In one of the stranger club link ups involving a League of Ireland side, Drogheda United officially became a sister club of Turkish side Trabzonspor in 2010.
Today Drogheda confirmed details of the first friendly between the two clubs to be played on Thursday March 21st. The game will be played in Tallaght Stadium as Drogheda expect a large travelling Trabzonspor support and to facilitate live TV coverage. The game is being used by Setanta TV to help launch its Turkish Sports channel.
The link up developed from fans of both clubs making connections, based mainly on shared club colours that use of Star & Crescent on the Drogheda United crest. The bond grew from there and now seemingly warrants the Drogheda United Trabzonspor Brothers Facebook page.
Trabzonspor are even offering official travel packages for their supporters in Turkey, starting from €575 (not including match ticket or visa fees!). Trabzonspor are hoping that this game will be well supported by ex-pat fans living in Britain and the rest of western Europe. They finished 3rd in the Turkish Super Liga last season but currently lie in a disappointing 12th place.
Drogheda will be playing the game during a busy period at the start of the 2013 Airtricity League season. They travel to Derry City on Tuesday 19th and host Bray Wanderers on Saturday the 23rd March. They finished the 2012 league season in second place.
