The B Team play the latest of a series of attractive friendly fixtures when they go to face Burnley’s U23s on Friday afternoon.
Matt Craddock’s side have added to their itinerary in the Central League and Central League Cup with a number of friendly games to increase variety and volume to their 2022/23 fixture list.
As a result, the B Team will play a total of around 35 games this season, giving valuable game time to the young players developing below first-team level.
In addition, several members of Craddock’s squad are currently out on loan with non-league clubs to give them a taste of competitive football in tandem with appearances in the B Team when their schedule allows.
The Whites beat a Sheffield Wednesday reserve side 3-2 at Wanderers’ Lostock training ground last week and go to Burnley on Friday to face the young Clarets at their Gawthorpe training ground (KO 1pm).
As Category Two Academies, both of those clubs currently play in the Premier League’s Professional Development League at U23 level.
The B Team then goes to Stockport County next Tuesday night (21 March) to face a County B side at Edgeley Park (KO 7pm) before the Whites resume their Central League campaign at Accrington Stanley before the end of the month.
Craddock, Head Coach of the B Team (above), said: “These friendly games have been an excellent addition to the fixture list.
“It was always our intention to play as many games as possible during the season to try and replicate a full fixture programme.
“We want the players to be able to cope with those demands to help prepare them for when they hopefully step up to first-team football here or elsewhere.
“Playing different types of opposition, from higher-ranked Academy sides to B teams and full men’s teams, also helps the players learn to cope with different challenges and styles of football.
“That – and the loan opportunities a lot of our players have had – all aid learning and player development which was the idea of the potential pathway to first-team football created by the introduction of the B team at the start of the season.”
Spectators are welcome to attend the B Team friendly at Burnley FC’s training centre on Friday (KO 1pm) with no admission charge. The address is: Stockbridge Drive, Padiham Road, BB12 8UA.
Admission at Edgeley Park for the game against Stockport B next Tuesday night will be £5 for adults and £1 children. Tickets are available to buy HERE