Both Michael O’Neill and Chairman David Birse have spoken of their excitement ahead of City’s centenary match against Ipswich Town tomorrow evening. Ipswich are currently challenging for promotion to the Premiership but suffered a set back when they went down 1-0 to local rivals Colchester United last week.

Michael O’Neill and Ipswich boss Jim Magilton have been close friends since they were around 11 years old when they played football at schoolboy level. Such is the respect the two managers have for each other, Magilton was more than happy to take his strongest side all the way up to Brechin for the historic match. With both sides without a game at the week-end, due to the international break, both managers will not be scared to field their strongest eleven as the match will keep fitness levels up.

Michael O’Neill said, “There’s a lot of mileage between us, I’ve been close friends with Jim since we were ten or eleven. The connection goes back that far.

“We played schoolboy level, right through to international matches and have been firm friends throughout our careers.

“Jim will bring his strongest squad to the match. It’s a good opportunity for them to enjoy a wee break away from competitive action during international week.

“They’ve had a fairly hectic start to the season, a bit like ourselves, and have played a lot of games in the Championship and in cup competitions.

“We are looking forward to the wee break from league action as well. This will be a great test and a great chance for our players to play a club of this level. They don’t get to test themselves against players of this level very often.”

City chairman David Birse also spoke of his excitement ahead of the match. He said, “It is the perfect way to mark the club’s 100th year, I am very much looking forward to it. We’d been looking for a big glamour tie, and then this one came right out the hat – and I’m absolutely delighted with it.

“It’s a dream team to come up and celebrate our centenary, and it’s all thanks to our manager and his counterpart from Ipswich. It will be their full line up as well, not a reserve team. We could have got a team from maybe Celtic or one of those clubs, but we would never have gotten their first teams to turn out, so this is a big, big chance for us to play a top team from England.

Manager Michael O’Neill added, “I hope a lot of fans turn out. It would be disappointing if we didn’t have a decent crowd. The match is not only a chance to celebrate our 100th year – an achievement in itself – but also given the current state of Scottish football, a chance for a smaller club to take on a club they wouldn’t normally see.”

David Birse also added, “I’m hoping that as well as local fans, nearby teams like Montrose, Forfar and the like come up for the night to enjoy the spectacle. There won’t be any other games on so it will be a good chance for people to see a top game.”

Season ticket holders are being reminded that season tickets are NOT valid for this match but the usual gate prices of £5 (Juvenile) and £10 (Adult) remain unchanged.

Birse continued, “It is only fair that we’re paying for Ipswich’s hotel and travel to and from the game, which is why we’re forced to charge even season ticket holders for entry to the ground. The club directors will also be paying as well, but I don’t think anyone could begrudge the £10 or £5 entry to watch a game such as this.”

There may be a couple of surprises in both teams as O’Neill and Magilton are both considering making an appearance.

The match tomorrow (Thursday) kicks off at 7:30pm and the Ipswich side will contain no fewer than 5 international players in former Dundee United star Jason De Vos (Canada), Alan Lee (Republic of Ireland), Jon Macken (Republic of Ireland), Jaime Peters (Canada) and Lewis Price (Wales). Ipswich manager Jim Magilton represented Northern Ireland at an international level 52 times before hanging up his boots as an Ipswich player at the end of the 2005/06 season having played for Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton. He was appointed as Ipswich manager on June 5, 2006.

The match will also be the last in a programme of centenary events in which the Supporter’s Club has featured prominently, thanks to the Centenary Fund set up by supporters. The fund has paid for the installation of a new sound booth at Glebe Park, a new ultra sound machine for the treatment room and a tour to Hampden for all of the members of the Supporter’s Club.

Club secretary Ken Ferguson said, “The gift for the treatment room will not only benefit the players, but also the wider community.”