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Stranraer chairman Iain Dougan admits the Scottish League One side are thrilled they will be hosting Dutch top-flight outfit FC Twente in a glamour pre-season friendly.
The 2010 champions will take on the part-timers at Stair Park on Saturday, July 8.
Fans of the two clubs have formed an unlikely allegiance that stretches back to December 2006 when Blues fan Jim McKie helped get his hands on Old Firm tickets for Twente supporter Dennis van Unen, who lost his battle against cancer four months later.
A delegation from the Tukkers, including then chairman Joop Munsterman and former players, also came to the Scottish coastal town in 2011 for the FC Twente Festival of Football.
Dougan is over the moon that such an esteemed European club have accepted their invitation.
He said: “This is great for both the club and the town and it’s already causing a bit of a stir.
“We’re not the sort of club that attracts big foreign teams for pre-season friendlies so it’s great that Twente have accepted our invitation.
“The link between the two clubs goes back to 2006 when Jim McKie met a fan from FC Twente and then a FC Twente supporters club was formed in Stranraer.
“As a club we’ve not got involved to a great extreme but this year with it being the 400th anniversary of Stranraer being a Royal Burgh, we were asked by the town about arranging a pre-season friendly.
“I spoke with Jim and got in touch with FC Twente and we sent them a video welcoming them over.
“They’re sending their first team across. They’ve had a few financial problems recently and they’ve got some Man City players on loan helping them out.
“We only announced it on Thursday but I don’t think there is a hotel room to be had in the town.
“It’s a huge pre-season friendly for us and the town will do well out of it as well, local pubs, hotels and restaurants.”
