Press Release

English Premier League Side Aston Villa Announces Roster in Advance of U.S. Tour

Aston Villa Shay Given

CHICAGO, Ill. – English Premier League side Aston Villa announced Monday its provisional travel roster for the Chicago Fire vs. Aston Villa match Presented by TrueCar at Toyota Park on Saturday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The international friendly Presented by TrueCar, an online automotive information and communications platform focused on creating a better car buying experience for dealers and consumers, will be streamed live on the Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s website www.CSNChicago.com and www.Chicago-Fire.com.  

Prior to the match Aston Villa will hold a training session at Toyota Park on Friday, July 20 at 6:00 p.m. CT. The training session is open to the public. Admission is free for current Fire Season Ticket holders and Ten Game Plan holders. Tickets for the general public can be purchased for $20 by calling 888-MLS-Fire or visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com.

Advance tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. Aston Villa match are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com or Ticketmaster. The international friendly will serve as Bonus Game 1 in the Fire’s Season Ticket Package, and is also a part of the Ten Game Plan.

Since its founding in 1874, Villa has amassed 19 major domestic honors, including seven English League titles and seven FA Cups. The Villans also won the 1981-1982 European Cup. One of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992, Aston Villa has competed in the top flight of English soccer ever since.

Led by renowned manager Paul Lambert, the list of international standouts includes Irish goalkeeper Shay Given, English striker Darren Bent, Downers Grove, Ill. native Eric Lichaj, and Homer Glen, Ill. native Brad Guzan. The Saturday evening international friendly is Villa’s second game on a three-game American tour which includes additional international friendlies against the Philadelphia Union July 18 and the Portland Timbers July 24.

ASTON VILLA TOUR ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Shay Given (IRL), Brad Guzan (USA), Andy Marshall (ENG)
DEFENDERS: Nathan Baker (ENG), Ciaran Clark (IRL), James Collins (WAL), Richard Dunne (IRL), Eric Lichaj (USA), Matt Lowton (ENG), Enda Stevens (IRL), Stephen Warnock (ENG)
MIDFIELDERS: Barry Bannan (SCO), Samir Carruthers (IRL), Fabian Delph (ENG), Karim El Ahmadi (MAR), Gary Gardner (ENG), Chris Herd (AUS), Brett Holman (AUS), Stephen Ireland (IRL), Daniel Johnson (ENG), Charles N’Zogbia (FRA),
FORWARDS: Gabriel Agbonlahor (ENG), Darren Bent (ENG), Nathan Delfouneso (ENG), Andreas Weimann (AUT)

MANAGER: Paul Lambert