Ventura County Fusion to Challenge Barclays® Premier League Team Swansea City on Sat., July 28

June 19, 2012 - PRLog -- The Ventura County Fusion (www.vcfusion.com) today announced it will play an international exhibition match against Barclays® (English) Premier League side Swansea City Association Football Club (www.swanseacity.net) at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Oxnard College Stadium in Oxnard, Calif. The game, to take place during Swansea City’s seven-day training camp in Ventura, is the sixth match which the Fusion have played against Premier League opposition.

Tickets for the Fusion-Swansea City match are now on sale and immediately available by contacting Fusion headquarters at (805) 277-9742, or by ordering online at www.vcfusion.com. Ticket prices are $15.00 each for adults, and $8.00 each for children under the age of 17, if purchased in advance through VCFusion.com. A family four-pack, which includes two adult and two youth tickets, is also available for advance purchase for $40.00. At the gate, ticket prices are $20.00 each for adults, and $12.00 each for youths. Located at 4000 South Rose Avenue in Oxnard (93033), Oxnard College Stadium will open at 4:15 p.m. PDT, with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m.

The match, also known as a “friendly,” is one of three exciting contests the Welsh club will play in July as part of its 12-day North American promotional tour. In addition to the Fusion, the renowned squad, affectionately known to its fans as the “Swans” or the “Jacks,” will also face the Colorado Rapids (July 24) and San Jose Earthquakes (July 31) of Major League Soccer (MLS).

The Swansea City exhibition represents the first-ever meeting between the clubs, and the Fusion’s sixth match against Premier League sides during its six-year history. Most recently, the Fusion challenged Manchester City F.C. on July 23, 2011 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif. and West Bromwich Albion F.C. on July 17, 2011, at Oxnard College. The team has played also Premier League clubs Portsmouth F.C., Burnley F.C., and Everton F.C.

“The Swansea City match marks the exciting return of Premier League action to Ventura County, and yet another formidable test for Fusion players against some of the world’s most talented professionals,” said Shergill. “For local soccer fans, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see international stars in person from one of the most watched and highly-followed sports leagues in the world. Finally, the match continues our mission of competing against top professional clubs from across the globe.”

About Swansea City Association Football Club
Founded in 1912, and based in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, Swansea City is one of the most successful clubs in Welsh football history, and the only Welsh club to have ever played in the Premier League since its formation. The winner of 10 Welsh Cups, Swansea City finished in 11th place for the 2011-12 Premier League season, which officially concluded on May 13, 2012. Among the club’s noteworthy results were a 1-0 triumph over first-place Manchester City on March 11, and an exciting 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Arsenal on January 15.

The Swans are now managed by Danish football superstar Michael Laudrup, best known for his lengthy and prolific tenure with the Denmark national team and for winning a combined five consecutive La Liga titles with Spanish clubs Barcelona (four; 1990-1993) and Real Madrid (one; 1994). Laudrup scored 37 goals in 104 international appearances for the national team, which he joined on his 18th birthday in 1982, and he served as team captain for 28 matches in 1994 and 1995. He retired as a player following his appearance in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Laudrup was appointed manager of the club on June 15, 2012, on a two-year contract.