Reds Embark On Asia Trophy Tour

Manchester United have begun a 12-day tour of Asia with the Barclays Premier League trophy.

Ji-sung Park and other United players past and present will accompany the trophy for part of its travels around Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

United have been visiting and playing in Asia since 1974 and last took the Premier League trophy around the Far East in June 2008.

More than half of the club's estimated 333 million fanbase live in Asia and the club's visit will give them a rare, up-close glimpse of the trophy and some of the first-team stars.

The Trophy Tour is being supported by club partners Nike, Audi, Turkish Airlines, Hutchison 3, Danamon Bank, Singha, TM, PCCW and MUFB.

United's commercial director Richard Arnold said: "We know from the huge response from the Asian-based supporters in our 16 million Facebook followers and our commercial partners in the area just how much our Asian fans celebrated the historic 19th title win, so we wanted to make sure they could be part of that history by taking the trophy to them.

"Some of the players have taken time out of their summer holidays to say a big thank-you to those supporters and it promises to be a lot of fun."