Walsall based Sporting Khalsa Football - the first semi-professional Asian club in the country to own its own ground – will again be taking on Football League opposition.

Coca-Cola League Two side Walsall FC will be sending a strong team for the match which will be played on Tuesday 1st August 2006 at Sporting Khalsa ground, Abbey Park Stadium, Glastonsbury Crescent, Walsall. Kick-off is at 7:30pm.

Walsall also sent a full strength team last season to mark the official opening of Sporting Khalsa’s ground. This match was watched by a crowd of over 600 and drew spectators from as far afield as London, Glasgow and the Punjab in India.

The two clubs are building close links and have a number of joint initiatives planned over the next year. These include coaching by Walsall coaches for Sporting Khalsa coaches; Sporting Khalsa provide children to act as ball boys for some Walsall FC games; Sporting Khalsa FA-qualified coaches to view Walsall youth training sessions to increase their coaching knowledge; provide a number of free tickets to Sporting Khalsa members for Walsall FC games; give access to pitch care advice.

Sporting Khalsa has gone from strength to strength since it was formed 15 years ago and now runs community based football teams from the age of 6 to 16 as well as a ladies team in the South Staffordshire Ladies League, a senior team in Division 1 of the West Midlands Regional League, a B team and an over 35’s.

"We are delighted to be playing Sporting Khalsa," said Walsall first team coach Mick Halsall. "This is an important event, not only in local circles but nationally as well, and I am expecting a tough test for our boys."

Khalsa Chairman Rajinder Gill said "We would love to grow the number of teams we have in local leagues and to eventually see our players make the breakthrough to the professional game in either the Championship or the Premiership because we feel it would be a great source of inspiration for Asian footballers in the UK. We also have an increasing number of officials who have passed FA Coaching Courses and are now looking to extend our training to other areas in the Midlands".

Two years ago the Club started junior training sessions for boys aged 6 to 12 and has seen interest in this age group grow astonishingly. Building on its second year in the Walsall Junior Football League with two teams the club has now entered six juniors teams for the coming season. The age groups are under 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, 12s and 13s.

Entrance to the game is £3.50 for adults and £1.50 for juniors and senior citizens where prior to the game the Youth Academy players will be presented with their medals and at half time a leading Walsall FC player will be presenting prestigious player of the year trophies to the following teams: Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10 and Under 12.