Gavin Chesterfield. (Image: Rhys Skinner)
With Barry Town United’s Europa League tie against Cliftonville just two days away, manager Gavin Chesterfield has described the feeling around the club as “pure excitement”.
The Linnets host NIFL Premiership side Cliftonville at Leckwith Stadium in Cardiff on Thursday, as they make their long-awaited return to the European club football.
Chesterfield has been the man to guide the club back from the doldrums, when they were demoted to the fourth tier of Welsh football, and described how he felt while waiting to find out who his side would face.
“It’s a privilege to be a part of it.
“I’ve been over to Nyon previously with the Pro Licence and that was a fantastic experience.
“Being there on your own merit in terms of representing your club was fantastic.
“You’re in that room and your heart is pumping, you don’t know who you’re going to draw.”
(Image: Rhys Skinner)
While Chesterfield recognises the challenge which will be presented by the Solitude outfit, he insists that the mood in the squad is one of positivity.
“Cliftonville are an established and historic club.
“We know over recent years they’ve been serial European campaigners.
“It’s a game we’re really looking forward to, it’s pure excitement and the camp reflects that.”
Something which competing in Europe demands is an earlier start to preparations.
Chesterfield, who works as a senior lecturer in football coaching and performance at the University of South Wales, is pleased with how his players have accepted the challenges and taken them in their stride.
“It hasn’t been easy coming back early, but to be fair to the boys they’ve returned in good shape and find themselves in a decent place.”
When it comes to his outlook on the tie, the former Llanelli and Port Talbot player is taking something of a simplistic view.
“I think it’s quite easy in terms of we are the underdogs.
“There’s a certain sort of privilege. We’ve mainly been the underdogs in the last few years.
“My lads are fine with that and they’re constantly trying to prove people wrong and in many ways that suits us.
“They’ve [Cliftonville] got the experience, but at the same time there’s no pressure.
“We weren’t expected to be here. We’re ahead of our planning cycle by qualifying for Europe, with that comes an opportunity.”
(Image: Rhys Skinner)
Having last competed in Europe in 2003/04, you could forgive Barry for forgetting about the kind of preparation that is required, something which Chesterfield highlights.
“It’s certainly been a learning experience.
“It’s required a lot of work behind the scenes, in terms of making sure everything is done to certain deadlines for UEFA – but that’s been a good experience.
“I think until you go through it, you can’t really prepare for it.
“We canvassed the opinion of clubs who have qualified previously on how it works and it has certainly helped. The guys have been putting the hours in.
“We’ve got there and now we’re looking forward to the game itself.”
After taking over the reins at Jenner Park in 2007, Chesterfield has overseen a remarkable rise to prominence, a time which he is able to reflect on fondly.
(Image: Rhys Skinner)
“When you come into the job as a manager you have a lot of hopes and expectations, and you do have some fears as some things can go wrong.
“For me, the hopes were to try and get the club back on its feet, add a little bit of our own history to what is a magnificent history.
“We also had hopes to get promoted in the first year, which we did.
“There’s been many successes along the way which we’ve been privileged to be a part of. To now qualify for Europe is an absolute privilege and an honour.
“We know we’re representing our club but we’re also representing our league and country.
“We intend to take that responsibility very seriously.”
(Featured image: Rhys Skinner)
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