Hamilton Accies to host English giants Liverpool

[Bender]

HAMILTON Accies have confirmed they will play a friendly against a Liverpool select at New Douglas Park on Wednesday, August 20.

The Anfield club are coming north for Inverness star Barry Wilson’s testimonial on the prior Monday before travelling to South Lanarkshire two days later.

Accies Boss Billy Reid said the club is extremely excited about the prospect of playing a Liverpool XI.

He said: “I can confirm that we will play Liverpool here on Wednesday, August 20.

“It will be great for us to play against a team of that calibre, and even Liverpool’s reserves are worth millions.

“It will be great for the fans and will be excellent to play against a team at that level. It’s the next progression for our players.

“Now that we’re an SPL club we can attract opposition like Liverpool and there are exciting times ahead.

“We’re going to be in our season by the time the game is played, so we will need to be careful as it will come between two very difficult games for us.

“But the entire squad will get a run-out. Liverpool are going to have the ball for periods in the game so that will be a learning experience as well.

“We’re looking forward to it and everybody at the club is hugely excited about this.”

[gfarnan]

Wasn't there a lad from Hamilton we were looking to sign? James McCarthy I think

[JPK]

Wasn't there a lad from Hamilton we were looking to sign? James McCarthy I think

Sure was. Good reason to think he might have signed.

[Paul12]

I have always thought that it would be good if the Premier League could work with the EPL teams to try to ensure that each Division 3 team gets two friendlies a season at their home grounds against an EPL team and that the EPL team agrees to field a minimum number of genuine first teamers for at least some of the game.

That way the 'little teams' would get a bit of extra gate money and their fans would have an opportunity to 'live the dream' for a couple of games. And the football family would be helping the little clubs.

[-V-]

Excellent, i live local so i'll be there. Dont often get to pre-season games so cant wait for this.

Im sure Liverpool are still trying to keep tabs on those 2 young Hamilton stars McArthur and McCarthy

[MrMichael]

Seems like almost everyone in Europe wants McCarthy, he really is rated. Quick scout on the net says his contract's only got a year on it and he'll be sold this summer........

[El Jefecito]

I have always thought that it would be good if the Premier League could work with the EPL teams to try to ensure that each Division 3 team gets two friendlies a season at their home grounds against an EPL team and that the EPL team agrees to field a minimum number of genuine first teamers for at least some of the game.

That way the 'little teams' would get a bit of extra gate money and their fans would have an opportunity to 'live the dream' for a couple of games. And the football family would be helping the little clubs.

Something along those lines would be a great idea.

We already do something similar by having our reserves play at lower division teams grounds.

[JPK]

IRISH teenager James McCarthy is to spurn a move to his choice of Premiership giants and stay loyal to Scottish minnows Hamilton after their promotion to the SPL.

Glasgow-born McCarthy has been trailed for the past two years by a number of major powers with Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich among his admirers.

Last summer, the midfielder turned down a move to Liverpool as he felt that he was too young and would be better served by playing more first team football with Hamilton.

And that proved to be a good decision for his employers, as they stormed to success in the Scottish First Division with McCarthy a star performer.

Now, buoyed by that achievement, he has opted to stay put for another year as they enter Scotland's top flight.

The 17-year-old is now scheduled to put pen to paper on a new contract at New Douglas Park this week once the final details are finalised, feeling that he would benefit from testing himself at SPL level before moving to pastures new.

- Daniel McDonnell

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/irish-star-mccarthy-to-stick-with-splbound-hamilton-1375583.html

[-V-]

He is totally mental though

If i was him id be desperate for a big contract with a big club. He could always go back on loan for a year

Anything could go wrong in football and if he has a bad season the interest can very quickly fade. Turning down a big move to 1 of those clubs is crazy

[Matt]

Won't we have started our season by August 20 as well?

[-V-]

If it is August 20th then it will be reserves for sure. I'll still go

[Taffy]

If it is August 20th then it will be reserves for sure. I'll still go

Could well be a plan of ours as we might still be trailing McCarthy, and playing against our reserves might tempt him to want to be on their side in future! Seeing our young talent playing against him might sway him our way!

[spirit of 76]

Maybe this is a way of securing first option on him if he decides to leave Hamilton?

[bobbyfallon]

Maybe this is a way of securing first option on him if he decides to leave Hamilton?

that would be my thinking also