The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina (21-07-2016) by Connah's Quay Nomads FC

Official Matchday Programme Â£3

THE NOMADS V

FK VOJVODINA UEFA Europa League 2016/17 Second Qualifying Round

Thursday, 21st July - 6:45pm The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

WHO’S WHO Honorary Patrons Lord Barry Jones, Roger Speed

Life Presidents Richard Jones, Bill Dudley

Vice Chairman John Gray

Secretary

BELLE VUE STADIUM Grange Road Rhyl Denbighshire LL18 4BY Ground Capacity 3000

Trevor Green

First Team Manager Andy Morrison

Assistant Manager Jay Catton

Club Doctor Brian Johnson

Club Consultant Chartered Physio Ashley James

Goalkeeping Coach Neil Ebbrell

Head of Logistics Mal Latter

Emergency Aid Officer

Colin McGivern (Events Medical Team)

Sports Therapist Gemma Bamford

Media Officer Nik Mesney Supporters Liaison Officer Will Catterall

MATCHDAY PARKING Players, playing staff, matchday staff and fans are allowed to park on the Belle Vue Stadium grounds where designated parking spaces are outlined. Please note that vehicles parked in non-allocated parking spaces may be subject to a fine or clamping.

EVACUATION PROCEDURE In the event of an emergency requiring the evacuation of the whole or part of the stadium, spectators are requested to leave the stadium by the identified exits. These will be identified in the evacuation announcement. Stewards will assist the evacuation.

Hospitality Roma Gray

CLUB HONOURS WPL Europa League Play-Off Winners 2016 League of Wales League Cup 1996 Welsh Intermediate Cup 1981 Welsh Amateur Cup 1953 North Wales Coast FA Cup 1994 North Wales Intermediate Cup 1981 North Wales Amateur Cup 1952, 1953, 1955 Welsh Youth Cup 1948 North Wales Coast FA Youth Cup 1986, 2009 Cookson Cup 1988 Barritt Cup 1995 Clwyd League 1980, 1981

GROUND SAFETY In the interest of safety, spectators are asked to co-operate with the Club Stewards in keeping all gangways and emergency exits clear. Spectators are reminded that they must observe all ground regulations. Persistently ignoring these regulations may lead to possible further action by the club, including, but not limited to, the withdrawal of any ticket (without reimbursement) and other benefits.

P.A. SYSTEM (Ground Safety Announcements) All ground safety announcements will be made on the public address system. Spectators are asked to listen carefully to those announcements and follow any instructions given.

EDITOR’S WELCOME Welcome to Belle Vue for the second time this season - four games in and we’ve not played on at our actual home ground yet, but if it means we are still in the Europa League, I’m not going to complain! Two weeks ago, our trip to Norway couldn’t have gone any better, a clean sheet, an early goal, an outstanding performance and memories that will stay with me forever as we sang the night away in a Fredrikstad sports bar to the tune of ‘Morris on fire, your defence is terrified’ - a night I’ll never forget. Last week in Serbia was a much different affair, but I left the former Yugoslavian state very proud of an outstanding team performance and knowing that only being one goal down means we are very much still in the tie today with a realistic chance of facing either Dinamo Minsk or St Patrick’s Athletic in the next round. The crowd in Serbia was a surreal experience as I am used to photographing in front of 300 spectators, not 6000, but again, a great experience. Today’s programme features match reports from both our games against Stabæk as well as last week’s trip to Vojvodina along with some great content from Trevor Green, Dave Rapson and Will Catterall, and I’ve given you all a feel for the overseas trips with a photo gallery of both. Hopefully the lads get the result tonight and come on The Nomads! Nik

Editor and Designer Nik Mesney Contributors Andy Morrison Jay Catton Will Catterall Trevor Green Nik Mesney Mark Rowlands Gary Dewhurst David Rapson

Clwyd League Challenge Cup 1981 President’s Cup 1981 Huws Gray Alliance League 2011, 2012 Welsh Premier League U19 2013 U19 National College Champions 2015, 2016

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

© All editorial in this programme is the copyright of gap Connah’s Quay Nomads FC and shall not be reproduced without permission. Content correct at time of print. The views of the individual contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Club.

CONTENTS 5 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR THE NOMADS

A preview of tonight’s massive game against FK Vojvodina

6 NOMADS NOT OUT IN NOVI SAD

Match report from The Nomads’ 1-0 first leg defeat to FK Vojvodina

8 NOMADS STUN STABÆK IN MAJOR EUROPEAN WIN

Match report from The Nomads’ 1-0 second leg away victory over Stabæk

10 HISTORY MADE IN INAUGURAL EUROPEAN GAME Match report from The Nomads’ 0-0 first leg draw with Stabæk

12 A VIEW FROM THE STAND

Will Catterall looks at today’s huge game

14 GREEN’S PIECE

Club Secretary Trevor Green looks at today’s game as well as the next couple of weeks of games

16 TODAY’S OPPOSITION

A look at the history and players of FK Vojvodina

20 PHOTO GALLERY

10 12

A selection of photos from The Nomads’ European trips to Norway and Serbia

22 THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW

A complete look at the fixtures for the next rounds of the Europa League

26 THE NOMADS’ ARCHIVE

Dave Rapson takes a look at previous European competition from Welsh teams

30 THE NOMADS SQUAD

Playing statistics and Pen Pics for gap Connah’s Quay Nomads

32 FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Fixtures, results and statistics for the 2016-17 season

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

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The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

Opportunity knocks for The Nomads Today’s game marks another enormous opportunity for gap Connah’s Quay Nomads, as the Club go into the second leg of the UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round, knowing that a victory could potentially see them qualify for the Third Qualifying Round. Despite losing out 1-0 in the first leg last Thursday in Serbia, The Nomads are very much still in the game, and a clash with either Dinamo Minsk or St Patrick’s Athletic await the winners. The first leg was a one-sided affair with Vojvodina having 87% posession and goalkeeper John Danby having the game of his life with only a deflected shot able to best him on the hostile night in Novi Sad. Tonight’s game will see The Nomads need to perform just as heroically to be in with a chance of going through against tough opposition, but whatever the result tonight, The Nomads can be extremely proud of their first ever european campaign. Ahead of kick off, Andy Morrison said “Last week’s game against Vojvodina was an incredible experience - the atmosphere, the stadium, the occassion and the performance was a night to remember. At the final whistle the players were on their knees and not in my 30 years in the game have I been involved with a team who gave what our lads did last Thursday. In their previous game at home in this competition against a good side from Montenegro, they won 5-0, and I don’t exaggerate when I say it could and perhaps should have been 15-0! In the Third Qualifying Round last season, they defeated Sampdoria 4-0, such is the quality of their team, so to concede in the 86th minute was so cruel on my players and yet we go again tonight. If we can get half of the atmosphere here tonight that we got in Novi Sad last week, that will give us a lift and if we ask the same questions of them that they put on us, we will find out if they have the spirit and fight that we showed last Thursday.” Morrison concluded; “I am extremely proud and thankful to have the players I have, who represent not just gap Connah’s Quay Nomads, but the Welsh Premier League as well.”

The The Nomads Nomads vs vs FK FK Vojvodina Vojvodina

MATCH REPORT

Danny Harrison plays his way out of trouble

FK Vojvodina

The Nomads

Palocevic (86’)

UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round First Leg Thursday 14th July 2016 | Karađorđe Stadium, Serbia | Attendance: 6000 (circa)

Nomads not out in Novi Sad hursday night saw The Nomads lost by one goal to nil to FK Vojvodina in their Europa League second qualifying round first leg. An 86th minute goal from Aleksandar Palocevic was enough to secure victory for Vojvodina on the night. Manager Andy Morrison announced a similar starting line up to the previous week’s clash with Stabaek, but with Sean Smith in the line up and Paul Linwood on the bench, with 6

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

John Disney suspended after receiving a second yellow card in Norway. The game began and FK Vojvodina immediately put pressure on The Nomads. Vojvodina’s Antic proved a force through his surging runs into the area and their star man, Trujic, threatened in the third minute when he sent a dangerous cross in the area, however no home player could connect with it. Vojvodina dominated possession during the first half and in the whole game, with chances from Puskaric in the eighth minute before Trujic scored a goal in the 15th minute only for it to be ruled offside.

Trujic, eager to get his side ahead, then enjoyed a great chance when he shot from around eight yards out only for Danby to produce a great save denying him. This was the one of many great saves during the Nomads keeper’s outstanding performance in Novi Sad. The home side’s onslaught of attacks continued, with Puskaric, Malbasic and Trujic all hitting the post in some nail biting moments for The Nomads. Despite this, half time came and the game was goalless due to a great defensive display from the away side. The second half began and it was soon clear that Vojvodina would continue to press The Nomads throughout the half, winning a corner straight away which was cleared by Callum Morris. John Danby saved a Babic effort in the 53rd minute from just eight yards out. Nathan Woolfe and Jay Owen both intercepted Vojvodina at vital moments, before Wes Baynes spectacularly cleared the ball from The Nomads goal mouth with a header to deny the Serbian hosts the lead. With one hour played, Vojvodina had had 15 shots on target but The Nomads remained resilient in the face of their pacy and skilful attacks. Maksimovic sent a shot well wide from 20 yards before Kearney and Smith marshalled their area well to prevent any further shots on goal. Les Davies replaced Michael Wilde and with 10 minutes to go and it began to feel as if The Nomads’ defensive performance had paid off. However, with just four minutes of normal time to play, Aleksander Palocevic scored with a deflected looping effort after a series of attempted crosses into The Nomads’ area. This sucker punch style blow did not effect The Nomads for the remainder of the game as they stayed focus on preventing Vojvodina adding to the scoreline. Russian referee Alexey Nikolaev signalled for the full time and The Nomads reflected on a tough result which did not fully reflect a valiant defensive performance against a full time professional side on their home turf.

Match Stats FK Vojvodina: Kordic, Meleg, Puskaric, Palocevic, Lakicevic (Asceric), Babic (Jovancic), Antic, Malbasic (Zlicic), Maksimovic, Miletic, Trujic The Nomads: Danby, Baynes, Horan, Kearney, Smith, Harrison, Woolfe, J.Owen (M.Owen), Morris, Short, Wilde (Davies) Goalscorers: FK Vojvodina - Palocevic Yellow Cards: FK Vojvodina - Malbasic

The Nomads - Baynes, Horan

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

MATCH REPORT

The Nomads celebrate their historic victory

Stabæk Fotball

The Nomads

Morris (15’)

UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round Second Leg Thursday 7th July 2016 | Fredrikstad Stadion, Norway | Attendance: 384

Nomads stun Stabæk in major European win A Callum Morris goal in the 15th minute was enough to secure a landmark victory for The Nomads in the UEFA Europa League. The match was billed as one of the biggest in The Nomads’ 70 year history, and is also a landmark game as The Nomads’ first competitive game on the continent. The venue for the game was the 12,000 capacity Fredrikstadion, which held the match due to Stabaek’s Nadderud Stadium being unable to hold European games. The game began and the professionals, Stabaek, were eager to inflict themselves on The Nomads’

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

goalmouth. Ohi Kwoeme sent a cutting pass across The Nomads’ area in the sixth minute, but no Stabaek player connected with it and the chance ended with a goal kick. After the home side threatened with a free kick from 25 yards , Jeppe Arctander Moe and Ernest Asante enjoyed chances during a period of early Stabaek pressure. Against the run of play, The Nomads’ first European goal followed in the 15th minute. Danby sent a long ball upfield, which was flicked between the likes of Ian Kearney and Michael Wilde for the ball to land in front of Callum Morris, who coolly slotted the ball in from eight yards to give The Nomads a shock lead. The goal gave The Nomads a boost in confidence and the crowd of 384 began to see an extremely disciplined performance from the Welsh side. Lewis Short was instrumental in a solid defensive live, denying Issah and Kwoeme entry into his area in the 25th minute.

Despite Stabaek’s attacking efforts they could not break the Nomads, with Martin Skjonsberg sending a ball floating into the area and out for a goal kick before Grossman had a shot blocked from 18 yards followed by Danby dealing with a powerful effort from Njie. Nathan Woolfe went on a great run into the Stabaek area in the 39th minute but was brought down and booked as a result, referee Laurent Kopriwa deeming it simulation. The first half came to an end at a frantic pace, with Stabaek’s pressure initating some valiant defending from Nomads. Naess saw a 20 yard effort sail wide, before Jay Owen and Callum Morris made a vital tackle and block in the area. The half ended and Nomads went in with a deserved lead but knew a significant performance in the second half was compulsory to keep Stabaek at bay and secure European glory. At the start of the second half Nomads again defended solidly, with Harrison blocking an effort from Moe in a packed Nomads area. A major incident followed in the 50th minute, when after a Wilde challenge, tempers flared between the teams which saw Kamal Issah sent off for his part in the action. Down to ten men, the pressure was on Stabaek but they remained unsuccessful in breaking down Nomads, with a ball from Meling into the away area easily handled by John Danby. John Disney then came off for summer signing Matty Owen, who made his competitive debut for the club on the Europa League stage. He got straight into the game, winning a free kick for Nomads on the halfway line on 69 minutes. Stabaek again threatened with Asante using his pace to cut into the Nomads area and pass to Kwoeme, who shot wide in one of the Norwegian’s best chances of the game. A bizarre instance followed in the 78th minute when John Disney was shown a second yellow on the sidelines for breaching Europa League regulations during his cool down. This meant despite having a player sent off, Nomads still had 11 players on the pitch. Andy Morrison then made his remaining substitutions with Sean Smith and Les Davies replacing Nathan Woolfe and Michael Wilde. During the last few minutes of normal time Nomads maintained their solid performance, whilst the pressure was on for Stabaek, seen when goalkeeper Sayouba travelled so far up the pitch with the ball he nearly reached the Nomads area. With the 90 minutes up, the fourth official indicated a minimum of five minutes added time, adding great tension to the Fredrikstadion’s atmosphere. Baynes intercepted Stabaek in their own half but couldn’t retain possession, and Stabaek’s Kwoeme sent a header towards goal where Danby dealt with it easily. Full time was then confirmed and the Nomads contingency were sent into raptures at the spectacular victory, which had seen a relatively new part time team earn a deserved win against full time professionals.

Match Stats Stabæk Fotball: Sayouba, Skjønsberg (Haugstad), Naess, Asante, Grossman, Gorozia (Mehmeti), Njie, Moe (Eghan), Issah, Meling, Ohi Kwoeme The Nomads: Danby, Baynes, Horan, Kearney, Short, Disney, Harrison, J.Owen, Morris, Woolfe, Wilde (Davies) Goalscorers: The Nomads - Morris Yellow Cards: Stabæk Fotball - Haugstad

The Nomads - Danby, Disney, Kearney, Woolfe, J.Owen, Wilde

Red Cards: Stabæk Fotball - Issah The Nomads - Disney

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

MATCH REPORT

Michael Wilde sees his second half chance saved by Sayouba

The Nomads

Stabæk Fotball

UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round First Leg Thursday 30th June 2016 | Belle Vue Stadium | Attendance: 573

History made in inaugural European game The Nomads held Norwegian side Stabæk Fotball to a goalless draw in the first European game of the club’s history on Thursday evening at Rhyl FC. The game was one of unprecedented proportions for The Nomads, who were in the UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round following their play-off final win over local rivals Airbus FC. Their reward was a twolegged fixture against Stabæk Fotball, a Norwegian outfit with a wealth of European experience. Managers Andy Morrison and Billy McKinlay, who both

10 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

hail from Scotland and have experience of professional football as players, introduced strong starting lineups for their respective clubs. Andy Morrison gave new signings Michael Wilde, Jay Owen, Lewis Short and Ian Kearney competitive debuts, whilst McKinlay sent a side out including Indian and Ghanian internationals in goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Kamal Issah. The game began and it was The Nomads who threatened first, when a headed effort from Wilde went into the net only for the goal to be ruled out by The Nomads’ striker’s foul on the goalkeeper. Minutes later the ball was in the net again after a weighted cross from Woolfe was successfully converted by another Wilde header, but the goal was this time ruled out by a close-to-call offside decision.

The Nomads’ bright start to the game continued, when Callum Morris sent a header from 10 yards just over the Stabæk crossbar. The visitors responded to this early pressure with a controlled passing performance across their own half and the midfield, which continued for the majority of the game but without any successful attacking movements for Billy McKinlay’s side. Stabæk were dealt with a blow after 30 minutes, when their goalkeeper Sandhu was forced to come off with a suspected broken thumb. Replacing him was Mande Sayouba, who would become influential in maintaining his team’s clean sheet. Towards the end of the first half, The Nomads again emerged with a number of close chances. Lewis Short send a long throw into the Stabæk area, where Callum Morris sent a header just over the crossbar. From another long throw from Short, the ball fell to John Disney who sent the ball towards George Horan who just missed out on the ball, yards from goal in one of The Nomads’ best chances of the half. Nathan Woolfe’s wicked crosses caused problems for the opposition all game, seen when Sayouba dropped the ball in an attempt to catch it as it entered his box. Stabæk looked to stun The Nomads late in the first half when Birger Meling sent a cross come shot towards goal from 25 yards, forcing Danby to stretch to his right to save. Referee, Johnny Casanova then signalled for half time, giving The Nomads the chance to reflect on a positive first half performance in which they had enjoyed the better of chances. The second half opened with a slightly lower tempo to the first, with the first major incident coming in the 54th minute when George Horan tried to connect with a Baynes free kick from 25 yards inside the area, similar to his first half effort. Arguably the biggest moment of the game came around 10 minutes later, when Michael Wilde broke through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. Wilde released his shot from around 15 yards only for Sayoube to produce a great low save to deny The Nomads the lead. Stabæk looked to reply to this scare from the The Nomads, and had the ball in the net moments later but suffered the same as their hosts, with the goalscorer Jeppe Arctander Moe ruled offside. As the game entered its final stages, Stabæk retained possession well and increased their presence in The Nomads’ half, but a solid defensive performance from Connah’s Quay prevented the Norwegians from any clear cut chances. With around five minutes to go, Les Davies was introduced in place of Michael Wilde, but he could not change the scoreline which finished 0-0 after three minutes of injury time.

Match Stats The Nomads: Danby, Baynes, Horan, Kearney, Short, Disney, Harrison, J.Owen, Morris, Woolfe, Wilde (Davies) Stabæk Fotball: Sandhu (Sayouba), Skjønsberg, Naess, Asante, Grossman, Gorozia, Njie (Mehmeti), Moe, Issah, Meling, Ohi Kwoeme Yellow Cards: The Nomads - Disney

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

A VIEW FROM THE STAND

by Will Catterall The biggest game in a club’s history is meant to be just one fixture, but we’ve had a fair few this summer alone. From our devastatingly tense play-off final against rivals Airbus, to a stunning victory in Europe over Stabaek, we’re again at new heights in the second qualifying round of the Europa League – a concept we couldn’t have imagined last November. Tonight’s match ranks right up there with your play off finals and Norwegian victories. We welcome FK Vojvodina, who have displayed quality to Football League levels and, remarkably, we’re in with a chance of coming out on top. Last week’s game was somewhat a surreal experience for us as we watched the lads hold their own inside the Karadorde stadium, against a full time outfit, with around five thousand fans cheering them on. The spectacular did not faze our team. We were confident, drilled and determined to do the job which we came so close to achieving if not for a deflected effort from Palocevic, but we’re not worried. In this European business, a 1-0 first leg loss is no problem, especially with no away goals. We’ve gone under a change of seismic proportions since being rock bottom at the end of last year, and with that, the club’s mentality has changed towards occasions like these. We’re not here for the day out, or a nice game in some good weather, we’re here to win. It’s been a privilege to follow the team to Norway and Serbia, and the spirit of the squad is so upbeat, so driven, that it’s unbreakable in the face of tonight’s challenge. If there’s any Welsh Premier League team capable of pulling off an upset tonight, it’s the one in red you’re here to see tonight. What we are in need of is some quality support from the stands. We may not be able to replicate the choreography of Vojvodina’s firma 1989, but in a stadium this tight to the pitch a gripping atmosphere should be conjured up. Enjoy the game and get ready for a big night of Europa League Football. Nomads Ultras Prediction: The Nomads 1-0 FK Vojvodina (and The Nomads win on penalties!) Nomads Ultras Player of the Week: John Danby John Danby has for a long time held a reputation as one of the best keepers in non league football, and he yet again proved his worth at the Karadorde stadium last week. Vojvodina’s ruthless strike force managed 27 shots and 10 on target, and John was instrumental in keeping them at bay in the game. His heroics on the goal line were rightly picked up on, and there’s little doubt that they will be needed again this evening.

12 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

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Good evening and welcome to another competitive match in European football. We are almost getting used to this, and we like it. We offer a very warm welcome to our opponents from Serbia, FK Vojvodina. Vojvodina is the name of the region they play in, and their home is the nation’s second biggest city, Novi Sad. They, alongside Red Star and Partizan, are the big clubs of the Serbian Superleague - a league of clubs who are used to European Competition, and winning the competitions on occasions too. The last Serbian club to meet Welsh opposition were Partizan and Rhyl went down 12-0 to them on aggregate. This is Vojvadina’s 126th appearance in European football and they have won 52 and drawn 31 of those. They may not be household names in Wales but they are European regulars. We went to Serbia aware that they were a very good side, and we knew that we would have to defend as if our lives depended on it, to avoid heavy defeat. We hoped that they might underestimate us, and have an off night, but they didn’t, playing even better than we feared they could, we were penned back from first to last - they had 87% of the possession. Our whole team defended like heroes and John Danby was inspired. But there is hope for tonight because we had the best chance of the match when Michael Wilde lobbed narrowly wide. It took a deflected shot in the 86th minute to give our hosts the 1-0 advantage they bring into the game. We hope that the Welsh climate and the narrow Belle Vue confines cause a culture shock and that they drop their level a wee bit, but then, this is a team who won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1976, and a club who beat Sampdoria 4-0 in Italy at this stage last year. We wish everyone in their party a great time here in North Wales and we will have done everything in our power to ensure they enjoy our beautiful home country in every aspect except on the field of play. We are used to climbing footballing mountains. On Saturday the 24th of October 2015 we lost at home to Aberystwyth and went to the bottom of the WPL. 12th out of 12 in the season just ended! In came Andy and we climbed to eighth and on the final day of the first phase we had to beat undefeated, full time TNS at Deeside to scrape into the top six. Not many gave us a chance, but we did it, winning 2-0. We started off eight points behind third placed MBi Llandudno and caught up to within three at the season’s end. It was a tired, injury ravished and overplayed Nomads team with a very small squad - we were again up against it in the play offs. We beat Carmarthen to set up a final against our neighbours Airbus. It was a very tense affair and in truth we were not at our best for much of it, but we don’t back down. Wes’s goal won us our first European trip. As a non-seeded side, we were unlucky to be drawn against a full time seeded club who are in mid season and have International footballers in the team. But Stabaek met a brilliantly organised Nomads, who held them goalless in both matches and went through to tonight’s round with Callum Morris’ goal in Norway. It was a great performance, but paled in comparison to the defensive masterclass of last Thursday at Novi Sad. Tonight is a different game - a tight pitch with the crowd in their faces and Welsh weather - they are classy, experienced and the best side we have ever played, but anything can happen in football. 14 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

It takes a massive effort for a small semi-pro club staffed by volunteers to put on a game against the powers of european football. We have received massive help from the staff of the FAW - they have been brilliant. Andrew Howard and Steve Jones have gone way out of their way in the practical aid we have been given and we can’t thank them and their colleagues enough. John Gray, Roma Gray, Nik Mesney, Will Catterall, Ray Brown, John Nixon and I have taken to the air to attend draws, matches, and the Belfast friendly that set us up so well for this adventure. They have worked like trojans at the home ties too - we had a small army of volunteers and the Club is so grateful to them all. We had a less than convivial relationship with Rhyl FC over the past few years, however this european run and their excellent hospitality has changed all of that. Mike, Barry, George and their colleagues have given us enthusiasm - you can’t buy that, and we thank them. Should we win tonight, and progress, we can hope that St Patrick’s Athletic of Dublin see off Dinamo Minsk and then we can reward everyone by getting a huge party to the next round. If not, then it’s on to battle in the WPL with the goal of automatic european qualification in 2016/17 season - we want more of this! Our pre-season routine has been amended around the european campaign, and we hope it continues to be. Should we win through tonight, we will be at the Parc y Scarletts (Llanelli) next Thursday evening for a 7.45pm kick off. The FAW paid Wrexham FC a large fee to prepare The Racecourse ground to stage Level 3 UEFA matches in North Wales. Theirs is the only stadium Level 3 compliant in North Wales. Wrexham have just informed the FAW, TNS and ourselves that, because of concerns over the state of the pitch, they will not accommodate us. I expect the FAW to have something to say about this later, but it doesn’t help for now. So if we win, Llanelli it is. It will be strange if we and St Patrick’s get through, that the away leg will be nearer to home than the home leg! Then it would be Dublin on the fourth of August. This will lead to an interesting pre-season. Whatever the outcome, a strong Nomads side will play at Denbigh Town on Tuesday 25th. It will either be full first team or a side composed of those not getting pitch time in the Europa League. This is followed with a home match against FA Cup giant killers, Salford City at the Deeside Stadium on Saturday the 30th July. Saturday 6th August sees us travel to Cymru Alliance Champions, Caernarfon Town and then it’s into another arduous WPL season which will begin for us at Carmarthen on Saturday 13th August. Kickoff is at 5-15pm and it’s live on S4C. Our first league home game is on Sunday 28th August against Newtown. Enjoy tonight’s game, as I said last time, occasions like this don’t come along too often. Trev The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

TODAY’S OPPOSITION

FK Vojvodina’s Club History On 6 March 1914, in Sava Šijakov’s weaving mill in the Temerinska Street 12, a group of students of the Serbian Orthodox high school established with the help of intellectuals and craftsman a football club in Novi Sad. The club was founded in secrecy, because the former Austro-Hungarian authorities banned larger organized gatherings of juveniles in the Vojvodina region which was inhabited mostly by Serbs. The club took the name Vojvodina, in order to emphasize the memory of the political-territorial unit of the Serbs in the “Serbian Vojvodina” in which the Serbs, at least on paper, get the same rights as all other citizens in the Habsburg Empire for which they have fought for years. The name Vojvodina means in Serbian a type of duchy, more specifically, a voivodeship. It derives from the word “vojvoda”, and means “one who leads warriors” or “war leader”. In its long history, Vojvodina were one of the most successful clubs in the former Yugoslavia, winning two First League titles, in 1966 and 1989, were runners-up in 1957, 1962 and 1975, achieved 3rd place in 1992 and finished 5th in the competition’s all-time table. Vojvodina were also runners-up in the Yugoslav Cup in 1951. They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1976, the Mitropa Cup in 1977 and were also runners-up of the Mitropa Cup in 1957 and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1998 . From 1993 to 1997, Vojvodina achieved in the national championship 3rd place five times in a row and were runners-up in the domestic cup in 1997. They were runners-up in the Serbian SuperLiga in 2008–09 Serbian SuperLiga and 3rd place in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Vojvodina were also runners-up of the Serbian Cup in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013. The first cup trophy Vojvodina won in 2014. The club is the major part of the Vojvodina Novi Sad Sports Society and currently the third oldest football club in the Serbian SuperLiga and the most successful football club in Serbia next to the rivals Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade. To qualify for this season’s UEFA Europa League, Vojvodina finished fifth in the Serbian Superleague regular season, thus qualifying for the Championship Playoff, where they finished fourth behind Red Star Belgrade, Partizan and Curaricki to secure their place in the UEFA Europa League Qualifying Rounds.

16 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

FK Vojvodina’s Player Profiles

2. Milan LAZAREVIĆ Defender

3. David HRUBIK Defender

4. Dusan MIĆIĆ Midfielder

9. Nikola AŠKERIĆ 10. Aleksander PALOČEVIĆ 11. Saša ĆURKO Striker Midfielder Striker

17. Šaleta KORDIĆ Striker

18. Lazar ZLIČIĆ Midfielder

20. Nikola ANTIĆ Defender

25. Marko KORDIĆ 28. Novica MAKSIMOVIĆ29. Dušan JOVANČIĆ Goalkeeper Midfielder Midfielder

5. Vladimir KOVAČEVIĆ Defender

7. Dejan MELEG Midfielder

8. Darko PUŠKARIĆ Defender

12.Nikola PERIĆ Goalkeeper

14. Ivan LAKIĆEVIĆ Defender

16.Siniša BABIĆ Midfielder

21. Nikola KOVAČEVIĆ Midfielder

22. Filip MALBAŠIĆ Midfielder

24. Marko DJURIŠIĆ Midfielder

31. Uroš STAMENIĆ Midfielder

33. Nemanja MILETIĆ Defender

92. Nikola TRUJIĆ Midfielder

The The Nomads Nomads vs vs FK FK Vojvodina Vojvodina

StabĂŚk Fotball The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

-1

Callum Morris scores The Nomads’ first ever European goal Photo: NCM Media

THE NOMADS

Morris (15’) The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

PHOTO GALLERY: EUROPEAN AW

20 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

WAY DAYS - NORWAY AND SERBIA

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round Draw While The Nomads were still travelling back from Serbia on Friday morning, Steve Jones of the Football Association of Wales attended the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on behalf of the Club. Should The Nomads progress tonight, they would face the winners of Dinamo Minsk and St Patrick’s Athletic, who are currently 1-1 following the first leg of their game. The draw in full is as follows; RoPS Rovaniemi (FIN)/Lokomotiva Zagreb (CRO) v Vorskla Poltava (UKR) Saint-Étienne (FRA) v AEK Athens (GRE) Cliftonville (NIR)/AEK Larnaca (CYP) v Spartak Moskva (RUS) Pandurii Târgu Jiu (ROU) v Kairat Almaty (KAZ)/Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) Vojvodina (SRB)/Connah’s Quay (WAL) v Dinamo Minsk (BLR)/St Patrick’s Athletic (IRL) Partizan (SRB)/Zagłebie Lubin (POL) v Strømsgodset (NOR)/SønderjyskE (DEN) Austria Wien (AUT)/Kukës (ALB) v Shirak (ARM)/Spartak Trnava (SVK) Hertha Berlin (GER) v Brøndby (DEN)/Hibernian (SCO) West Ham United (ENG) v Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR)/Domžale (SVN) Luzern (SUI) v Sassuolo (ITA) AIK Solna (SWE)/Europa (GIB) v Panathinaikos (GRE) İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR) v Rijeka (CRO) Videoton (HUN)/Čukarički (SRB) v Midtjylland (DEN)/Vaduz (LIE) Levadia Tallinn (EST)/Slavia Praha (CZE) v Rio Ave (POR) Zimbru Chisinau (MDA)/Osmanlıspor* (TUR) v Maccabi Haifa (ISR)/Nõmme Kalju (EST) Heracles (NED) v Arouca (POR) Piast Gliwice (POL)/IFK Göteborg (SWE) v Beroe Stara Zagora (BUL)/HJK Helsinki (FIN) Birkirkara (MLT)/Hearts (SCO) v Krasnodar (RUS) Aberdeen (SCO)/Ventspils (LVA) v Maribor (SVN)/Levski Sofia (BUL) Debrecen (HUN)/Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino (BLR) v Rapid Wien (AUT) Admira Wacker Mödling (AUT)/Käpäz (AZE) v Slovan Liberec (CZE) AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Giannina (GRE)/Odd (NOR) Lille (FRA) v MTK Budapest (HUN)/Qäbälä (AZE) Genk (BEL)/Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v Häcken (SWE)/ Cork City (IRL) Gent (BEL) v Viitorul Constanţa (ROU) Slovan Bratislava (SVK)/Jelgava (LVA) v Omonia (CYP)/Beitar Jerusalem (ISR) Oleksandriya (UKR) v laşi (ROU)/Hajduk Split (CRO) Neftçi PFK (AZE)/Shkëndija (MKD) v Mladá Boleslav (CZE) KR Reykjavík (ISL)/Grasshoppers (SUI) v Apollon Limassol (CYP) 22 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

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The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

The Nomads’ Archives By David Rapson

Welsh Euro Dreams Our European debut has already proved something of a fairytale with the team not conceding a goal in either leg of our first-ever European tie. Unfortunately, this is not a new record for a Welsh Premier League club as claimed in the national press. That is held by Barry Town who defeated FC Shamkir (Azerbaijan) 2-0 at home and 1-0 away in the 2001/2002 UEFA Champions League. Nonetheless, gap Connah’s Quay is the second club to achieve the feat and the first in the UEFA Europa League. Furthermore, we are the third WPL club to win its inaugural European tie. That particular record is held by Llanelli who defeated Swedish side Gefle IF 2-1 on aggregate ten years ago, winning the away leg by that score. Three seasons back Prestatyn Town, on European debut, recorded an impressive victory over the Latvians of Liepajas Metalurgs after losing the home leg 1-2. Prestatyn then went over to Liepāja and gained a victory by the same score and won the resultant penalty shootout. The first season of Welsh involvement in Euro competition was in 1961/62 when Swansea Town (as they were then known) contested the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, having triumphed in the previous season’s Welsh Cup final. Wrexham had won the Welsh Cup in 1960 but were not rewarded with a place in the Cup-Winners’ Cup although their time would come. Swansea’s trip to East Germany to play SC Motor Jena has been documented in these columns before as has Bangor City’s memorable trio of games with Napoli the following season. pean competition is nothing new. Welsh League (North) champions Borough United, from Llandudno Junction, were surprising Indeed, not only has the club featured Welsh Cup winners in 1963 defeating Newport County in the two-legged final. Drawn to play i away to Sliema Wanderers in their first game, the Borough United players endured a nightmare trip to Malta when their plane developed engine trouble and had to land in Marseille. The trip last 31 hours and the players arrived in Malta only four hours prior to kick-off. That they gained a goalless draw against the Maltese cup winners was a boost for the second leg at Wrexham which the Welsh team won 2-0 in front of over 17,500 spectators. Thus Borough United FC, a club that was disbanded only six years later, became the first Welsh team to win a European tie without conceding goal. Twelve months later that was emulated by Cardiff City who beat the Danish side Esbjerg 1-0 on aggregate going on to beat Sporting Lisbon in the next round. Having reached the quarter-final stage of the Cup-Winners’ Cup in March 1968, Cardiff City were drawn to play the formidable Soviet team Moscow Torpedo and won the home leg by the game’s only goal. The Bluebirds faced a 3,500-mile trip to Tashkent, 300 miles from the Chinese border and a city wrecked by an earthquake just two years earlier. City’s tactics were soon apparent with Brian Harris, a hero of Everton’s 1966 F.A. Cup final victory, playing as a sweeper. The Welsh team battled hard and despite conceding in the 33rd minute held on to earn a replay. UEFA decreed that game would be played in the West German city of Augsburg and despite the Cardiff team’s preparations being blighted by a blizzard (this was in April!) they came through thanks to Norman Dean’s first-half goal. Having dropped too close to the bottom of the English League Second Division, Cardiff City found themselves in the semi-final of a European competition and another trip to West Germany 26 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

to play SV Hamburg. Dean scored again only four minutes into the game and despite Hamburg equalising after the break, The Bluebirds were confident for the home leg played in front of 43,070 fans at Ninian Park. For a third successive game Norman Dean grabbed the first goal but Hamburg soon equalised and Uwe Seeler put them ahead in the 56th minute. Twenty minutes later Brian Harris scored his first City goal to leave the tie at 3-3 and another play-off seemed likely. But three minutes into injury time Hoenig’s speculative 25-yard effort nestled in the corner of the Cardiff net to ruin Welsh hopes. Cardiff City continued to fly the flag for Wales in the Cup-Winners’ Cup until 1972 when Wrexham gained their long awaited entry and celebrated by defeating FC Zurich at the first attempt. The Robins also took part in the 1975/76 competition and reached the quarter-final stage before going down 2-1 on aggregate to Anderlecht for whom Rob Rensenbrink scored the all important goal in the second leg at The Racecourse. The Belgian team went on to win the cup beating West Ham United 4-2 in the final. After being humbled by Borough United in the 1963 Welsh Cup final, Newport County were finally rewarded with a European venture in 1980. In fact County were in Europe before playing in the final as their opponents Shrewsbury Town, being English, were not eligible to compete via this route. That mattered not to Newport who gained an emphatic 5-1 aggregate win over the Gay Meadow side. Newport not only emulated Borough United and Cardiff City by not conceding in their first tie, but did so again in their second! A 4-0 aggregate victory against the Irish League side Crusaders was followed by a 6-0 success over the Norwegian amateurs of Haugar FC. Remember, these were the days of Tommy Tynan and John Aldridge at Somerton Park when scoring goals was not a problem for the team. County eventually succumbed in the quarter-final to Carl Zeiss Jena. Having drawn the away leg 2-2, a single goal for the East Germans in South Wales was enough to take them through. During the 1980s Swansea City (the suffix was changed in 1970) was a First Division side in the English Football League and came up against Sliema Wanderers who Borough United had beaten in 1963. Sliema were not used to playing under lights but had kept Barcelona down to a 1-0 scoreline at the Nou Camp in 1980 and that goal was a penalty. Swansea City proved stern opposition for the Maltese side in 1982, however, The Swans winning 12-0 at the Vetch Field and 5-0 in the return for a record Welsh aggregate victory in Europe. Despite losing the 1985 Welsh Cup final to Shrewsbury Town, Bangor City of the Northern Premier League entered the Cup-Winners’ Cup as Wales’ representatives and played their first game away to Fredrikstad, in the stadium that Nomads opposed Stabæk just two weeks ago. A 1-1 draw followed by a 0-0 stalemate at Farrar Road gained Bangor a crack at Atletico Madrid. The Spaniards won 2-0 in Bangor but only 1-0 in Madrid and Everton Williams, soon to be a Nomads player, featured in both games for The Citizens. There was further non-league representation for Wales in 1987 after Merthyr Tydfil (of the Beazer Homes [Southern] League) saw off Newport County in a Welsh Cup final replay to earn a tie against the Italians of Atalanta. The home leg, shown live on Welsh television, was drifting to a 1-1 draw when Ceri Williams’ deflected 87th-minute free kick gave Merthyr an advantage to take to Bergamo. Sadly two early goals in the second leg were enough to end Merthyr’s Euro hopes once and for all. Thereafter, Swansea City, Wrexham and Cardiff City carried Welsh hopes until the formation of the League of Wales (now Welsh Premier League) in 1992 when those teams playing in England could no longer qualify via the Welsh Cup. The last tie before the change saw Cardiff City play Standard Liege with the Belgians winning 8-3 on aggregate. Now it was the turn of the clubs playing in the newly-formed national league to try their hand, Connah’s Quay Nomads being the 24th to take part in European competition.

TheNomads Nomadsvs vsFK FKVojvodina Vojvodina 27 The

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

Purely Welsh Proudly Supporting Welsh Premier League

The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

PLAYER STATISTICS ° Indicates player no longer with club

First Team

¹ Indicates player on loan to another club

WPL

FAW Cup

Europa League

theWord Cup

Friendlies

A G

John Danby

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 John Disney

0 0

2 0

0 0

1 (1)

3 Paul Linwood

0 0

1 0

4 Ian Kearney

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 0

5 George Horan

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 0

6 Danny Harrison

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 0

8 Callum Morris

0 0

3 1

0 0

2 0

9 Ashley Ruane

0 0

1 (1)

10 Les Davies

0 0

0 (3)

0 0

1 (1)

11 Nick Rushton

0 0

0 (1)

12 Jack Riley

0 0

0 (1)

14 Kevin Holsgrove

0 0

0 (1)

15 Sean Smith

0 0

1 (1)

0 0

16 Nathan Woolfe

0 0

3 0

0 0

1 (1)

17 Chris Rimmer

0 0

18 Jay Owen

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 0

19 Matty Owen

0 0

0 (2)

0 0

20 Wes Baynes

0 0

3 0

0 0

1 0

21 Lewis Short

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 0

22 Michael Wilde

0 0

3 0

0 0

2 1

23 Mike Pearson

0 0

26 Ben Nash

0 0

0 (1)

28 Jon Rushton

0 0

2 0

Player 1

30 The Nomads vs FK Vojvodina

THE NOMADSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; SQUAD

1. John Danby Goalkeeper

2. John Disney Defender

3. Paul Linwood Defender

4. Ian Kearney Defender

5. George Horan Defender

6. Danny Harrison Midfielder