2012: Where were Connah’s Quay and FK Partizan seven years ago?

Seven years ago, both Connah’s Quay Nomads and FK Partizan were in preparation mode.

The difference? Partizan were gearing up for their sixth consecutive Champions League campaign. The Nomads? The Cymru Premier League after two seasons away following their relegation in 2010.

FK Partizan came away from Belle Vue on Thursday with just a one-goal victory over the Nomads.

The goal-scorer? A full Montenegrin international in Aleksandar Šćekić who has 16 senior caps to his name.

So going back seven years ago, where were the two sides?

Connah’s Quay won the Cymru Alliance by six points in 2012, finishing ahead of Rhyl, in the second tier of Welsh football.

Their European opponents Partizan Belgrade? Well, they finished 12 points clear of City rivals Red Star Belgrade to earn their fifth straight SuperLiga title.

To celebrate their success, they brought in now-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović. He was leading the line for the Serbian outfit, scoring 15 goals in 36 appearances in the next eason. At Partizan, they boasted former Liverpool flop Lazar Marković too. 

One familiar face was goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković, who was with the club in 2012 and was present in the narrow win on Thursday.

Nomads’ 2011/2012 squad compared to what it is now is nonexistent.

Mark McGregor, the manager who guided the Nomads to the title for two consecutive seasons was moved on three years later.

McGregor hadn’t managed before, highlighting the stature the two clubs had back then.

He had played in the Football League with clubs like Wrexham, Burnley, Blackpool and Port Vale, so his arrival at Connah’s Quay was somewhat of a coup. 

They were the only team to win the Division back to back, having to win the title for the second time after failing to gain a domestic license. 

Rather than Michael Bakare leading the line, it was Gary O’Toole who Nomads looked to, as he won the Golden Boot for a second consecutive season.

Having to spend two years in the same division wasn’t all bad though. It was the start of a senior football career for Rhys Healey. 

Healey, who moved to Cardiff the following year, having scored 12 Cymru Premier goals up until January. 

They later earned an undisclosed fee from Cardiff City, who later sold him on to MK Dons. 

So where are they both now?

So seven years down the line, Partizan achieved their lowest finish since 1990.

They’re now under the managership of Savo Milošević, a former Serbia international with 102 appearances to his name and 37 goals, with an international career spanning 14 years.

Milošević is a Partizan legend, having begun his career there, scoring 74 goals in 98 SuperLiga appearances, before moving to Aston Villa. 

The 45-year-old won his first major trophy in his first season of management, beating City rivals Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian Cup final.

Partizan may have had a low finish last season, but they still boast big names.

Former Manchester United youngster Zoran Tošić is on their books, whilst Strahinja Pavlović is attracting interest from Celtic.

Then Nomads boss Mark McGregor, returned to play after leaving the Nomads, featuring for the Cefn Druids and then Runcorn Town, as a player-assistant manager. 

The Nomads have been in Europe for the last four seasons now under the leadership of cult Manchester City hero Andy Morrison, who has tried to loosen the grip of The New Saints on the Cymru Premier title.  

Despite falling short, the Nomads achieved a record tally in the Cymru Premier last season.

It just goes to show, how so much can change in under a decade. The Connah’s Quay Nomads have transformed massively and have become better for it, with a number of full-time players on their books, a far cry from a club who was once refused the domestic licence.

(Featured Image: NCM Media)