Welsh clubs ready for Conference League ties

It has been six weeks since Crystal Palace celebrated a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Uefa Conference League final in Leipzig.

Now the road to next season’s showpiece in Istanbul begins, with three Welsh clubs entering the first qualifying round this week.

Connah’s Quay Nomads take on Kosovo’s FC Ballkani on Wednesday, 7 July (18:30 BST) and on Thursday, 8 July Caernarfon Town host Estonian side Levadia Tallinn (18:30 BST) while Penybont entertain Andorra’s Santa Coloma (19:45 BST).

Connah’s Quay Nomads v FC Ballkani

John Disney featured in Connah’s Quay Nomads’ first European campaign in 2016 and was captain the last time the club played in the Conference League two years ago.

Appointed manager of the Flintshire club in May 2025, the 33-year-old led them to a runners-up spot in last season’s Cymru Premier to secure European qualification.

Nomads face FC Ballkani in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League first qualifying round at Colwyn Bay’s Blue Turtle Arena on Wednesday evening.

Disney has seen a major overhaul of the squad during the summer with notable names such as Rhys Hughes, Chris Marriott, Ben Nash and brothers Kai and Noah Edwards departing.

“The club’s gone through a massive transition,” Disney told BBC Sport Wales.

“A number of things have happened to the club over the last few years.

“The nice thing is that a lot of these players aren’t aware of anything that’s gone before us, so that brings a freshness and excitement.

“We have got a young squad, we’ve got a new way of playing and how we want to do things.

“We’ve got that squad where I’m happy that there’s a balance to them, they’re adaptable, they’re willing to learn, they’re keen, they’re hungry, they’re eager.

“The lads that I worked with last year were exactly the same, it’s just in a different basis.”

FC Ballkani are three-time champions of Kosovo and have twice reached the group stages of the Conference League.

Caernarfon Town v Levadia Tallinn

Caernarfon Town secured a place in Europe for the second time in three seasons when they beat Flint Town United 3-0 to lift the Welsh Cup for a first time in April.

Richard Davies’ side beat Crusaders of Northern Ireland on penalties in the first qualifying round two years ago before bowing out to Legia Warsaw.

In this season’s Uefa Conference League they have been drawn against Levadia Tallinn of Estonia in the first qualifying round.

Levadia finished second in last season’s Meistriliiga – the top tier of football in Estonia – and 19 games into the current season are top of the table having lost only once.

“The challenge is going to be quite a big one,” manager Davies told BBC Radio Cymru’s Y Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast.

“They’re a very good side and they’re obviously halfway through their season.

“TNS have played them in 2000 and then Bala played them in 2013, so we know a little bit about them.

“We’ve been watching the games and stuff just to get a little bit of homework on them.”

Bangor’s Nantporth Stadium hosted Caernarfon’s European home games two years ago but their own home ground will host Thursday’s first leg and is a sell out.

The Oval has undergone major work during the past 12 months in readiness for the Uefa Men’s Under-19 Championships currently being held in north Wales.

“We’ve been away from home for a year and it’s been difficult, and sometimes people forget that,” added Davies, whose side played their home games at Llandudno last season.

“Our first game on The Oval would have been special anyway but to think it will be in Europe, the crowd will be right behind us.

“It’s going to be a difficult task but being underdogs suits us.”

Penybont v FC Santa Coloma

Penybont face Andorra’s FC Santa Coloma for the second time in three years when they meet in the Conference League first qualifying round.

The sides drew 1-1 in the first leg at Bridgend’s Brewery Field in 2023, with Chris Venables scoring a second half equaliser.

Venables was sent off in a bad-tempered second leg and Coloma scored two goals in extra time to progress.

“It does help that we’ve been there before,” said midfielder Mael Davies, who scored in the play-off final win over Haverfordwest County which sealed a place in Europe.

“In terms of them as a team, they’re very fit and it’s a very hot country, so that weather does play a part.

“They’ll be sharp, intense, quick, they’ll be fit and they’re a full-time outfit while we’re semi-professional.

“But I think as a squad, we’re stronger now and we’re feeling quite confident.

“We’ve done really strong recruitment over the summer, bringing boys in who have played at a good standard, which has raised our standards as well.”

Cardiff City Stadium hosts Thursday’s first leg with 40-year-old forward Venables still a key member of Rhys Griffiths’ squad.

Davies says playing at home in the first leg will give Penybont a boost.

“Last year we played away first and we lost 3-0 and the tie was dead and buried coming into the home game,” Davies said of the defeat to Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd and hopefully they can be like a 12th man for us to get that result going out to Andorra then.”