Venables and Penybont Prepare for UEFA Conference League Rematch

Penybont FC is preparing for a familiar challenge as they face Andorran club FC Santa Coloma in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. This upcoming tie marks Penybont's third appearance in the competition and their second consecutive season on the European stage, with the first leg scheduled for July 9th and the return leg on July 16th.

For 40-year-old striker Chris Venables, who will celebrate his 41st birthday later this month, the encounter carries a distinct sense of déjà vu. Venables was a central figure when Penybont first met Santa Coloma in 2023, a match that represented the Welsh club's inaugural European fixture. In that initial clash, Venables etched his name into Penybont's history by scoring their first-ever European goal. However, the return leg saw a dramatic turn of events, with Venables receiving a red card and Penybont ultimately succumbing to an extra-time defeat.

The opportunity to compete in Europe again was a significant factor in Venables' decision to postpone his retirement. Reflecting on the previous encounter, Venables expressed a confident outlook for the upcoming matches. "We certainly weren't outclassed or anything like that, so we're going into this time full of optimism," he stated, according to reports.

Penybont secured their place in the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League by defeating Haverfordwest County 2-0 in the JD Cymru Premier Play-Off Final, a match where Chris Venables contributed one of the crucial goals. The club finished the 2025/26 Cymru Premier Championship Group in sixth place. Their recent European journey also included a 1-1 draw against Kauno Žalgiris in a previous qualifying round, though they were ultimately eliminated on aggregate by the Lithuanian side. Rhys Griffiths continues to manage Penybont FC, guiding them through their European aspirations once more.