Football

Big Euro news for Caernarfon Town supporters!

CAERNARFON, GWYNEDD, WALES - 10th MAY 2024 - Caernarfon celebrate their first goal during Caernarfon Town FC vs Cardiff Metropolitan University FC in the JD Cymru Premier playoff semi-final at The Oval, Caernarfon (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)

Caernarfon Town celebrate their first goal vs Cardiff Metropolitan University in the JD Cymru Premier playoff semi-final at The Oval. (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)

Big news for Caernarfon Town supporters!

The home leg of their first-ever European tie will take place at nearby Nantporth Stadium in Bangor.

Nantporth will also be the venue for Connah’s Quay Nomads’ home Euro matches this season.

It was initially believed the Canaries would have to play ‘home’ Europa Conference League games at Park Hall, near Oswestry, Shropshire – the England-based ground of Cymru Premier champions The New Saints.

This had not gone down well with Cofis fans, or indeed general North Wales football followers hoping to be present at Town’s first European adventure, but wanting to limit travel distance.

However, Caernarfon Town confirmed tonight they would be playing home Euro fixtures less than 10 miles away in Bangor – financially and logistically a far better option for the Canaries.

There is still disappointment being voiced by some supporters at having to play an historic first European game at the home of local rivals Bangor, but Town insist the Nantporth choice is purely a business decision which makes most sense for the club.

The club stated: “We can confirm that our home fixtures in our first European adventure will be played at Nantporth.

“We wish to thank Nantporth CIC for agreeing to host us and to the FAW and UEFA for their assistance in this matter.

“The draw for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League will be made on Tuesday, June 18th with the draw for the second round being made on the 19th.”

Caernarfon Town have a Uefa licence which allows them to compete in Europe, but the licence states they are not permitted to host games at The Oval as the ground does not meet all necessary criteria.

Town qualified for Europe for the first time after winning a Cymru Premier play-off 3-1 against Penybont last month.

Meanwhile, Welsh Cup winners Connah’s Quay Nomads have confirmed the home fixtures for their eighth European campaign will also be played at Nantporth.

The club previously used the Bangor venue for their home Europa League tie against Finnish side, HJK Helsinki, a game which saw Nomads overcome the odds to pick up a famous 1-0 win back in 2017.