The turnstiles to the Etihad Stadium are set to be thrown open on Friday night to fans looking to come down and support Attilio Lombardo’s side as they look to record their first win of the 2012/13 season.
It’s a great opportunity for supporters to get along and support some of the players who featured for the first team in pre-season, like Denis Suarez, Marcos Lopes and George Evans, as well as other talented prospects, including Albert Rusnak, Adam Drury and Jordy Hiwula.
City got off to a good start in the new, revamped Barclays U21 Premier League with a 0-0 draw away at Chelsea and will face Middlesbrough in this, their second match.
EDS Coach Lombardo believes that playing in the Etihad Stadium will be “an important step” in his team’s development, as well as his own.
“It will be a great experience for them and an important one for me too as I’ve never sat on the bench there as a manager before,” he said
“Obviously the stadium won’t be full with 46,000 people like a first team game but it’s still an important step for them.”
Head of Academy Mark Allen has also welcomed the move,
“I think this is a wonderful idea, as it gives the players not only a great experience but prepares them for life as a professional so that if the time comes and they’re summoned for first-team duty, they’re no way near as intimidated with the prospect in front of them,” said Allen.
The game will not be ticketed and fans are asked to enter from entrances P and Y on the west side of the stadium (Colin Bell Stand side) where Level One will be available to sit in. The North car park will be open and free to park in but City Square will be closed.
Fans will not be able to purchase alcohol at the game but there will be refreshments on sale inside the stadium where doors will open at 6pm.
City EDS kick off their NextGen Series campaign against PSG on Thursday 30 August at Hyde FC. Ticket details will be announced soon.
