Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com
Thursday, June 16, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery will play England’s Portsmouth F.C. in an international exhibition match on Wednesday, July 27 at Blackbaud Stadium; Daniel Island, SC; gates will open at 6 p.m. with kick off set for 7:45 p.m. This marks the second consecutive year that the Battery have hosted an English side; last July the Battery played Bolton Wanderers in front of a sold out crowd of 5,249. 
Tickets for this special exhibition match will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21. Tickets are priced starting at just $20 with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.
This special exhibition match is presented by the Angie Gainey Bailey Real Estate Team.
Portsmouth F.C. competes in the English Championship and are managed by Steve Cotterill, who took the helm in June 2010.
Pompey boss Steve Cotterill said: “We’re really looking forward to meeting the people of Charleston and know that their hospitality will be top class, while I’m told the training facilities and pitch are magnificent.
“We’re looking forward to getting out there and building a relationship with the guys at Charleston during our time there.”
Formed in 1898 Portsmouth have been champions of England twice, in 1949 and 1950, and have won the FA Cup twice, most recently in 2008 when they beat Welsh side Cardiff 1–0 in the final with Nwankwo Kanu scoring the only goal. Portsmouth also made it to the FA Cup final in 2010 losing 1-0 to Chelsea.
The Portsmouth roster includes several notable players including Republic of Ireland international Liam Lawrence and team captain Aaron Mokoena who also the captain of the South African national team.
Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu joined Portsmouth in 2006 after spells with Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal in a career that has seen him win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, as well as an Olympic gold medal in 1996.
Charleston Battery vs. international opposition
Charleston has a long tradition of hosting foreign clubs starting back in 1993 when the Battery played Jamaican Premier League side Constant Springs FC and Latvian team, FK-RAF Riga.
The Battery defeated then English Championship side Sunderland A.F.C by a score of two goals to one in 2004 and has twice hosted Mexican Primera opposition defeating Puebla F.C. and then losing a match versus Atlante FC.
In recent years the Battery has hosted Jamaican Premier League side Village United and last July lost 2-0 in an international exhibition with English side Bolton Wanderers.
Group Ticket Discounts
Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets for this match. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.