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Nicolas Atkin

West Bromwich Albion are back in the Far East for the first time in 39 years, but for manager Tony Pulis, this week’s Premier League Asia Trophy provides a more personal trip down memory lane.
Three years after West Brom became the first British team to tour China for three weeks in 1978, Pulis moved to Hong Kong for a brief spell playing at Happy Valley Athletic Association, who now play in the second tier.
The 1981 move was set up by former West Brom manager Ron Wylie, who contacted Pulis while he was playing at Bristol Rovers.


WATCH: Premier League Asia Trophy press conference
“I came out here really, it’s terrible to say, to earn a couple of bob to get married,” Pulis said.
Pulis made 13 appearances before returning to Rovers the following year, when he quickly tied the knot with partner Debs.
“I went home and got married the second or third week I arrived back,” he added.
“It was an opportunity to put a deposit on our house. We’ve been together for 40 years. This little place has played a big part not just in our marriage but our family.
Signed and sealed: Chinese group completes West Bromwich Albion takeover as European club grab continues

Welcome to Hong Kong, @wba!#PLAsiaTrophy pic.twitter.com/NGMCXXw7wE
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 16, 2017

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“It’s wonderful out here, I enjoyed it. It took a while to settle – the first couple of months were difficult.
“My wife, she came out here for five or six weeks. Happy Valley looked after her unbelievably well, the people were fantastic with her. We have good memories of Hong Kong.”

Monsoon season in Hong Kong means the players were restricted to good gym and spin sessions this evening #WBAinHK pic.twitter.com/1gzDRx8IuU
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) July 17, 2017

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West Brom’s links to the region stretch further after Guangzhou-based Chinese entrepreneur Lai Guochuan bought the Midlands club in August 2016, but it is unclear if Lai will make an appearance at Hong Kong Stadium this week.
“I think the group themselves have bought a lot of tickets,” said Pulis. “I’m sure if he’s not busy – and he’s a very successful, busy man – then he’ll pop over for the games.
Premier League club West Bromwich Albion to be bought by Shanghai-based company
“Things have certainly changed from when I was in Hong Kong. The brand is important, and the chairman will see it as an important step in bringing us here.”
Pulis’ squad, which contains new signing Ahmed Hegazi after the Egypt defender joined on a season-long loan, will visit China on Thursday to spend the day with Lai and visit one of his building projects.

Comment: If Guochuan Lai wants @WBA to finish in the top ten again, it's time to back Tony Pulis #wba #baggies https://t.co/LAtzKUCVAv pic.twitter.com/yE8lPsW55i
— Nathan Judah (@njudah_star) June 15, 2017

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“He’s a wonderful man,” Pulis said. “I’ve met him four or five times, he’s a very honest and genuine person. I’ve found him very good to work with.
“We have John Williams as chairman over here who I deal with. Mr Lai doesn’t get involved with me, he passes it on to John to run. I’ve got a good relationship with John.”
Is Chinese player Zhang Yuning’s move to English Premier League side West Brom more about property development than football?
West Brom open their Asia Trophy campaign against Leicester City on Wednesday, with concerns about the state of the Hong Kong Stadium pitch with the Premier league teams greeted by an amber rain warning and almost constant downpours since their arrival.
“The weather conditions, we all knew what it could be like,” said Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare after Liverpool were forced to cancel an open training session on Tuesday at Mong Kok Stadium due to the weather.

Big Wes and Craig Shakespeare speaking to the press. #LCFC pic.twitter.com/4Dt99NdRXb
— Nicolas Atkin (@NicoSCMP) July 18, 2017

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“We’d like to think we’re a positive football club, myself I’m a positive person.
“We were out on the grass this morning training. The Premier League are doing everything they can to keep us in the loop in terms of what’s available with training facilities.
“We have contingency plans in place. You can’t do anything about the weather. It’s always a concern about the weather, whether it’s heat or rain. So far, no problems.”

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English Premier League

Hong Kong changed my life, says West Brom boss Tony Pulis some 36 years after Happy Valley stint

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis is back in Hong Kong for the first time in 36 years. Photo: Reuters

Racism, China and that famous Manchester United game – Brendon Batson talks about life at West Bromwich Albion

Laurie Cunningham, Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson during their West Brom days. Photos: PR Plus

Brendon Batson, Cyrille Regis

Ron Atkinson

West Bromwich Albion legend and former player Brendon Batson walks around the pitch side with the West Bromwich Albion Foundation - Tri Albion Challenge, where participants raised money for charity by cycling from Southampton to todays match

West Brom in China in 1978.

No repeat of ‘killer pitch’ for Premier League Asia Trophy this summer vows local official

Hong Kong Stadium during the 2013 Asia Trophy. Photo: Handout

Tottenham Hotspur's Kieran Trippier (Left) and Kitchee's Femando Pedreira in action during Jockey Club Kitchee Centre Challenge Cup, Kitchee vs Tottenham Hotspur at Hong Kong Stadium. 26MAY17 SCMP / Nora Tam

Tottenham Hotspur Michael Dawson (Left) and Sunderland Stephane Sessegnon (Left Second) in action a match during the Barclays Asia Trophy at Hong Kong Stadium. 24JUL13

Gone in 24 hours: all 50,000 tickets sold for both days of Premier League Asia Trophy

Football fans queue outside Tom Lee Piano on Friday to buy tickets for the Premier League Asia Trophy. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Mr Poon (right), shows off his Asia Trophy tickets after spending overnight in the box office in Wan Chai. The Liverpool fan was the first to arrive for the queue the night before. 02JUN17 Photo / Handout

People queue for the first day of ticket sales for the Premier League Asia Trophy outside Tom Lee Piano in Causeway Bay. 02JUN17 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Real Hong Kong football fans let down by Premier League Asia Trophy ticketing arrangements as online touts cash in

These die-hard fans queued overnight to buy tickets in person, but others without the time or patience who tried online were left frustrated.

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From Left to right: Richard Masters, Phil Babb, Mark Bright, and Mark Sutcliffe pose for photo in front of the Premier League Asia Trophy during the press conference for the Premier League Asia Trophy 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on 01 June 2017 in Hong Kong, China. Photo by Chris Wong / Power Sport Images

Sport

Football

Hong Kong

Baggies manager made 13 appearances for the now second-tier side in 1981, and now returns for this week’s Premier League Asia Trophy


Premier League Asia Trophy Hong Kong