ROVERS ARE HANDED A EUROPA DATE IN ICELAND:
SLIGO Rovers will face Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The draw took place on Tuesday afternoon where it was confirmed Rovers would face the Icelandic side away in the first leg on Thursday, July 8, before hosting them a week later in The Showgrounds (Thursday, July 15).
This is the first ever draw for this inaugural competition – mirroring a similar historic moment the Bit O’Red were involved in 12 years ago when they featured in the first ever draw for the Europa League.
Their opposition – also known simply as Hafnarfjordur or FH, finished second in last year’s Icelandic League top tier and currently sit in sixth place in the early stages of the new season. The FH squad includes Steven Lennon who played for Dundalk in 2010 and Gunnar Nielsen – a former
Man City and Motherwell goalkeeper who has earned 58 caps for the Faroe Islands. The majority of their native players are also former and current members of the Icelandic national team.
Commenting on his side’s European draw, Liam Buckley said that he knows from experience how difficult overcoming Icelandic teams can be.
“I wasn’t overly concerned with who we got. I was up against an Icelandic team a few years ago with St Pat’s, there was very little in it.” “This side finished second in their league last year and they had some good recent results in Europe, this will be a difficult assignment for us. I am expecting a tough game, there are no two ways about it.”
As for facing FH away, Buckley confirmed his preference in European ties is to travel for the first meeting.
“I prefer to be away personally just so we can try and get something over there so we know what we need to do at home.”
Rovers are not the only team in action in Iceland in the first round either as Bohemians face Stjarnan.
Responding to a suggestion that Rovers and Bohs may charter a flight together to save costs in health guidelines allowed, Buckley quipped: “They can pick us up in Knock.” Speaking about the standard of the Europa Conference League, Buckley is excited to be involved as there is potential for a lot of quality ties and the financial rewards remain a very positive aspect for clubs such as Sligo Rovers.
“There is a plenty of quality teams in it and the reward is there, they are financially very good and they certainly help if you can get through a
round or two.”
Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday, Wednesday, that if Rovers progress from the first qualifying round they will face Norway’s Rosenborg, who the Bit O’Red met in a European tie in 2014.