Cardiff Met provide new opposition this Friday – and the first visit from a team outside the English pyramid since League of Ireland club Bray Wanderers appeared here in a friendly in the mid-1990s.
The Cymru Premier club, who qualified for the preliminary stages of the UEFA Europa League back in 2019/20, were originally formed as Cardiff College of Education and have been through several name changes since, settling on Cardiff Met from 2012.
They have long been members of the Welsh League, earning three promotions in four years to take them into the Cymru (previously Welsh) Premier in 2016. The club uses the Metropolitan University sports facilities, including the Cyncoed Campus sports complex as its home ground.
And while its squad does include a number of young players who attend(ed) the university as students, there are plenty of semi- and ex-professionals among their ranks. Defender James Clarke has previously played at Stonebridge Road for Oxford United in a lengthy EFL and National League career, while Joel Edwards captained Hereford to an FA Vase final at Wembley.
The Archers, as they are known, have enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season so far and most recently drew 0-0 with Brackley Town, who were relegated from the National League to the North last season.
FREE DIGITAL PROGRAMME
We are offering FREE online programmes for all our friendlies this summer. So for more about the game and our opponents, see our digital programme by visiting this link (to download as a PDF, just click the cloud icon on that page).
MATCH INFO & TICKETS
Gates on Friday will open at 5pm for a 7pm kick-off. Tickets are available online in advance here and admission is also available at our ticket windows on the night.
The Main Stand, Plough End, Swanscombe End plus main bar, main-stand kiosk and social bar are all open. Please note that Geeks Corner, the Old Stand and the Old Stand kiosk will bot be open.
NEW KIT!
Our special-edition 80th anniversary shirts are in stock in the club shop and online, together with all our new range of home and away kits plus training wear.
