BRISTOL, England – Current EFL Championship club Bristol City FC announced on Tuesday it will begin its preparations for the 2019/20 season with a July training camp in Florida. The Robins will spend nine days in Tampa Bay from July 11th to July 19th.

Following Chief Executive Officer Mark Ashton’s visit to the USL Winter Summit in December 2018., the trip will strengthen City’s relationship with the United Soccer League, the largest professional soccer organisation in North America.

“As we grow as a football club, we want to expand our horizons and build relationships around the world,” said Ashton. “The USL is the equivalent in the United States and Canada of the English Football League and oversees more than 100 clubs.

“Our relationship will enable us to tap into a huge network of contacts and the training camp will give [Manager] Lee [Johnson] and his coaching team the best possible preparation for next season.”

After welcoming Ashton as a presenting speaker to the USL’s clubs this past December, USL President Jake Edwards was pleased to welcome one of the top clubs in the EFL Championship this season to the Tampa Bay area.

“We are delighted to be welcoming Bristol City to the U.S.,” said Edwards. “They are an ambitious club, and we were very impressed by Mark and his team when they presented at our Winter Summit. Florida will provide the perfect setting for a preseason training camp, and we look forward to getting together, exchanging ideas, and finding new, innovative ways to strengthen the bridge between our two organizations.”

Details of matches and any open training session will be communicated to supporters in due course.