Eircom League champions Shelbourne have decided to play the home leg of their UEFA Cup match against French side Lille at Lansdowne Road.
The match, on September 16, will kick off at 5.30 pm. The earlier kick off time is to facilitate live television coverage in France.
The Management Committee of Shelbourne deliberated long and hard before deciding the venue and kick-off time for this prestigious match. As Shelbourne is in receipt of notice from UEFA that the floodlights in Tolka Park do not meet the minimum standards required for European competitions proper, an early evening kick-off was inevitable if the match was to be played in Tolka Park.
The decision to move the fixture to Lansdowne Road was made as a result of the tremendous interest generated in Shelbourne's recent Champions League match against Deportivo La Coruna, which was played at Lansdowne.
It is hoped to make special family tickets available for this match.
Meanwhile, shelbournefc.com report that Shelbourne Supporters Club will be running a raffle at next Monday's home eircom League game against Dublin City, with the prize being a place as a masot for the Shelbourne v Lille game.
Places as mascots are confined to children aged 12 or under.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
