HB v NEWTOWN AFC - EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE 1st QUALIFYING ROUND PREVIEW

This is Newtown AFC's fifth season where they have played in European Competition. They qualified for the 96/97 and 98/99 UEFA Cup by finishing as runner's up in the League of Wales and then more recently in 15/16 playing in the Europa League by winning the league's play after a sixth placed finish. 

After a seventh placed finish and play-off win in 20/21 they played in the 21/22 Europa Conference League. Last season The Robins finished 3rd to play in the Europa Conference League once again.

They have played a total of ten European games with one draw being 0-0 against Polish club Wisla Krakow in the first leg of the 1QR of the UEFA Cup but then lost 0-7 in the second leg. They have two victories in the 1QR of the Europa League against Maltese club Valetta with both legs won 2-1. 

Last season they played League of Ireland side Dundalk losing 0-5 on aggregate in the 1QR of the Conference League. 

Newtown is in the county of Powys which has a population of around 11,000 people. It is around 8 miles from the English/Welsh border into Shropshire. The club did play in the English football system from 1998 to 1992 when they finished 9th, 14th, 13th and 14th in the Northern Premier League Division One. 

Along with Aberystwyth Town they are one of only two clubs to have unbroken membership of the top division in Wales since it's formation in 1992. 

42 year old Chris Hughes has been in charge since November 2013 after being Assistant at Prestatyn, Rhyl, Buckley and Caersws. 

The club have mixture of English and Welsh players. They have 21 year old London born strike/winger Lifumpa Mwandwe who joined from Shrewsbury Town in 2021where he came through the academy ranks. 

Aaron Williams joined in 2021 from AFC Telford United and is highly experienced. The 28 year old striker has also played for Walsall, Redditch United, Romulus, Worcester City, Rushall Olympic, Nuneaton Town, Peterborough United, Newport County, Brackley Town and Harrogate Town. 

Right-back Jake Walker joined in 2021 from Aston Villa where he spent time on loan with Banbury United and Alvechurch. He started in the famous FA Cup game at Villa Park in January 2021 when Aston Villa had to field a very young side due to Covid issues in their squad. 

Ryan Sears, 23, has joined the club in January from Grimsby Town. He played on loan with Newtown AFC on loan from Shrewsbury Town in the 17/18 season. 

Louis Robles, 25, has recently signed from league rival's The New Saints. Born in Liverpool he started his career in the academy systems of Liverpool and Wigan Athletic before signing professional with The Latics. He has also played in the Spanish lower divisions as well as Bangor City and Bala Town. 

Midfielder Dylan Downs is a young player who has just signed a new contract with the club and is highly rated by many. He has played for Shrewsbury Town academy and Shawbury United. 

Havnar Bóltfelag (known more commonly as HB Torshavn) are the oldest club in The Faroe Islands having been formed in 1904. They are based in Torshavn which is the Capital City and has a population of around 13,800. 

They have been Faroe Island's Champions 24 times - the first time being 1955 and the last time being 2020. 

Last season they finished as runner's up which qualified them for the Conference League this season. 

They have played in European competition on a regular basis since the 93/94 season when they played in The Cup Winners Cup knocking out Latvian side RAF Jelgava 3-1 on aggregate which is one of only three victories over two legs in their history. The others being the 14/14 Champions League 1QR when they beat Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar 6-3 on aggregate and in last season's Conference League they beat Buducnost Podgorica from Montenegro 6-0 on aggregate. 

Their overall record in Europe is 8 wins in 60 games. 

Kim Emgstom left his position as Manager of the club in May and joined Danish Second Division side B93. He was replaced by Dalibor Savic who is Swedish and prior to joining was in charge of Dalkurd FF who play in the Swedish second tier - He has only been in charge since January. 

He has also coached at Vasalunds IF, IF Bromma u21 and u19, Brommapojkarna, Syrianska, Arameisk and Djurgarden u17. 

The 2022 Faroe Islands Premier League is well underway with HB currently in third place after 12 games played - they are 12 points below KI, champions last season, who are currently top with Vikingur in second place. 

HB have a good number of players in The Faroe Islands International squad with Teitur Geetsson (goalkeeper), Daniel Johansen (defender), Hørður Askham (defender), Heðin Hansen (midfielder) and Adrian Justinussen (forward) all included in the recent squad for the UEFA Nations League.  

WHEN DO THE GAMES TAKE PLACE? 

HB v Newtown AFC - Thursday 7th July 

Newtown AFC v HB - Thursday 14th July @ Park Hall, Oswestry.