Barry Town: Tickets on sale now for Dragons' pre-season Cardiff City fixture! (From Barry And District News)

Barry Town: Tickets on sale now for Dragons' pre-season Cardiff City fixture!

8:10am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Sport

Barry Town'S pre-season challenge match against a 'strong' Cardiff City XI has been confirmed for Wednesday, August 8 (7.30pm kick-off), with tickets now on sale.

The game was originally set to have been played 24 hours earlier but, with the Bluebirds in action at AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday, August 7, it was thought that a change of date would allow for a significantly stronger Cardiff City side to take the field at Jenner Park.

As a result, any players not fully involved at Dean Court on the Tuesday are likely to face Gavin Chesterfield’s MacWhirter Welsh League side the following evening.

The challenge match, which kicks off the march to Barry Town's 100th anniversary celebrations in November, is organised by the Barry Town Supporters' Committee – who are now solely responsible for the funding, running and survival of Barry Town football.

Former Bluebirds player Damon Searle is likely to feature for the Town, having previously played against the Dragons way back in the famous Welsh Cup final between the sides back in 1994.

As a goodwill gesture to the local community, the Supporters' Committee has capped general admission tickets at a bargain £5, with seats for under-11s at only £3.

In these testing financial times, it is hoped that such good value will encourage the people of Barry and beyond to support the match in their droves, with all takings from ticket sales being received by the Supporters' Committee and put back into the football.

A capacity of 2,000 has been confirmed for the match, with tickets available online now at www.ticketsource.co.uk/BarryTownSC The Supporters' Committee would like to publicly thank the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay, and the Barry and Vale Harriers Athletics Club for their assistance and support in helping make this fundraising game possible.

More details on the challenge match can be found on the Supporters' Committee website at www.clubwebsite.co.uk/BarryTownSC Meanwhile, supporters are gearing up for their first Community Action Day this Sunday (July 8) from 10.30am.

Having taken on responsibility for the action on the field, the BTSC - in partnership with the Vale Council - is now taking the initiative off it as well.

The purpose of what is set to become a series of Community Action Days is to help restore Jenner Park to its previous status as a proud sporting venue for the whole community.

Having suffered several years of aesthetic degeneration, local firm Wardles recently kindly upgraded, repainted and furnished the dugouts, and the partnership between the BTSC and the council is now set to implement further improvements.

On Sunday, all members of the Barry community are wholeheartedly welcome to go along and help spruce up parts of the venue that have seen better days.

These include, but are not limited to, turnstile and weeding areas; and all assistance is much appreciated.

For more information, or to volunteer for the ‘community action day’ on July 8 which starts at 10.30am, contact David Cole on DavidJCole1948@yahoo.co.uk - or just turn up on the day.

* FOLLOWING a BTSC public meeting held last Wednesday (June 27) at the Sea View Labour Club, secretary David Cole said: "We went into last season with a sense of trepidation, wondering could we raise enough money to keep us going?

"But we achieved it with something to spare, and now we want to do it again!

"It's galvanised us all to carry on and make things much better."

Manager Gavin Chesterfield added: "A year ago we didn't know if we were going to have a football club, but now we can look back with a sense of satisfaction with what we have achieved.

"We are more together than ever before - and in November we are celebrating the centenary year of the club. It's a fantastic thought that we will all be a part of that.

"Thanks to everyone for all the hard work. Hopefully we can get stronger and stronger and move on."

* Fundraising events planned include a cricket match against Tynewydd Inn on Friday, August 13, and a Golf day to be held in August or September.