Friendly v Stalybridge Celtic, Saturday 31 July

We’re very pleased that Stalybridge Celtic have asked us to play a friendly against them on Saturday 31 July 2010.

Stalybridge’s Bower Fold ground holds a special place in FC United hearts and we’ve had some cracking games at that venue:

- The third game FC United ever played was a friendly against Stalybridge. It was a benefit match for one of their back room stalwarts, Myra Mandryk, who was terminally ill. A 2-0 defeat was barely noticed in the euphoria of seeing our own team well established and supported by a vibrant crowd, who’d already started writing our own history. The game might be best remembered for the appearance of Rory Patterson as a sub with no number. He soon became known as Mr Mystery, the man with no name.

- In 2006-07, the NWCFL Division One away game against Maine Road was moved to Bower Fold and was billed as a ’mini derby’. An amazing crowd of 3,181 crammed into the ground and watched FC United run out as 2-1 winners. Jerome Wright had a terrific game but in the colours of Maine Road on that occasion, before he later joined FC United.

- Only last season, FC United won a hard fought FA Cup replay against the Conference North side after being held to a 3-3 draw at Gigg Lane in the first match. Jerome Wright’s wonder strike was the only goal of the game, proving that three years on he still seems to like Stalybridge’s ground.

We’re looking forward to this summer’s friendly being another classic game at Stalybridge - don’t miss it.

Full match details will be announced later.