Following its thrilling 1-0 win over D.C. United, last Saturday (July 21), in front of a crowd of over 17,000 and in which midfielder Chris Birchall notched his first goal in Black & Gold, the Columbus Crew begins a busy week with an international friendly against Stoke City FC of the English Premier League on Tuesday, July 24. Then, on Saturday, July 28, the Crew will travel to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, in Kansas City, Kan., to face Sporting KC in their second meeting in three weeks.
Kickoff for Tuesday’s match is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on TheCrew.com with Neil Sika and Cody Sharrett on the call.
Saturday’s match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. and be televised live regionally on FOX Sports Ohio, with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action. The game can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com, with Neil Sika on the call, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova behind the microphone.
Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and founded in 1863, Stoke City is widely considered to be the second oldest professional soccer club in the world, after fellow English club Notts County. Nicknamed 'The Potters,’ after the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent, it has played in the Premier League since 2008 and is managed by Tony Pulis.
Stoke City visits Crew Stadium for the first time in club history and lists towering (6-7) forward Peter Crouch, who has scored 22 times in 42 appearances for England’s national team, as one of its top players. Fans in attendance will also have a chance to see Ireland’s Glenn Whelan and Jonathan Walters who have recently returned to the team from EURO 2012, as well as Honduran international Wilson Palacios and Trinidad and Tobago forward Kenwyne Jones.
The Crew is 10-4-3 all-time in international exhibitions and 2-3-2 when playing against teams from England. Last season the Black & Gold hosted Newcastle United FC to a 3-0 loss on July 26.
Columbus will only have four days of rest before traveling to Kansas City, Kan., on Saturday, July 28, to face Sporting KC in the second of three matches between the clubs this season. In the first meeting of the season on July 14, the Crew dropped a 2-0 decision to Kansas City behind goals by Jacob Peterson and Teal Bunbury.
The Black & Gold looks to carry the momentum gained with defeating D.C. United 1-0 last Saturday, into LIVESTRONG Sporting Park as it continues to climb back into playoff contention. Since meeting the Crew, Sporting has dropped a 2-1 decision at the Houston Dynamo on July 18, and hosted New England to a 0-0 draw on July 21. They will also be coming off an international friendly as they host French Ligue 1 champion Montpellier HSC on Tuesday, July 24.
Following the match at Kansas City the Crew will travel to D.C. United on Saturday, August 4, for a rematch of last Saturday’s game. The Black & Gold will return home on Saturday, August 11 to host Toronto F.C. in the second leg of the three-match aggregate-score Trillium Cup, at Crew Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Stoke City FC
Tuesday, July 24 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Crew Stadium
Regional Television: N/A
Crew Radio: N/A
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com (English)
COLUMBUS CREW at Sporting KC
Saturday, July 28 – 8:30 p.m. (ET) – LIVESTRONG Sporting Park
Regional Television: FOX Sports Ohio
Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com (English)
CREW PUB TOUR CONTINUES AT 4th STREET BAR AND GRILL
The Crew continues its 2012 Pub Tour with a viewing party at 4th Street Bar and Grill (1810 North 4th Street, Columbus, 43201) the home of Crew supporters group Crew Union, this Saturday, July 28. Crew Brand Ambassador Frankie Hejduk will be in attendance with prizes and memorabilia as the televisions will be tuned to Fox Sports Ohio for the Black & Gold’s match at Sporting KC which kicks off at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
BUDWEISER CELEBRITY BARTENDING NIGHT AT THREE-LEGGED MARE TO BENEFIT THE CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION
Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum will join defender Eric Gehrig and midfielder Chris Birchall in a Budweiser Celebrity Bartending Night at Three Legged Mare in the Arena District (401 North Front St., Columbus, OH 43215), on Wednesday, July 25 from 7-9 p.m. Scott ‘The Torg” Torgerson of 97.1 The Fan will MC the event with the help of Frankie Hejduk and Duncan Oughton. All tips collected during the event will be donated to the Crew Soccer Foundation.
USYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH FOUR CREW JUNIORS TEAMS VYING FOR TITLES
Crew Juniors U19s, coached by Crew technical director Brian Bliss, highlight a list of four Crew youth teams vying for national titles at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships this week (July 24-29) in Rock Hill, S.C. 2011 U18 champions Grand Rapids Crew Juniors will defend their title while CUP Crew Juniors U15s will compete against Challenger Crew Juniors U15s for their category’s national title. The U19s advanced to the Championships by winning their third consecutive Midwest regional title in Saginaw, Mich., last June. Should the 19s advance to the final match, fans will be able to watch the game live on Fox Soccer Channel on Saturday, July 28 at 8 p.m.
CREW JUNIORS U-20S DROP FINAL MATCH AT USL SUPER-20 CHAMPIONSHIPs
After reaching the USL Super-20 finals for a third consecutive year, the Crew Juniors U20s were unable to capture their third straight title after losing the final match 3-1 to the Chicago Fire U20s on Sunday, July 22. The Crew Juniors reached the final match by defeating Potomac SC 3-1 on July 19, Orlando City Youth Soccer 1-0 on July 20, and Alamo SC San Antonio 3-0 and Texas Football Club 1-0 on July 21.
TICKETS FOR U.S. WORLD CUP QUALIFIER VS. JAMAICA ON SALE NOW
Tickets for the Sept. 11 U.S. National Team World Cup qualifying match vs. Jamaica at Crew Stadium are on sale now through ussoccer.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000, at all central Ohio Ticketmaster ticket centers (including Kroger stores) and the Crew Stadium ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The game, in the Semifinal Round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, will kick off at 8 p.m. Crew Soccer Nation Gold and Black members enjoyed access to special presale opportunities on Monday, July 9, and Tuesday, July 10. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.
ZAC BROWN BAND TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Crew Stadium will host the renowned country and southern rock group Zac Brown Band on Friday, Sept. 28. Tickets for the show are now on sale at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.
