European Competition
The champions of the Welsh Premier League qualify, along with the champions of every European domestic league, for the UEFA Champions League. The second and third placed teams qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. A place in the second round of the Europa League is also awarded to the winners of the Welsh Cup. If the winners of the Welsh Cup have already qualified for Europe via their league placing (e.g. finishing first and winning the Cup) the fourth placed team inherits the Europa spot.
Results in Europe have been mixed - some notable successes, such as Barry Town's run to the first round proper of the UEFA Cup, drawing 3–3 with Aberdeen at Jenner Park, and Barry's 3–1 victory over FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League (albeit losing 3-9 on aggregate), stand alongside some heavy defeats, such as Total Network Solutions' 12–1 aggregate defeat to Amica Wronki of Poland.
The aforementioned Barry Town have been by some way the most successful Welsh side in Europe in the league's 15-year history, winning a total of six games in Europe.
In recent times results in Europe have generally improved. Whereas in the past, Welsh sides had been on the wrong end of some heavy scorelines, all Welsh sides now enter Europe with the realistic aim of at least winning their first round tie. In the last few years in particular European results have been more competitive, with Rhyl, Carmarthen Town, Bangor City, The New Saints and Llanelli all beating clubs from other countries over two legs.
Read more about this topic: Welsh Premier League
Famous quotes containing the words european and/or competition:
“Two great European narcotics, alcohol and Christianity.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Mothers seem to be in subtle competition with teachers. There is always an underlying fear that teachers will do a better job than they have done with their child.... But mostly mothers feel that their areas of competence are very much similar to those of the teacher. In fact they feel they know their child better than anyone else and that the teacher doesn’t possess any special field of authority or expertise.”
—Sara Lawrence Lightfoot (20th century)