03.05.2007 11:40
Close season training camp at Saint Andrews
www.fcbarcelona.cat
FC Barcelona will hold a close season training camp between 23rd and 28th July in the Scottish town of Saint Andrews, some 90 kilometres north of Edinburgh. The team will play two friendlies against Dundee United and Hearts.
Saint Andrews, home to one of Scotland’s most famous universities, is known throughout the
world as one of the birthplaces of golf. The team will be staying at the Old Course Hotel situated
at the 17th hole of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews, one of no fewer than six gold
courses in the area.
The cradle of golf
This historic club has been in existence for more than two and a half
centuries and still operates as a private club with more than 2,400 members around the world. It
frequency hosts the British Open, one of the four golf Majors along with the Augusta Masters, the
US Open and the PGA Championship. In recent years, Saint Andrews has been graced by golf legends
such as Tiger Woods, John Daly, Nick Faldo, Severiano Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus.
Two friendlies
During the visit, organised together with PLATINUM ONE, FC Barcelona will play two friendly
matches against Scottish Premier League clubs Dundee United and Hearts of Midlothian.
Hearts also won the Scottish Cup in the 2006 season. The first match will
be on 26th July at Tannadice Park against Dundee United. The match against Hearts is on 28th at
Murrayfield, the Edinburgh stadium where the Scottish national rugby team plays. Training will take
place at the sports facilities of the University of Saint Andrews, situated some 400 metres from
the hotel.
Txiki praises facilities
Director of football, Txiki Begiristain, explained to us what factors had
been considered in choosing the location of this summer’s training camp: “The north of
Europe is a good place to hold a close season training camp because it’s not so hot there.
Also, Scotland has traditionally always been enthusiastic about football. These two reasons make
the facilities of Saint Andrews an ideal place to hold the camp”.
As for the two friendlies: “We’ve chosen two quality opponents. On paper, the
first match is the easier of the two so that the preparation of the team is progressive”.