If the Reds, should play, Winterthur away... Match preview

After an indifferent start to their pre-season campaign the build up to the 2016/2017 season takes in the third country in the space of a week as FC United travel to the Schützenwiese Stadium in Switzerland to face old friends FC Winterthur. Craig Phillips provides this preview...

FC United went down 5-1 to a clinical Rhyl side last weekend, before a young side rescued a late draw at West Didsbury & Chorlton on Tuesday evening before travelling to Switzerland for this weekend’s game.

The two teams have met before when the Reds travelled to Winterthur at the end of the 2013/2014 season just weeks after a bitter loss to neighbours Ashton United in a play-off semi-final. However, neither that loss or a 4-1 defeat to our Swiss friends could dampen the spirit of what was a great occasion and a game which was billed by our hosts as “The True Spirit of Football??? in front of a crowd of more than 2,700.

In keeping with the tradition of making friends, not millionaires, FC Winterthur invited us back for a fixture in the build up to the coming season and it’s an opportunity which provides not only a great occasion for the fans but quite possibly the sternest test of this pre-season programme for the players.

FC Winterthur currently play in the Swiss Challenge League, which is the second highest tier in the Swiss football league system and they kick off their 2016/2017 schedule in just over a week when they travel to recently relegated FC Zurich on 25 July.

The team finished sixth in the 10 team league last season with 43 points from their 34 games over the course of the season, which was two places and 10 points less than their total from the previous season.

22-year-old Swiss forward Christian Fassnacht was the team’s top goal scorer last season scoring nine times in only his second season since breaking into the team.

Founded in 1896 the club made a great start to the twentieth century winning their three league titles in 1906, 1908 and 1917.

The meeting between our two clubs was not the first time our hosts had been involved in an international showcase. Indeed, their meeting with English amateur side West Auckland FC for the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy in 1909 is thought to be the first international football club competition in history.

In 2006, the club had their best ever run in the Swiss Cup, making it all the way to the semi-finals knocking out Grasshoppers, Lucerne and Servette before losing to eventual winners Sion in the semi-finals.

Saturday’s game is a 6pm (local time) kick off with more match information provided below. Should you have the opportunity to do so, then get yourself to that football ground.

Game Information:

Ticket prices for the game are as follows: -

- Covered seat: CHF 20
- Uncovered seat: CHF 15
- Standing, covered/uncovered: CHF 15
- Standing, concessions (*): CHF 10
- Standing for children under 16: free (no ticket required, proof of age may need to be shown on entry)
- Seats for children aged 6-16 cost CHF 5. (children under 6 seat free, no need for a ticket)
- Wheelchair users: free in Sector C, accompanying person pays the price of a standing ticket.
* Concessions = Youth from 16 to 20, students, trainees, benefit recipients.

As with the last time we played FC Winterthur, to make it easier on supporters’ pockets, there will be a reduced beer price in the stadium bars.

FC Winterthur v FC United of Manchester
Saturday 16 July 2016, Kick off 6pm
Stadion Schützenwiese
Winterthur
Switzerland