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IT pays to think big - just ask members of a small, rural soccer club who have landed a match against Liverpool. Dunmanway Town XI player David Hall simply called Anfield six weeks ago and asked would the men in red like to travel to west Cork for a game. "I had my reservations when he did it. We have no association with the club and I honestly thought they'd ignore us," club manager John Buckley said. "Now we're just over the moon." Liverpool won't be sending Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres but have promised to field a squad which could include Dutch internationals Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel as well as French under-21 David Ngog and Daniel Agger. The David v Goliath clash will take place at 2pm on August 6, but not on the Dunmanway club's pitch. "We simply wouldn't have the space. We're hoping to attract up to 3,000 fans, so we will be staging the match at Maria Immaculata Community College, in Dunmanway," Mr Buckley said. Liverpool club secretary, Ian Silvester, confirmed yesterday they had accepted the invitation and will fly into Cork the night before the game. "In its decision to hold this game Liverpool FC, who are aware of their enormous fan base in the region, are bringing a taste of the Premier League to all their fans in west Cork," Mr Buckley said. The club were runners up in the West Cork Premier League last season. But they won't be able to match Liverpool's firepower. "We are hoping to draft in a couple of League of Ireland players so we can make a game of it. Liverpool are aware of our intention and have no problem with it," Mr Buckley said. Tickets will cost €20 for adults and €10 for children and senior citizens. The club, which has around 300 members, will use the money raised to further develop its pitches and purchase new equipment. It's unlikely that any fans will travel over from the Kop but then Liverpool needn't worry as there are thousands of their supporters in Cork who will no doubt be clamouring for tickets. |
