RADCLIFFE Borough chairman Bernard Manning has hailed Thursday night’s showpiece friendly between Club Brugge and Otelul Galati as a once in a lifetime opportunity to see top international talent at Stainton Park.

Belgian side Club Brugge will compete in the Europa League this season while their Romanian opponents made the group stages of the Champions League two seasons ago, where they were beaten twice by Manchester United.

Manning believes it is a major coup for an Evo-Stik League club more used to hosting matches in the fourth tier of the non-league pyramid to be able to stage such a high-profile fixture.

“I doubt any club at this level of football will stage such a game this pre-season and we are delighted and honoured to host it,” said Manning.

“For two teams who have recently been in the Champions League to be playing at our club is fantastic and a great opportunity for all football supporters across the North West to see internationals on show. This may never happen again.”

The two clubs are currently in the North West on pre-season fitness camps. Otelul Galati beat Bury 4-0 at St George’s Park – the FA headquarters in Burton – last week, while Club Brugge were due to be playing Bury at Gigg Lane tomorrow.

The Shakers, however, revealed last Friday the Belgian side had pulled out of the fixture without giving them an explanation.

Kevin Glendon, Radcliffe Borough manager, said: “I only found out what had happened with Brugge and Bury on Saturday, when it was in The Bolton News, but by that time it had all been arranged.”

Tickets for the match, which will kick off at 6.30pm, are £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and £1 for under-18s.