Today’s FA Community Shield game between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic (8:40am ET on FOX Soccer) will be memorable for several reasons.
One, for many of us, it’ll be FOX Soccer’s swan song in a meaningful English match before FOX pulls the plug on the channel in early September. Yes, FOX Soccer will be showing the England-Scotland friendly next week as well as a UEFA Champions League play-off match the following week, but today’s match will be the last major English club match the network will show since FOX Sports World began showing English soccer in 1998.
Two, today’s match marks the official debut of goal-line technology. Wembley, and all the stadiums in the Premier League, have been equipped with Hawkeye. Let’s see who will be the first person to go down in the record books as having a goal chalked off (or allowed) thanks to the British goal-line technology.
Third, today marks the first time since 1980 that a side from outside the top division in England will play in the FA Community Shield. Wigan, who are playing today as winners of the FA Cup, were relegated in the last week of the Premier League season. The last time a team from outside the top flight played in this final was 1980 when West Ham United were in the old Second Division.
Fourth, today marks the ceremonial start of the new top flight English football season. Let’s hope it’s a fantastic one.
Before, during or after today’s match, join the conversation in the comments section below.
