Reds legends kick off friendlies!

21 Jun 2017 By David Watters

A host of Manchester United legends are kicking off the EVO-STIK League's preseason programme at Buxton's Silverlands on Sunday.

Clayton Blackmore, Frank Stapleton, Peter Barnes, Peter Davenport, Sammy McIlroy and European Cup winner David May are among the former Reds stars taking on a Buxton Legends XI in a 2pm kick-off at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.

The Buxton side will feature all-time leading appearance and goals scored record holders David Bainbridge and Mark Reed plus manager Martin McIntosh, his staff and the management teams of the club's development sides.

In total, the Reds squad includes players who've made more than 1200 appearances for the Premier League giants. The visitors will be managed by Scottish defender Arthur Albiston who went on to play for Witton Albion and Droylsden and also managed the latter.

The Bucks will be guided at the by Mike Davis and Robin Hughes, two of the club's 1973 Cheshire League winners. Davis made nearly 600 appearances in goal during a 16 year career that included a two-year stint as manager from 1982 to 1984. Hughes made more than 150 appearances for the EVO-STIK League Premier club between 1970 and 1974 before going on to coach Tommy Agus and many of the best youngsters in the Sheffield area.

The Bucks, who finalised the squads this week, are urging fans not to miss out on seeing their latest summer encounter with the Reds with tickets selling out fast at Silverlands and at selected venues in the town. For more information, check the promotion poster, pictured, or visit www.buxtonfc.co.uk.

The annual pre-season friendlies calendar dedicated exclusively to matches involving the EVO-STIK League's 68 clubs now lists nearly four hundred fixtures.

To view the latest friendlies throughout the summer ahead of the big kick-off to the 2017-18 campaign on Saturday 12 August, click on the 'Match Info' tab on the home page. Club officials should continue to send amendments and fixtures as they are booked with kick-off times to: dwatters@evostikleague.co.uk.

Images courtesy of buxtonfc.co.uk

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