assistance regarding accommodation in the Seacoast region, or if fans wish to extend their stay to include the likes of Maine, Florida and Boston they are asked to contact Lori Ventimiglia of Ocean Properties Limited at [e-mail] or visit www.seacoastunited.org/ and click on 'Ocean Properties'.

For further information on the USL Premier Development League: pdl.uslsoccer.com/

and for information on the National Premier Soccer League www.npsl.info.

www.oufc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10342~2347506,00.html

[Lonegunmen]

Apr 19, 2011 18:22:54 GMT moriarty said:

Good luck with it.

I wonder where QPR will be going pre-season this year?

Come to New Zealand!!

[cpr]

I hope we don't bugger off miles away!

A tour around Colin's farm worked fine this season! ;D

[Macmoish]

Meanwhile, back in Port Vale....

BBC

Port Vale fans boycott season tickets to oust board

Port Vale chairman Bill Bratt took charge at Vale Park in 2003
A group of Port Vale supporters is calling on fans to boycott buying season tickets in an attempt to force the club's board out.

The Starve Em Out campaign has the backing of over 1,600 would-be season ticket holders, which could amount to £400,000 in lost revenue for Vale.

Starve Em Out founder Mark Rutter told BBC Radio Stoke: "We're expecting a lot more pledges.

"I won't go to Vale again until this board stands down."

The current board took charge at Vale Park in December 2003 when the Valiants were in administration.

The fan-backed Valiant 2001, with Bill Bratt installed as chairman, led Vale out of administration a season later.

Since then, the club have had six full-time managers and have slipped into the bottom tier of the Football League - where they will again play next season after their hopes of reaching the play-offs ended with Monday's defeat at Stevenage.
Local businessman Mo Chaudry has offered to purchase 51% of shares in the Burslem outfit - worth £1.2m - in an attempt to gain a controlling interest, but club rules state that no one person can own more than 24.9%.

Chaudry has since revised his proposal and submitted a joint offer with another local businessman, Mark Simms.

The pair have both offered to buy 24.9% of shares giving them a combined total of 49.8%.

Lifelong Vale fan Rutter, 30, added: "We want to starve the club of funds because we want the board to notice the fans' views.

"They're not listening to shareholders or other fan groups. We want a new future for Port Vale and we want new investment to take the club forward. It's down to fan power now."

Another group of Vale fans have established the 'Black and Gold until it's sold' campaign and wear black and gold scarves in protest against the board.

A third group, the North London Valiants, sent a questionnaire to the club's shareholders which showed that 40% are in favour of calling an extraordinary general meeting.

"The meeting will look to vote off the current board," said NLV spokesman Malcolm Hirst.

"Recently they have ignored a request by local millionaire businessman and life-long Vale fan, Mark Sims, to buy 24.9% of the shares.

"It is unbelievable given the current precarious financial position of the club that the board could simply ignore such a request to purchase these shares."

Port Vale have so far been unavailable to comment

newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/9469083.stm