Fulham’s Reserves are back in action on Tuesday evening (kick-off 7pm) when Wigan travel to Motspur Park| for the start of the Barclays Premier Reserve League season.
Sixteen Premier League clubs are taking part in the league competition this season, with eight in the Northern Section and eight in the Southern.
Fulham will meet all the clubs in the Southern Section both home and away and play each of the clubs in the Northern Section once, providing a total of 22 games. There will therefore be a number of clubs we will meet in competitive reserve team action for the first time, tonight’s visitors amongst them.
Fulham last competed in the Reserve League two years ago and finished in third place for a second consecutive season.
With the First Team in European action since the end of June, there have been fewer pre-season matches for our Development Squad than would normally be the case, although Watford were beaten in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Motspur Park a fortnight ago. That day, two second-half goals from substitute Alex Brister earned a 2-0 win in a match which saw summer signing Dan Burn play his first game.
Others in action that afternoon included the exciting Kerim Frei and young striker Lauri Dalla Valle, both of whom have appeared in the early rounds of the UEFA Europa League this season. Last Tuesday Billy McKinlay’s side lost 2-1 at Walton Casuals, having taken an early lead through a trialist.
This season’s Development Squad games will also give Whites fans a further opportunity to see many of the former Under-18 players who made it through to the final 16 of the FA Youth Cup last season and won their Academy League, before being narrowly defeated in the National Play-Off Final at Craven Cottage.
A young Wigan reserve team has competed in four pre-season matches, suffering 2-1 defeats at Boston and Barrow, and losing 2-0 at Colwyn Bay, before winning by the same margin at Marine.
The Latics’ second team are managed by Graham Barrow who had a five-year playing spell with the club during the 1980s and returned as manager during the 1994/95 campaign when he helped ensure Football League survival. Barrow is also part of Roberto Martinez’s first team coaching squad.
Ticket Prices
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Adults £3
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Under 16s & Over 65s £1
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Free for Season Ticket Holders who produce a valid Season Ticket Card.