By Paul Jones
The New Saints manager Craig Harrison has paid tribute to his players after they became the first Welsh domestic league club to qualify for a major European competition group stage.
The Saints have written a new page in Welsh football history after they beat FK Panevezys on aggregate.
Cymru Premier champions TNS won their UEFA Conference League play-off tie first leg 3-0 in Lithuania a week ago thanks to goals from Danny Davies, Ben Clark and Dan Williams.
Having taken a commanding lead, a goalless draw at Park Hall Stadium meant that they progressed comfortably to Friday’s draw in Monaco.
History 🏴 @CymruLeagues
We will be represented at the group(league) stage of a major European competition for the first time ever 😍
Llongyfarchiadau @tnsfc 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zm65JP4r9J
— TheWelshDragon 🏴🐉 (@TheWelshDragon9) August 29, 2024
Harrison admitted: “It’s very emotional – something that’s never happened before. It’s not only history for the football club but the history of Welsh domestic football.
“It wasn’t the prettiest tonight but the players were exceptional again tonight. They’ve been fantastic apart from 30 minutes away to Ferencvaros in the whole campaign so they deserve all the plaudits.
“We wanted to play better and we wanted to win the game but at the end of the day we wanted to go through more.
“We want to play anybody – we’re going to enjoy being there tonight. The boys should enjoy it because it’s a massive achievement.
“It’s the biggest and best thing I’ve ever done, without a doubt.”
TNS have made HISTORY! 👏
A draw with Panevėžys sees The New Saints become the first domestic Welsh club to reach the group stages of a major European competition. 🏴
FT: TNS 0-0 FK Panevezys#BBCFootball #UECL pic.twitter.com/wTzoCWdjpz
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 29, 2024
Davies and Adrian Cieslewicz had first-half chances for TNS, but the visitors also created opportunities.
Any hopes that Panevezys had of clawing back the deficit, though, were effectively undone when Rokas Rasimavicius was sent of after 63 minutes when he received a second yellow card.
TNS chairman Mike Harris described the club’s success as representing “a landmark and game-changing achievement”.
Harris said: “This is a momentous moment for not just The New Saints, but for football across Wales as we qualify to represent the nation on one of world football’s biggest stages.
“Tonight represents a landmark and game-changing achievement that has the ability to help the domestic game and TNS move to the next level in many aspects including funding, reputation and exposure for Welsh football.
“We will be looking to take full advantage of this opportunity to ensure that this is not a one-off and we are qualifying for this stage of European competition for years ahead.”
🗒: MATCH REPORT: The New Saints make history at Park Hall, as they become the first JD Cymru Premier side to qualify for the league phase of the UEFA Conference League. #UECL
— The New Saints FC (@tnsfc) August 29, 2024