Penybont and Venables Face Familiar Foes in Conference League Qualifiers

Penybont FC is poised for a significant European encounter today, July 9th, as they kick off their UEFA Conference League campaign against Andorran side FC Santa Coloma. This fixture marks a familiar challenge for the Welsh club, particularly for their seasoned striker, Chris Venables, who has been central to Penybont's European aspirations.

The upcoming tie is a rematch of Penybont's inaugural European campaign in 2023, which saw them exit the competition after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Santa Coloma following extra time. That initial encounter holds particular significance for Venables, who scored Penybont's first-ever European goal in the first leg, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. However, his involvement in the return leg was cut short by a red card.

At 40 years old, with his 41st birthday approaching this month, Chris Venables has openly stated that the prospect of another European journey was a key factor in his decision to postpone retirement. He expressed a clear sense of optimism regarding the upcoming match, reflecting on their previous meeting with the Andorran club.

"I'm still feeling good. A lot of people play for a long time but they don't get to play in Europe and I've got a chance to do it again. I'm optimistic and looking forward to it."

"I would say we feel quite confident as a group as the preview tie was close. We know there wasn't much between the sides. If we could've been a bit better than the goal we conceded at home, things could've been different. It's the small things, and we could've gone through. We certainly weren't outclassed or anything like that, so we're going into this time full of optimism."— Chris Venables.

Penybont secured their place in the UEFA Conference League for the 2025/26 season by defeating Haverfordwest County 2-0 in the JD Cymru PremierCompetition·JD Cymru Premier Play-Off Final. Chris Venables opened the scoring in that decisive match, ensuring European football for the club for only the second time in their history and their third appearance overall in the Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League qualifiers.

Their recent form leading into these qualifiers has been varied. In the 2025/26 JD Cymru PremierCompetition·JD Cymru Premier season, Penybont finished 8th in the Championship Group. Their most recent competitive fixture was the Play-Off Final victory, while a friendly against Trethomas Bluebirds on June 23, 2026, resulted in a 3-0 away win. The club will be looking to leverage their home advantage in the first leg, a factor that has seen them remain undefeated in their two previous home qualifying fixtures in this competition. This tie represents a crucial opportunity for Penybont to advance beyond the first qualifying round of a European competition for the first time, building on their growing experience on the continental stage.