WASHINGTON, DC - D.C. United announced Friday the second half of an international soccer double-header to be played on Wednesday, July 14. Prior to United's previously scheduled match with Nottingham Forest Football Club, the Black-and-Red will host a match featuring the Washington Freedom and the Nottingham Forest Ladies Football Club. The Black-and-Red will later honor members of the Washington Freedom during a half-time ceremony, at which they will unveil a banner honoring the Freedom's 2003 Founder's Cup title. The banner will join those recognizing United's three MLS Cup titles and D.C. United's Tradition of Excellence. D.C. United's match will kick-off at 7:30 p.m. EDT, while the Freedom game will start at 5 p.m.
"We're pleased to be able to host Nottingham Forest Ladies Football Club as a part of our event with Nottingham Forest," said United senior vice president Stephen Zack. "It also gives us a long-overdue opportunity to honor the Washington Freedom and recognize their 2003 championship run."
The Washington Freedom, holders of the 2003 Founder's Cup, will be led by WUSA All-Stars Jen Grubb and Carrie Moore, as well as Jacqui Little, the only WUSA player to have appeared in all three Founder's Cup matches - 2001 - San Jose Cyberrays; 2002, 2003 - Washington Freedom.
"We are excited about putting a team back on the field at RFK Stadium after winning a championship last year," said Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra. "We are also grateful that D.C. United is putting this event on for us, honoring our championship run from last year."
Nottingham Forest Ladies Football Club originally began competition in the early 1970's, capturing the first "Grand Triple" - winning the Notts and Derby League Championship, League Cup and League Charity Cup trophies - in the 1972/73 season. NFLFC reformed again in 1990, during which time the club has gone from strength to strength, and the flagship First Team is now only one division away from playing at the top level of English women's football. NFLFC have 9 teams ranging from an Under 10 side to two senior Sides. Forest Ladies also hosts the Victoria Trophy tournament, a five-a-side soccer tournament hosting more than 200 teams from across the whole of the UK.
The "Lady Reds" advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2004 FA Women's Cup, losing to Bristol Rovers, and recently finished second in the Midlands Combination League. The Nottingham Ladies finished level at 42 points with Coventry City, missing promotion to the Nationwide Premier League on the basis of goal-differential, despite dispatching the champions 2-1 in the final match of the season.
Tickets to the doubleheader are included in all D.C. United full-season ticket plans, as well as Half Season Plan A. Flex Plan ticket vouchers will also be accepted for this match. Individual tickets - ranging in price from $18-$36 - are currently available by calling D.C. United at 202-587-5000, through TicketMaster outlets, or by logging on to the newly redesigned www.dcunited.com.
