Cymru Premier clubs prepare for Europe in final summer with four teams
Caernarfon Town qualified for the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds for the first time. (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)
This week will mark the beginning of four Cymru Premier sides campaigns in Europe as they look to seal a place in the group stages of a major European competition.
Cymru Premier champions The New Saints will compete in The Champions League first qualifying round as Connah’s Quay Nomads, Bala Town and Caernarfon Town all enter the first qualifying round of The Europa Conference League.
With one less European spot in the league this season the Welsh sides will be looking for a strong run to help the nation’s coefficient rankings. Here is a look at each team’s fixture before the first legs this week.
The New Saints
TNS will be looking for an improved performance in Europe this season as they were defeated in The Champions League first qualifying round by Swedish side BK Häcken, before being bested by Luxembourg outfit Swift Hesperange in the second qualifying round of The Europa Conference League last season.
They will face Montenegrin champions FK Dečić in the opening round of this season’s competition, with a first-leg home tie this Tuesday before the return leg a week later.
FK Dečić are celebrating their first top-flight title since its inception in 2006 and have previously played in Europe on two occasions, beaten both times in the first qualifying round of The Europa Conference League.
The danger man for Plavi (The Blues) is 26-year-old attacking midfielder Oliver Sarkic. He was the club’s top goalscorer in their title-winning campaign with 11 goals and possesses the ability to score from range.
The English born midfielder started his career at Benfica and has had spells in the English Football League with Burton Albion, Blackpool and Mansfield. He has also represented Montenegro at youth level.
TNS manager Craig Harrison will look to guide his side through the first round as they take on Montenegrin opposition for the first time in their history. His squad has been boosted with the addition of Cymru Premier player of the season Sion Bradley.
Connah’s Quay Nomads
The Nomads open their European campaign on Thursday night with an away tie against Slovenian side NK Bravo before the return leg a week later in Bangor.
Šiškarji (The Boys from Šiška) were formed in 2006 and qualified for this season’s competition with a fourth-placed league finish.
Their danger man is Slovenian forward Matej Poplatnik who netted 11 times in their league campaign. The 31-year-old has previously had spells in Scotland with Livingston and Raith Rovers and received his first international cap for Slovenia in January in a friendly against USA.
Manager Neil Gibson will be hoping his side can have an improved performance in Europe this season after being comfortably beaten 4-0 in this round by Icelandic side Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar last campaign.
Their chances have been boosted with the additions of former TNS captain Chris Marriott and former welsh youth international shot-stopper George Ratcliffe who joined from Pontypridd United.
Bala Town
Another side that struggled in European competition last season, Bala Town will be looking to go further than their last campaign where they were beaten by Sligo Rovers of Ireland in The Europa Conference League first qualifying round.
They will face Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia after their fourth-placed finish. The club was founded in 2004 and transitioned into a professional setup in 2017 playing in Europe for the first time in 2019.
The club have gone from strength to strength in recent years winning their first piece of silverware in 2022 with an Estonian Cup triumph before winning the Estonian Super Cup in 2023.
Attacking midfielder Herol Riiberg could be the potential danger man for the Estonian side, with the 27-year-old having an eye for goal.
The Lakesiders host the first leg on Thursday afternoon before a trip to Estonia a week later for the return fixture. Colin Caton’s squad has been boosted with the returns of Louis Robles and Lassana Mendes to Maes Tegid in the transfer window.
Caernarfon Town
Caernarfon Town are the final Welsh club to compete in European football this season as they make their Europa Conference League debut against Crusaders FC of Northern Ireland in the first qualifying round.
Despite the loss of Cymru Premier player of the season Sion Bradley, Richard Davies’ will hope his side can cause some major upsets in this season’s competition and have similar European nights as Haverfordwest County last summer.
The Cofis host The Hatchetmen at Nantporth in the first leg on Thursday before travelling to Northern Ireland for the reverse fixture a week later.
Crusaders booked their place in the competition with a Conference League play-off final win against Coleraine back in May and will look to improve on their performance last year where they made It to the second qualifying round before being beaten by Rosenborg of Norway.
The danger man for Crusaders comes in the shape of 27-year-old forward Ben Kennedy. The Northern Irishman began his career with Stevenage before a loan spell at Newport County.
He joined Crusaders in 2020 where he has scored 33 goals in 87 appearances including finishing as the clubs top goalscorer with 14 goals last season.
How do you think the Welsh sides will fare in Europe this season? let us know in the comment section below.
