Thursday, June 09, 2011

LFC To Kick-Off Tour In Guangzhou

Liverpool FC is delighted to announce the Club will be kicking off their tour of Asia - sponsored by Standard Chartered - with a game in China against Guangdong Sunray Cave on Wednesday July 13.

The Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou will host the match with kick-off at 8pm local time. It is the Reds' first ever game in mainland China. The other match in the tour will be played in Malaysia.

LFC Managing Director Ian Ayre said: "We are very grateful and honoured that the government, local authorities and the football association of China have allowed Liverpool FC to come to China to play in Guangzhou.

"Our football club and the city of Liverpool have great links with China. The city of Liverpool has the oldest Chinese community in Europe. As a global football club, it is important to us that we give our fans in China the chance to see the team in action.

"At Liverpool FC we take these games very seriously. This game will be our first as we kick off our preparations for the 2011-12 campaign.

"We will work closely with our main sponsor Standard Chartered to ensure we can deliver our best ever pre-season tour. It's a very exciting time to watch Liverpool Football Club."

Adidas and Carlsberg are official partners of the tour. For the Malaysia leg of the trip, Courts are also official partners.

The Reds enjoy fantastic support in Asia and this summer's visit follows the hugely successful 10-day pre-season tour of Thailand and Singapore two years ago.

Following the game in Guangzhou, Liverpool FC will travel to Malaysia and play a Malaysian XI in the Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday July 16.

Manager Kenny Dalglish said: "I'm looking forward to taking the team to Asia. It is great that we can give our supporters in China and Malaysia the chance to watch the team play. Our last tour of Asia in 2009 was a great success and we're delighted to be returning this summer."

Lim Cheng Teck, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of Standard Chartered China, said: "Liverpool FC has up to 60 million fans in China alone and we are delighted to be the sponsor for the Club's maiden visit to China. This is a great opportunity for our employees, clients, and community to interact with the players. We wish Liverpool FC a warm welcome to Guangzhou and look forward to a successful pre-season tour."

Paul J. Kam, Chairman of ProEvents Group, added: "We are proud to be appointed as the sole and exclusive tour promoter for the Liverpool FC Asia Tour 2011. This is our first cooperation with Liverpool FC in our 19 years of Asia Tour business and we are pleased to assist them for their Asia pre-season tours. Liverpool FC has already a tremendous fan base in Asia. With this tour we will be bringing them to places where they have never been before with an aim to meet more new friends and supporters."

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