Sheffield United tournament for Hibs ground

As part of English Sheffield United’s pre-season preparations in Malta, the club has announced plans to take part in a triangular tournament against the Maltese champions Birkirkara FC and fellow Premier League side Vittoriosa Stars FC. On the evening of Friday 16 July, all three teams will play each other during 45 minute round-robin games hosted at the ground of Hibernians.

The tour will form an integral part of the Blades pre-season build-up with an intense training camp based at the Malta FA training grounds in Ta Qali. The team squad and senior officials will fly out to Malta on Monday 12th July and they will return to Sheffield on Saturday 17th July.

Last year’s Blades tour of Malta saw the match against Maltese Premier League side Floriana proving a useful pre-season fixture, with Brian Howard’s penalty sealing a 1-0 victory for United.

While United’s latest signings, Johnny Ertl and Leon Britton, will be hoping for an early taste of action, it will no doubt be fellow newcomer Daniel Bogdanovic who will be the man in demand for this year’s visit. At the recent annual Melita Malta Football Awards, the Maltese international striker was presented with a special award for an outstanding season in the English Championship. Bogdanovic will be looking forward to returning to Malta as a United player, after he joins the club on July 1.

Mike Farnan, Group Executive Director at Sheffield United, said: “The tour will provide an excellent experience for the players and our supporters. Thanks to our special relationship with the Malta Tourism Authority this will prove one of the most eventful tours Sheffield United have ever staged.

“We will be hosting a number of supporter activities during the week, with the triangular tournament acting as the perfect finale for the Blades visit to Malta."