Testimonial Match

SPANISH giants Real Sociedad will play in Andy Booth's testimonial match at the Galpharm next month.

The Primera Liga side — who were in the Champions League only three seasons ago — take on Town on Tuesday, July 25 (7.45) in a match which has received international clearance. It's a big diary date for all Town fans as the occasion — which kicks-off a busy year of fund-raising events for the club's popular striker — will feature some special appearances by personalities from the past.

Real — who include John Aldridge, Sander Westerveld and Xabi Alonso among their most famous players of recent years — are playing Leicester City, West Brom and Doncaster on tour but were delighted to fit in the big date for Boothy.

“It's fantastic to get such a big continental club to the Galpharm and, as it's an important part of our pre-season as well, we hope our fans will turn out in force to support Boothy,” said Town manager Peter Jackson.

“He has been a fantastic servant to this club, the fans recognise the wholehearted commitment of their hometown favourite and, when such a big club as Real Sociedad are happy to be involved in his testimonial, it shows how much he is respected in the world of football.”

Admission will be £10 for adults and £5 concessions and Booth's excellent testimonial brochure will be on sale at the match for the first time, priced £5.
It includes messages from the likes of Jackson, Neil Warnock, Ronnie Jepson, David Pleat, Patrick Stewart and many more. Town will field their full first team just 10 days before they kick-off the new League I campaign, for which fixtures are out tomorrow.

New signings Luke Beckett and Matt Glennon could well make their Galpharm debuts in Boothy's big match.

“I hope it's going to be a really good night for Town, Real and the fans,”

said Booth, who first signed at Leeds Road in 1990 and who has over 500 senior career matches to his name.

“My testimonial committee, under chairman Glenn Paxman, have put in a tremendous amount of work already and we hope this big pre-season match is an exciting way to kick off what will hopefully be a successful year.”

Pubs, clubs and workplaces will have their chance to organise events for the testimonial and can register interest on this website.

REAL SOCIEDAD have a proud history in Spanish football, & they are also one of the most recognisable and respected names in European football. That's why it was such an honour for Town and the fans' favourite son to have them agree to kick off Boothy's Testimonial Year at the Galpharm.

The Basque giants, from San Sebastian, have twice won the Primera Liga, twice hoisted the Copa del Rey and once taken the Spanish Super Cup.

In 2003-04, too, they went through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, eventually losing 2-0 over two legs to French power Lyon. Their campaign that season featured a 1-0 home win against Olympiakos and a 2-1 win against Galatasaray in Turkey. Real also drew 0-0 with Juventus at home on their way to the second stage of the competition.

After Athletic Bilbao, they are believed to be only the second Spanish League club to play Town and it's fitting that Real's home colours are blue and white stripes — they are known as Erreala or txuriurdin (white and blue in Basque).

While Javier Clemente, the one-time Spanish national coach, had a season at the club in 1999-2000, their most famous former manager from these shores is John Toshack, the current Wales coach. He has had three spells at the famous Anoeta ground, from 1985 to 89, 91-94 and 2001-02.

John Aldridge is probably the most famous former player from the British Isles, the former Republic of Ireland and Liverpool striker becoming a big favourite with the Sociedad fans.

More recently, Real sold Mikel Arteta to Everton last year for £2m and allowed goalkeeper Sander Westerveld to join Portsmouth on a free and they had Liverpool 's Xabi Alonso on the books. In the last January transfer window they loaned Mark Gonzalez from Liverpool and John Viafara from Portsmouth.

Having finished fourth bottom of the Primera Liga last season, Real will be aiming for a big improvement next season and the tour including Andy Booth's Testmonial is an important part of their preparations. They would clearly love a return to their glory days, when they won back-to-back Spanish titles in 1981 and 1982. They were also runners up in 1980, 1988 and 2003 - the campaign which earned them qualification to the Champions League.

Real won the Copa del Rey way back in 1909, the year they started using the Anoeta, and then most recently in 1987, finishing runners-up in 1928 and 1988. Their Spanish Super Cup win was in 1983.

Last season, while struggling for consistent form, Real still scored a 2-0 win at Champions League semi-finalists Villareal in April and they had wins over Athlecio Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Deportivo La Coruna (twice), Cadiz, Mallorca, and Malaga.