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McLeish is excited about the prospect of his side's trip to Cork. Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Friendly fire

Birmingham City to face Cork City in friendly

“We’re delighted to get a game of this quality mid way through what is a vital season for the club.”

BIRMINGHAM CITY WILL face Cork City in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 16 July at Turner’s Cross (ko 7pm).

The Carling Cup winners will stay in the five-star Fota Island Resort during their stay in Ireland, from 13-17 July.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish expressed excitement about the forthcoming trip, describing the upcoming game as “a good test for us” while praising Cork as “a club, like our own, with a long and proud tradition and I know that its young squad is highly regarded”.

Irish players Stephen Carr (whose contract was recently extended a further year), Colin Doyle and Keith Fahey are set to make the trip, as the Brummies begin their preparation for a year in which they will be seen as strong favourites to gain promotion from the Championship.

Despite their recent relegation from the Premier League on the last day of the season, Cork manager Tommy Dunne expressed his enthusiasm about the prospect of facing McLeish’s side and praised the standard of Birmingham’s play.

“We’re delighted to get a game of this quality mid way through what is a vital season for the club,” he said. ”You don’t win the Carling Cup – especially beating Arsenal in the Final – unless you have an exceptional squad of players and no one in football expects Birmingham to be out of the Premier League for more than next season.”

Tickets for adults will cost €17 and conccesion tickets are €8. They will go on sale at Turner’s Cross this evening, ahead of Cork City’s Airtricity League First Division clash with Athlone. They are also available through Ticketmaster and at the club’s offices in Bishopstown from Monday.