STRATFORD Town will host Birmingham City’s under-21s side as an alternative venue for selected matches at the Arden Garages Stadium.
Blues will play under-21s and under-18s games at the ground after the Arden Garages Stadium acquired Premier League accreditation.
Bards chairman Jed McCrory has worked tirelessly over a long period time to ensure the stadium could host matches of this stature with Stratford joining an elite group of Step Three clubs able to hold games of this nature.
McCrory said: “We have all been working hard to improve our facilities over the years to be able to entice a club of the calibre of Birmingham City to bring their under 21s to showcase at the Arden Garages Stadium and for the local community to be able to watch potential stars of the future from clubs like Leeds, Arsenal and Liverpool under 21s who will grace our home at Stratford Town.
“I am personally delighted that we have reached an agreement with Birmingham City after achieving Premier League stadium status to be able to host the fixtures and look forward to watching the games.”
Birmingham’s under-21s play in the Professional Development League and Premier League Cup and are managed by Steve Spooner.
Birmingham’s academy technical director, Mike Rigg, added: “We are looking forward to playing a number of our fixtures at the home of Stratford Town, and thank them for their cooperation in making this possible.
“Relationships with local clubs are vitally important for both parties and we will work to support one another wherever possible moving forward.
“For our players, it is good for them to experience different environments and exposure to these forms part of a holistic approach to player development that the academy strongly believes in.”
