The Major host last season’s Fenix Trophy winners BK Skjold at Windmill Lane on Saturday
LLANTWIT MAJOR AFC will make their European debut tomorrow in a UEFA-accredited competition which offers the chance to play at Italy’s legendary San Siro.
The Major welcome Danish side and last season’s Fenix Trophy winners BK Skjold to South Wales on Saturday (KO 2pm) in a fixture which they hope will be a “fantastic occasion”.
The Fenix Trophy consists of 12 semi-professional sides from across Europe who applied to Italian club Brera Calcio, who founded the competition in 2021, to take part. The 12 teams are placed into four groups of three, with the winner of each group making it through to the semi-finals which will take place in Milan.
This season is the third since the trophy was founded. The Major have been placed in a group with BK Skjold, who beat Prague Raptors 3-0 at the San Siro in last year’s final, and English side Enfield Town. Each team will play each other home and away.
When the Major face Enfield Town on March 19 it will be the first time in the club’s history they have played a competitive fixture against an English side.
While Llantwit recognise just how difficult it could be to earn a place in the latter stages of the competition, the club are “quietly confident” they can achieve European success.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming BK Skjold to Windmill Lane this weekend for our first fixture in the Fenix Trophy,” said first-team manager Ben Stait, who took over earlier this season.
“Let’s take each game as it comes and hopefully enjoy what could be a fantastic occasion for our fans and the club.
“The players are really looking forward to taking part in a competition which could add great variety to our season.”
The club have released a special Boca Juniors-inspired jersey in their traditional yellow and blue colours which will be worn throughout the Fenix Trophy.
The Major have struggled domestically this season. The side from the Vale of Glamorgan currently sit in 14th place in the Cymru South, having lost as many games this season as in the entirety of the 2023/24 season.
The club hopes for a bumper crowd at their 1,000-capacity stadium.
- Tickets can be bought at the gate on the day of the fixture. Adults will be charged £10, £5 for students and pensioners and £3 for under-16s.
