SUPPORTERS heading to Redditch United’s Trico Stadium next week will have far more than football to enjoy.
Bosses at the Bromsgrove Road club have chosen Tuesday’s match with Slough Town to launch a brand new beer and there will be a super-charged racing car there to promote the tasty tipple.
Brew 17 has been produced by one of the club’s key sponsors Trico – the world’s leading developer and supplier of windscreen wipers – and a percentage of the profits will go towards funding the Reds’ work in the community. The company will also be bringing its sponsored racing car to the ground.
With the Reds and Slough flying high in the Southern Premier, the match has been earmarked as a ‘Public Sector Appreciation Game’, offering a £6 concessionary ticket to those showing their work ID.
Reds chairman Chris Swan explained the idea was to thank those who rarely get credit for the good work they do.
He said: “Nurses, firefighters and the police are just some of the unsung heroes we have in this country, so this is just a small token of thanks for the excellent work they do day in, day out.”
To help celebrate the beer launch, the club’s popular happy hour will be extended throughout the evening.
Prior to that, Darren Byfield’s fourth placed Reds – three points behind leaders Tiverton Town with a game in hand – will bid to put a bad week behind them when they host Biggleswade Town on Saturday.
United exited the FA Cup on Saturday when they were beaten 4-1 at league rivals Stratford Town in the second qualifying round before a much-changed Reds side were beaten 3-0 at local rivals Alvechurch in the Birmingham Senior Cup first round on Tuesday.
After falling 2-0 down at Stratford, Spencer Weir-Daley’s goal gave United hope midway through the second half, but Carl Adams’ side ran out deserved winners against a disjointed Reds.
Three days later Byfield gave a first team opportunity to several fringe players but again it was the home side who were largely untroubled as they eased through to the last 16 thanks to Luke Yates’ double and a Nathan Waite goal. Arjun Jung hit the post early in the second half at 2-0, but that was as close as the visitors came to scoring.
Chairman Swan is hopeful of a strong response from Redditch as they turn their attentions to league duties.
He told the club website: “I was so disappointed with the cup result against Stratford. Breaking our ‘duck’ against Lincoln United deserved better application, tactics and players who wanted it the same as the Stratford team.
“Our redemption has to come in the way of continued league success and concentrating on our results. It’s an exciting league and each of these forthcoming two games is a real six-pointer.
“Both Biggleswade and Slough are doing extremely well and will be a stern test for us, which we have to rise to. Games at this stage of the season make the end result in May.”
Swan confirmed exciting plans are being developed for further Trico Stadium upgrading to include conference and banqueting facilities, as well as enhanced educational assets.
The Reds will give a late test to midfielder Kevin Monteiro ahead of this weekend’s encounter. Should be fail to prove his fitness, Byfield hopes to have him available for selection in midweek.
