Airbus UK Broughton eyes will be on Switzerland on Monday, when the Wingmakers will discover their opponents as they bid to make Europa League history.
Despite three draws in their four games against professional sides from Latvia and Norway over the past two summers, Andy Preece’s side have never won a European game.
But director of football Preece, who will be at UEFA HQ in Nyon, is confident Airbus can make it third time lucky – if next week’s first qualifying-round draw is kind to them.
Preece told the Chronicle: “There are a fair few teams we want to avoid; there are some massive clubs in there. Realistically we want a side we’ve got a chance of beating, but there aren’t that many in there to be honest.”
As well as Premier League West Ham, now managed by Croatian Slaven Bilic, the Wingmakers will be in the pot along with a host of clubs with an impressive European pedigree, including Aberdeen, 1991 European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade, Ferencvaros of Hungary and Scandinavian giants Rosenborg and Brondby.
Preece said: “With the exception of West Ham and a couple of others, there aren’t many who it would be worthwhile drawing financially – who’d bring in gates of thousands – so we’re hoping to get one of the lesser teams and have a chance of qualifying. That’s what we’re in it for.”
Airbus went out on away goals after 1-1 and 0-0 draws with Latvian champions FK Ventspils in the summer of 2013 and lost 3-2 on aggregate against full-time Norwegian side FK Haugesund last year, so Preece does not expect his side to be taken lightly.
He added: “No-one gave us much of a chance last year, and we nearly pulled it off.
“Pretty much every team is better than us, but we’ve shown we can compete and I don’t think many sides will underestimate us.
“If they do, then that might be the chance we need.”
The Wingmakers lost a behind-closed-doors friendly at TNS 3-1 on Tuesday night, and host Flint Town United this Tuesday (7.30pm) before heading to Belfast to play Northern Irish champions Crusaders next Saturday, June 27 (3pm).
Airbus chairman Mick Mayfield was honoured with a long and meritorious service award at the Welsh Premier League’s AGM in Aberystwyth.
Mayfield started with the Wingmen as a player in 1967 and held various positions since, including assistant manager, manager, secretary and chairman twice, and he is now also the Hollingsworth Group Stadium’s matchday announcer.
