FC Edmonton Announces Preseason Tour In Scotland

FC Edmonton is heading to Scotland. The North American Soccer League (NASL) team has announced plans for an immersive, 14-day preseason trip, which will take place March 10-23. 

The Eddies will face Scottish clubs Partick Thistle, Airdrie, and Queens Park FC, as well as the U-21 side of English Premier League club Newcastle United FC.

“FC Edmonton's preseason trip is yet another example of the NASL taking a global approach toward growing the league and improving the level of play on the field," said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. "Not only will the trip give the club some great exposure, it will perhaps most importantly help them get better as a team and prepare them for what will be a very competitive 2016 season.”

The Eddies will stay in Stirling, with daily training sessions taking place at Little Kerse Field—a sports multiplex that includes a FIFA 2 Full Size Astro Pitch, four FIFA five-a-side Astro pitches and several other grass pitches. Eddies players and staff will also have access to an on-site Sports Café, full video and television facilities to review match footage, as well gym and physiotherapy services for strength training and conditioning.

“Our initial thought with taking the team to Scotland - with Tom and Dave Fath’s approval - was that we would get good quality games of football,” said FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller. “Our players are going to be immersed in a football environment for 14 days, and that is the priority. I’m hoping that the aggressive football environment of Scotland will rub off on our players so that when they start the NASL season, they will be in a very good frame of mind.”

Entering their sixth season, FC Edmonton will also have an opportunity to spread the club’s brand abroad and develop potential relationships at the international level.

“We’re a well-established, strong NASL club and we now have an opportunity to put the FC Edmonton brand a wee bit more out there,” Miller added. “With my connections in Scotland, we will be speaking to other clubs that have an interest in maybe working together in the future, who knows? These are the possibilities that can happen. It’s a real opportunity for us to put the club in the shop window.”

The Eddies will be the fifth team in the NASL’s Modern Era to head abroad for competition, joining Minnesota United FC (Brazil, England), Fort Lauderdale Strikers (Brazil), Tampa Bay Rowdies (Portugal), and New York Cosmos (Hong Kong, El Salvador, Spain, Cuba, Dubai) on the league’s shortlist of clubs who have gone global with their brand.

"Scotland has great teams and a great soccer culture, so our team will have an excellent training experience," added FC Edmonton co-owner Tom Fath.