Boreham Wood V Arsenal XI

Saturday 21st July 2012 – Kick off 3.00pm

Pre-Season Friendly  

Terry Burton’s first game as Manager of Arsenal’s renowned Development Squad, which has produced the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Emmanuel Frimpong just to name a few, as well as many other Youth Internationals, sees him bring an Arsenal XI side to Meadow Park to face a much prepared Boreham Wood.

Following the retirement of Arsenal Legend Pat Rice as First Team Assistant Manager, Steve Bould and Neil Banfield have moved up from the Reserves into the First Team coaching set-up. This repositioning of the coaching staff with Arsenal’s First Team, left a vacancy within the Arsenal coaching set up and it was Terry Burton who was announced as Head Development Coach on July 5th 2012.

Burton is rejoining the Club where he started his playing career as an apprentice and captained the Gunners Youth team to FA Youth Cup success in 1971. Whilst it should also be remembered he also coached Arsenal at First Team level for many years and is hugely respected throughout football.

Wood manager and Ex-Gunner Ian Allinson, is looking forward to welcoming Arsenal this Saturday and said “It’s always a great work out for us when we play an Arsenal XI. We know that we won’t have the ball for large proportions of the game, which means we must remain focused throughout, it’s as much about our mental fitness in terms of our discipline as our physical fitness.”

In all Ian played 105 times for Arsenal, scoring 23 goals. His most famous moment in an Arsenal shirt came when he was introduced in the Semi Final of the 1987 League Cup as a substitute at 1 – 0 down to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Ian scored the equalising goal, before the late David Rocastle scored the winner. Arsenal went on to win the Cup that season, beating Liverpool in the final at Wembley.

The relationship between Boreham Wood and Arsenal has flourished over the two decades as Meadow Park once housed the Arsenal Reserves and is now home to the Arsenal Ladies who now play in The Women’s Super League.

The Arsenal Ladies have seen huge success in their time at Meadow Park, winning 12 FA Women’s Premier League Titles (record), 11 FA Women’s Cups (record), 10 FA Women’s League Cup’s (record), 5 FA Women’s Community Shields, UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2007 and the inaugural FA Women’s Super League and Continental Cup last season.

It is hugely important that both Arsenal and Boreham Wood supporters turn out for this game as it enables the club to continue to improve its facilities, playing surface and youth structure. So we urge people who are undecided, to make the effort and make it a good family occasion. As in past matches you just never know who Arsenal are going to send. And when you bare in mind that Bergkamp, Anelka, Reyes, Gilberto, Adams, Fabregas, Szczesny have all played at Meadow Park perhaps another legend is about to be seen at close quarters.

Tickets are now on Sale and can also be purchased on the day although seating tickets are limited and we do expect to sell out in the seated area. please call the ticket office on 02089535097 or alternatively visit our online box office at www.bwfcboxoffice.co.uk to purchase your tickets online.

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