The four teams have been named for the 2009 Premier League Asia Trophy to be played in China between July 29-August 1, 2009. It’s the first time the tournament will be played on mainland China when Beijing will be the host to Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Hull City and Beijing Guo’an.
The games will be played at the Beijing’s Worker’s Stadium.
In 2007, Portsmouth won the trophy after beating Liverpool on penalties in the final. In 2005, Bolton Wanderers won the competition. And during its first year, 2003, Chelsea won the cup after a penalty shoot-out.
The tournament is played every two years in Asia.
Originally, the plan was that Chelsea, West Ham United and Hull City would be the three British teams playing in the tournament. But since Chelsea will be finishing up their tour of the United States in late July, Tottenham Hotspur will take their place instead.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
There shouldn’t be trophies for preseason tournaments. That’s just ridiculous s**t
I wonder if Hull will even be a Premier League team by the time they fly out to China for the 2009 Premier League Asia Trophy
well guess what we f***ing are !! Up the Tigersss!!
That’s what I was thinking Pedro. It would be a major embarrassment for the EPL if Hull went out there as a Championship team. But I’m fairly sure that both Newcastle and ‘Boro will ensure that doesn’t happen.
Well it append mate!
Course we’ll still be in the Prem
Are all the dates above confirmed, or likely to change ?
This is an mini tournament to show that the 39th game is something that could work! The NBA does it quite often and I dont see why the EPL can’t get the same success. Asia has been and will be the biggest fan base for the English Premier League for years and years. I think it will be exciting for Asian fans to see their stars in the flesh.
“The NBA does it quite often and I dont see why the EPL can’t get the same success. Asia has been and will be the biggest fan base for the English Premier League for years and years. I think it will be exciting for Asian fans to see their stars in the flesh.”
Perhaps because Game 39 is an abhorrent idea to the vast majority of the Premier League’s fanbase, as well as a significant number of its participant clubs. A pre-season tournament is one thing, and it’s fine if clubs want to travel and showcase their stars in pre-season games around the world, but the moving of competitive games is a distinct no-no to the vast majority of English football fans.
Come on you Spurs… It will be interesting to see whether Jamie O’Hara plays instead of Huddlestone..