This post has already been read 770 times!
FC Isle of Man finished ninth in their second season in NWCFL Premier Division
FC Isle of Man has announced plans to host a festival of football as part of its upcoming pre-season plans.
Chester Football Club, Lancaster City Football Club and Radcliffe FC will visit the island on 19, 20 and 21of July.
The Ravens, who play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division, finished ninth last season.
The club said over 1,000 fans were expected to "make the journey across the Irish Sea for the weekend" to watch the contest.
First team manager Paul Jones said the tournament was already generating enthusiasm in his squad and he hoped that would be replicated in supporters.
He said: "People as old as me and a bit older will remember the old Steam Packet and Okell's tournament where you had Man City, Newcastle, Bolton and when we beat Burnley on here [The Bowl] 1-0.
"I was fortunate to play in that game and lots of people have said to me over the last four or five years that it would be great to have that sort of tournament again."
While the club may not get Championship and League One clubs coming to the island in pre-season, it was "great to have the interest from top clubs in non-league football to want to come to our island to prepare for their season ahead", he said.
The tournament is set to kick off with the Ravens hosting Chester at 19:00 BST on 19 July, with Radcliffe playing Lancaster at 14:00 on 20 July.
The final games will be played on 21 July, with Chester set to play Lancaster at 11:00, before the Ravens play Radcliffe at 15:00 to close the festival.
While FC Isle of Man are in the ninth tier of English football, Chester and Radcliffe both play in the National League North, which is tier six, and Lancaster play in the Northern Premier League, which is tier seven.
Radcliffe, which is set to go into its first season in the sixth tier, is managed by duo Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, two big names of non-league football who previously managed the Class of '92-owned Salford City.
Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook , externaland X, external? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk
FC Isle of Man
Steam Packet
Isle of Man TT 2024: Documentary released on event's most prolific finisher
Bishop-designate meets future political colleagues
Noel Edmonds' pop shop!
Brand new Manx dance piece to be performed at Gaiety Theatre show
Households to be invited to take part in Radon gas survey
Two cruise ships visiting Island today
Cohen grilled relentlessly about past crimes at Trump trial
Suspect charged with attempted murder of Slovak PM Fico
Biden blocks release of special counsel interview tapes
Could the US economy be doing too well?
Afghan floods: ‘I found my family's bodies in the street’
The man who turned his dead father into a chatbot
Why South Africa's health insurance is causing ructions
'It can set the country on fire': AI and India's election
'Glow up' for Bridgerton stars as new season starts
Republicans flock to court to show they stand with Trump
The illicit trade with China fuelling Mozambique's insurgency
Indian spices face heat over global safety concerns
Are you ready to rock through time?
Watch the brand new trailer for the new series of Doctor Who
A terrifying adventure in the far future
Can the Doctor and Ruby save a baby farm run by babies from the terrifying bogeyman?
Go behind the scenes…
Join Steffan Powell as he gets the keys to the TARDIS and exclusive access to the Whoniverse
Unmissable aftershow analysis
Join Nadie Jae and Shabaz Ali in the newly regenerated Official Doctor Who Podcast
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
