Gavin Chesterfield: Linnets boss excited by challenge of taking on match-sharp NSÍ Runavík

Barry Town United manager Gavin Chesterfield says he is intrigued by the challenge of playing an NSÍ Runavík side who are more than half way into their league campaign.

The Linnets, whose preparation in contrast has consisted of three friendly matches, face the Faroese outfit in the preliminary round of qualifying for the Europa League tonight.

All qualifying ties will consist of one-off games, rather the the usual two, because of the fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Runavík currently sit fourth in the Faroe Islands Premier League, the position they finished in the 2019-20 campaign. 

Chesterfield, who has led Barry to a second successive qualifying campaign, says his team have done all they can to prepare for the game, with match sharpness expected to be a key factor.

“We’ve had three warm up games, which makes it difficult. But we’ve prepared as best we can, and we’ll give it our absolute best to do right for the league and our club”. 

With the Cymru Premier at risk of losing its fourth European spot, this match-up could prove pivotal with Wales and the Faroe Islands currently battling it out closely in the coefficient rankings.

“As a league, it’s so important we keep that [the fourth spot],” said Chesterfield. “We didn’t rely on it last season, but of course it was our route into Europe this time around.

“We have aspirations to compete higher than that in the future. But, first things first, we have to make sure we do ourselves justice. It’s going to be a tough game. We’re playing against a team that’s in season.“

The Faroe Islands Premier League has already completed 17 rounds of their season, with teams playing a total of 27 matches, and as such Runavík are expected to have the edge when it comes to match sharpness.

While Barry were regulars in Europe during the late nineties, this is only their second European campaign since 2003. 

In contrast, Runavík have been regulars on this stage in recent times, qualifying eight times between 2010 and 2020, only failing to do so in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

“I’m not wishing to downplay things, but they go into this as favourites,” said Chesterfield. “Prior to this season, we’ve qualified once in the last 15 years as a club.

“If you compare the two at the moment then, in that regard, they’re incomparable, but it’s going to be interesting for me as a coach, and I’m sure it will be for Runavik’s coach as well.

“It’s a fresh opposition, it’s a different challenge and exciting stimulus. It’s so difficult to compare leagues across Europe. The population of the Faroe Island, I think, is 40,000.

“They sustain a ten-team top flight of which four teams qualify for Europe, so they’re well versed in this and, for us, it’s still part of our journey, but it’s a really exciting part. 

“Whilst it’s a new challenge, both managers will go into it with a lot of information on on each other and that makes it hard. In a game of such magnitude, you’d expect nothing different”.

The long-serving Town manager is hoping his experiences of travelling around Europe will count for something when his side takes to the field this evening.

“The majority of my experiences have come through the age group international squads, travelling to places like Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Germany and France

“I’ve worked with top young players who’ve gone on to represent Wales at a good level. They’ve been fantastic experiences. They’ve helped without a doubt”. 

He believes the variety of experiences he has had have been enriching, and is more than confident in his team’s chances should they perform at their best.

“I’ve been working with really experienced staff such as Osian Roberts, people like that. But I remember we played in the European Cup of smaller nations when I was at Merthyr. We played in Malta and that was a fantastic experience as well because it’s a different way of playing in a different environment.

“It challenges you in different ways. Cliftonville last year was was a fantastic experience against what I consider to be a really good team.

“All these insights add richness to us, they’re part of our fabric, they’re a part of who we are. We’re really excited by what this challenge holds.

“We know it’s going to be difficult, we do see ourselves as the underdogs, the stats suggest that, but we also know that we can pass it if we if we bring our best game”.

(Featured image: Rhys Skinner)