​Chris Venables reflects on Penybont’s history with the Andorran club Santa Coloma, a chapter marked by mixed memories from the previous European ties in the UEFA Conference League. Venables famously opened Penybont’s European goals account, scoring the club’s first-ever goal in continental competition during the first leg of the 2024 qualifiers at the Brewery Field in Bridgend. The moment stands out as a milestone for Penybont, capturing the excitement of a Welsh side venturing into European competition for the first time.
However, the return leg proved tougher. In an intense and tightly contested away match, Venables was sent off, and Santa Coloma seized the opportunity to strike twice in extra time, ultimately eliminating Penybont from the competition. The memory of that second leg still resonates with Venables as he looks ahead to the upcoming clash, offering insight into how the two teams view each other after their previous meeting.
“Obviously, we’ve got a little bit of history with Santa Coloma, so it takes away, I guess, a little bit of the element of unknown,” Venables told BBC Sport Wales. “It gives you an insight into not so much tactics and strategies, but more so how the players behave, and things like that.” He notes that Santa Coloma will also have a familiarity with Penybont from their previous encounter, which could shape how the teams approach the match. “They’ll have the same insight of us from the previous game as well, so they’ll have an idea of how we conduct ourselves,” he explained.
Yet Venables stresses that the current Penybont squad is a different unit from the one that faced Santa Coloma before. “But if we’d have looked at what our team was back in that game, it’s completely different now and the way we play is different as well, so you can’t go on it too much,” he added. The context has shifted, and Penybont’s evolution under their current management and players is central to their preparation for this rematch.
Venables, who is nearing his 41st birthday later this month, brings a wealth of European experience to the table. He has appeared in more than 20 European fixtures across his career with clubs including Aberystwyth Town, Llanelli, and Bala Town. Remarkably, Venables has experienced European success only once, scoring the decisive goal for Bala Town against Valletta of Malta in the Europa League in 2020. His perspective underscores the greater challenge that Penybont face in the continental arena.
“We know what it’s like in Europe. We know how hard it is—last time proved that,” Venables said, referring to Penybont’s 4-1 aggregate defeat to Kauno Žalgiris of Lithuania in the previous Conference League campaign. He emphasized that European competition is a significant test for any Welsh club, and the experience has reinforced the need for meticulous preparation. “It’s no mean feat and I’ve only done it once where I’ve been through, and that tells you everything you need to know really.” The takeaway is clear: teams must be exceptionally well prepared when transitioning from domestic seasons into Europe, where the cadence and level can be markedly different.
The forward-looking remarks also touch on the practicalities of squad readiness. Venables highlights the challenge of preparing coming out of the off-season while continuing to compete against clubs that are already in the midst of their domestic campaigns. “It just means that you’ve got to be so well prepared and obviously the way in which our season finishes, you’ve got to prepare from coming out of the off-season as well,” he explained. The squad often faces the reality that opponents are in-season, with higher intensity and sharper match readiness, while Penybont is still building up to peak form. That gap can have a substantial impact on performance, making careful conditioning and tactical planning essential.
Looking ahead to the first leg, Cardiff City Stadium has been chosen as the venue for the initial confrontation on Thursday, a setting Venables finds particularly meaningful. The stadium represents another chapter in Penybont’s European journey, as it hosted their 2022 Welsh Cup final appearance. Venables would welcome a return to Penybont’s home ground for the tie, describing the possibility as appealing: “We’d like to play at Penybont if we could.” Nevertheless, the scheduled first leg at Cardiff offers a unique platform to showcase the club on a bigger stage and to create a memorable atmosphere for the players and supporters.
For the Penybont faithful, Venables’ remarks are a reminder that European nights carry added significance beyond the result. “It’s going to be a great experience for the lads playing at Cardiff and a nice occasion for the fans too,” he said. He also emphasized the role of away support, praising Penybont’s travelling fans who have shown unwavering backing on European nights. “Hopefully we’ll get as many in there as we can do and they’ll make a big difference in the first leg, hopefully. I’m sure they will and they will do when we travel away as well,” he added. The message is clear: strong collective support can act as a catalyst for a team seeking to translate domestic form into European success.
As Penybont prepare for the first leg, Venables remains a guiding figure—an experienced European campaigner who understands both the hurdles and the opportunities presented by continental competition. The upcoming tie offers a chance to redeem past missteps, showcase the team’s development, and demonstrate that Penybont can compete at a higher level. With the stadium atmosphere, tactical adjustments, and the continuity of team spirit, Penybont’s supporters will be hoping for a performance that blends resilience with the attacking intent that has characterized the club’s recent rise.