Contributed by Isaac Christian

Singapore, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 – English Championship side Burnley FC will be making their way to Singapore as part of their first ever tour to South-East Asia for a week-long training camp in preparation for the 2010-2011 season.

Managed by former Burnley and Nottingham Forest full back Brian Laws, the highlight of their Singapore training camp will be when the Clarets take on a Singapore Selection side comprising players from both the Asian Games team and the National senior team on Saturday 24 July 2010 in the FIS Asian Challenge Cup at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Burnley achieved promotion to the 2009/10 Premier League season, after a 33-year exile from the English top fight. Despite being relegated after their first season in the English Premier League, the likes of Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Graham Alexander and Robbie Blake will be best remembered for their giant killing scalps, including memorable wins over the likes of Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

With two English First Division titles in the 1920/21 and 1959/60 seasons, Burnley created history in 1992, by becoming only the second team to win all four divisional titles in English Football.

Speaking on his team’s first tour to this region, Laws said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to play games in Singapore as a key component of our pre-season plans.

“I am assured the facilities are magnificent and the cup game to round off the tour will be a fitting finale to what we all hope will be a superb experience for all our players and fans.”

“This will be the club’s first ever trip to Asia and we are especially keen to put on a good show for all the many football fans out there who will have seen us in the Premier League last season. We look forward to meeting as many supporters as possible and fostering excellent relations with the Singapore people,” added the 48-year-old.

The FIS Asian Challenge Cup will give National Coach Radojko Avramovic a good opportunity to test his players in preparation for two important international assignments at the end of the year. Both the Asian Games and the National ‘A’ teams are due to compete in the Asian Games and ASEAN Football Championship this November and December respectively.

“This game will give me the chance to examine the players in the Asian Games team that did not make it to our Myanmar trip recently. We have also arranged some friendlies for the national team against Thailand and three teams in Serbia, so this game will provide very good preparation for the players. At the same time, we can bring three overage players for the Asian Games in China, so this will give me a good chance to assess my team,” said Avramovic.

Main sponsors, Freight Investor Services along with co-sponsors LCH.Clearnet believe that Burnley can leverage on the widespread support of the English game in Asia.

Mr. John Banaszkiewicz, Founder and Managing Director of Freight Investor Services and a life-long Burnley fan, said: “English football’s popularity has spread rapidly across the globe over the past few years. The passion of supporters in Asia for the English game is astonishing and we believe there is massive potential for Burnley Football Club to expand its fan base in this part of the world.

“The Singapore summer tour represents the ideal way to propel Burnley towards being a major force in Asia by playing games against local sides,” he added.

The Clarets will also go up against S.League sides Home United and Gombak United in two closed-door friendly matches prior to their clash against the Singapore Selection side.

FIS Asian Challenge Cup
Singapore Selection vs Burnley FC
Saturday 24 July 2010, 7.30pm
Jalan Besar Stadium

Ticketing Details:
Grandstand: SGD$12.00
Adult Gallery: SGD$6.00
Senior Citizen / Student Gallery: SGD$2.00

Tickets will go on sale at FAS Main Office (#01-02, Jalan Besar Stadium) on July 20-23 from 12pm to 7pm and Jalan Besar Stadium Ticketing Booths (North & South gates) on matchday from 6pm onwards.