Aston Villa Preseason Fixtures 2014/15 see a return to the USA
Since Aston Villa won’t be making any European trips next season, the preseason calender always offers up the best chance to see the Villa play in more exotic locations. The good news for American Villa fans is the club are heading back to the states, the location of Lambert’s first preseason tour with the club. A shorter trip this time will see the club visiting Dallas, with a double-header of matches planned versus FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo in late July.
While Lambert is on record as not being a big fan of long distance preseason games, they sure beat playing lower league German teams and it’s certainly good for the club’s fanbase in the states. The MLS teams will be mid-season, so the games will offer Villa decent competitive games too. Houston Dynamo especially have a decent pedigree in the MLS, running LA Galaxy close in the final of the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012, and also winning the cup in 2006 and 2007.
There’s a Dallas Lions club, if anybody is thinking about a trip out there and want more info on the lay of the land.
Also penned in is a trip to Holland to face Leandro Bacuna’s former club Groningen of the Dutch Eredivisie, which was obviously part of the Bacuna deal. Logic dictates Villa could potentially line-up other games in Holland or a nearby central European country around the same time, so keep your eyes open for potential developments there.
The latest two fixtures added to the preseason mix, include the annual game against neighbours Walsall and a trip to visit Jordan Bowery’s former club Chesterfield.
Villa Preseason Fixtures so far
FC Dallas on July 23 at the Toyota Stadium
Houston Dynamo on July 26 at the BBVA Compass Stadium.
Chesterfield on July 30th at the Proact Stadium
Groningen August 2 at 5pm (Central European time) Euroborg Stadiumon
Walsall August 5 (Bank’s Stadium)
Lets hope they’ll be a few decent new faces to the ranks for the games. If anybody plans to be at the games, drop MOMS a line. UTV
* – Pictured, Timber Jim, the mascot of the Portland Timbers, one of Villa’s opponents on their last USA tour.
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Houston-based Villan here (not an expat – native Texan & Villa supporter for 15 years). I was planning my first trip to Villa Park this May for the North American supporters trip but sadly had to postpone for family reasons. But now, the mighty Villa has seen fit to come to me instead. I’m absolutely thrilled & big things are being planned for the week. There was a Facebook event page up almost instantly. Here it is:
https://www.facebook.com/events/430846700383881/?ref_notif_type=like&source=1
It certainly turned out nice for you in the end! Thanks for posting the event page, I’ll make sure to pass on to anyone thinking of going. UTV