On the first day of preparations for the 2008/2009 season, Werder’s ‘Summer Travel Plan’ has been altered to once again and a further stadium has been added to the list. General manager Klaus Allofs confirmed that on Monday, 28.07.2008 at 8pm, the Green-Whites will play a friendly against relegated Swiss first division side FC St. Gallen.
The game will be played at the newly built AFG Arena in St.Gallen, which will see its first action on 05.07.2008 with a massive opening event. The stadium is one of the most modern arenas in Switzerland and, among other things, it houses a shopping centre.
The game will be a real test of the Swiss sides strength, considering the season will begin for St. Gallen around the same time as the friendly match. The match plan for the season has been specially adapted for St. Gallen to allow them the opportunity to play the game against Werder Bremen.
The pre-season plan:
Thur, 14.07.2008, 15:30: Training begin at the trainings facilities of the Weser-Stadion
Fri, 11.07.2008, 19:00: Friendly against TSV Ottersberg
Sat, 12.07.2008: Friendly against VfL Oldenburg kick-off 4pm
14. - 20.07.2008: Training camp on Norderney
20.07.2008: Friendly against Kickers Emden at the Loga sport facility (kick-off 4pm).
22. - 29.07.2008: Training camp on Schruns
24.07.2008: Friendly against Aris Saloniki, Wagenweg sport centre in Schruns
26.07.2008: Friendly against Maccabi Netanya, Wagenweg sport centre in Schruns 6:30pm kick-off.
28.07.2008: Friendly against FC St. Gallen, AFG Arena St. Gallen.
30.07.2008, 19:00: Friendly against FC Hansa Rostock
02.08.2008: Friendly against Trabzonspor, ‘Nordseestadion’ in Bremerhaven.
03.08.2008: "Tag der Fans" (Day of the Fans) at the Weser-Stadion
09./10.08.2008: DFB-Cup first round ties
15. - 17.08.2008: First Bundesliga match-day.