COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sunday, July 23, 2006) - The Crew plays Everton of the English Premier League on Wednesday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at Crew Stadium and then travels to Chicago to take on the Fire on Saturday, July 29, at 8:30 p.m. before heading into the MLS All-Star break.
Wednesday's match will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and will kick off at 7 p.m., instead of the originally scheduled 7:30 p.m. time. The game can also be heard on-line at TheCrew.com.
The game is Special Game "A" for Crew Soccer Nation members. Individual advance ticket pricing is $15 adult/$13 youth (south end), $20/$17 (north end), $25/$19 (corner), $27/$21 (midfield) and $40/$30 (club seats). Day of game pricing is $2 more than advance. Group pricing is also available and can be purchased by calling 614-447-CREW. Tickets are available for purchase at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all Central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 614-431-3600 and on-line at TheCrew.com.
Everton finished 11th in the 20-team Premier League's 2005/2006 season. The game vs. The Crew will be one of the final preparation matches before Everton kicks off the next Premier League season in mid-August.
Three members of the Everton squad participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and two of them made dramatic impacts for their respective countries. Portugal defender Nuno Valente started five of his team's six games, helping them notch four shutouts. Australian midfielder Tim Cahill played in all four games, starting twice, and scored two second half goals as Australia downed Japan, 3-1. The third player is former MLS star and U.S. National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard. He did not see any action for the U.S. Howard was recently loaned to Everton for the 2006/2007 season from Manchester United where he has played since July 2003.
The Crew is 6-1-1 all-time in international exhibitions, including 2-0-1 against teams from the English Premier League. The Black & Gold downed Leeds, 2-1, in 1997, tied Newcastle, 2-2, in 2000, and defeated Fulham, 2-1, in 2005.
The Crew (4-9-7, 19 pts) sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but only six points out of second after a 1-1 tie vs. L.A. on Saturday, July 22. Chicago sits in fourth place in the East at 5-7-6 (21 pts.) after a 1-1 draw at home vs. D.C.
Saturday's match will be televised nationally in high definition on HDNet. It can also be heard in English on The Brew @ 105.7 or on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com.
Single-game tickets for the 2006 home season are on sale at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all Central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 614-431-3600 and on-line at TheCrew.com.
Fans can become Crew Soccer Nation members by purchasing pro-rated, full-season ticket packages or partial plans, starting as low as $30 for the new Crew 3-Packs. Group tickets are also available. All ticket packages or plans are available through TheCrew.com and 614-447-CREW.
HOWARD, CAHILL AND NEVILLE HIGHLIGHT EVERTON ROSTER COMING TO COLUMBUS
Everton has released its roster that will make the upcoming trip to Columbus for Wednesday's match. Highlighting the roster is former MLS star Tim Howard, Australian World Cup forward Tim Cahill and English midfielder Philip Neville. The complete Everton roster is: 1 Richard Wright, 2 Tony Hibbert, 3 Gary Naysmith, 4 Joseph Yobo, 5 David Weir, 6 Mikel Arteta, 7 Andy van der Meyde, 8 Andy Johnson, 9 James Beattie, 10 Simon Davies, 11 James McFadden, 13 Iain Turner, 14 Kevin Kilbane, 15 Alan Stubbs, 16 Joleon Lescott, 17 Tim Cahill, 18 Phil Neville, 21 Leon Osman, 23 Alessandro Pistone, 24 Tim Howard, 26 Lee Carsley, and 28 Victor Anichebe.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Everton (English Premier League)
Wednesday, July 26 - 7 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium
National Television: ESPN2
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSnet.com (English)
COLUMBUS CREW at Chicago Fire
Saturday, July 29 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) at TOYOTA PARK
National Television: HDNet
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSnet.com (English)
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE
July
Mon., 24 OFF
Tues., 25 10 a.m. training at Crew Stadium
Wed., 26 Crew vs. Everton - 7 p.m. at Crew Stadium
Thurs., 27 10 a.m. training at Obetz
Fri., 28 10 a.m. training at Obetz
Fri., 28 Depart for Chicago
Sat., 29 Crew at Chicago - 8:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium
Sun., 30 Return to Columbus
(Times listed Eastern)
MONTHLY MEDIA LUNCHEON SET FOR TUESDAY AT 2:30 P.M. AT BUFFALO WILD WINGS The Crew will hold its monthly press luncheon on Tuesday, July 25, at 2:30 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar at 5240 Bethel Road. The luncheon will consist of MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Crew General Manager Mark McCullers, Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid, representatives from Everton and Crew captain Ritchie Kotschau.
Luncheon news will include an update on the status of Major League Soccer, as well as a preview of The Crew's match the following day vs. Everton of the English Premier League.
Buffalo Wild Wings on Bethel Road is the "Official Away Game Headquarters" for all Columbus Crew road games. Crew fans are welcome to attend the monthly press luncheons.
CREW TO HOLD FAN FORUM ON TUESDAY AT 6 P.M. FEATURING MLS COMMISSIONER DON GARBER, CREW GM MARK McCULLERS AND CREW HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
The Crew will host an Open Fan Forum in The Crew Stadium Huntington Club on Tuesday, July 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. The Open Fan Forum is free to the public and will give anyone who wishes to attend an opportunity to interact and ask questions to MLS and Crew management, Crew coaches and Crew players as the season nears the MLS All-Star break.
Among those participating in the Fan Forum are MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Crew General Manager McCullers, Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid and select Crew player(s). Each participant will field questions from the fans. The Crew will provide free beverages and snacks.
CREW MAKES EVERTON MATCH A BOB EVANS BUCK-A-BRAT NIGHT
The Crew's match vs. Everton on Wednesday has been made a Bob Evans Buck-A-Brat night. All game long, and throughout the stadium, juicy, full-size bratwurst will be sold for just $1, as they have been for all regular-season Wednesday home games and select other Wednesday games since Crew Stadium opened in 1999.
GET A CREW-EVERTON SPECIAL EDITION SCARF AND MIDFIELD TICKET FOR JUST $30
For only $30, fans receive a midfield ticket to The Crew's match-up with Everton, as well as a Commemorative Crew/Everton Scarf. Orders can be placed at The Crew Stadium Box office or on-line at TheCrew.com, and supplies are limited.
