The Austin Aztex affiliate, Stoke City FC, which is set to play in the Barclay’s Premier League in the UK, is sending its U18 Academy for eight days of training in Austin prior to the start of the academy season. The Lonestar Soccer Club will be hosting the Stoke City Academy and several “friendlies” have been announced which should be of some interest to Aztex fans.

The first game will take place on Thursday, August 14 at 6:30 PM when Stoke City will play the Lonestar ’91 Red. This team, along with the Lonestar ’93 Red, has been selected to play in US Soccer’s Development Academy, which is intended to bring an intensive program of training and competition to the US’ leading youth clubs and players.

The second friendly will occur on Saturday, August 16 at 10:00 AM when the “Potters”, Stoke City’s affectionate nickname, will play Rayados 92/93 from Monterrey, Mexico. Rayados has some familiarity with Austin youth soccer, having been visited by the St. Stephen’s Soccer Academy (whose coach, Bobby Murphy, was the Aztex assistant this season) last spring.

The final friendly will be played on Sunday, August 17 at 12:00 PM when Stoke will face the Lonestar ’92 Red team. This group, often acknowledged as one of the strongest boys’ teams in the Lonestar program, is currently coached by Sean Bubb who supervises the entire boys program at the club.

In addition to Stoke City and Rayados, teams from the Andromeda Soccer Club of Plano will also be participating in this weekend of friendlies with the Lonestars. Andromeda had two boys’ teams that won National Championships last week, ’90 and ’91 boys. The latter team will be in Austin for one game: they will play the Lonestar ’92 Red South team on Sunday, August 17 at 12:00 PM on a field adjoining the Stoke City — ’92 Red contest.

These friendlies will be held on fields 26 & 27 of the Town & Country Sports Complex.

8/7/08