The football season, unbeknownst to many English fans, actually kicks off in July with the first qualifying rounds of European tournaments. Some very interesting names have popped up and I know we have fans from around the world on here who might be able to shed some light on the clubs representing their countries to provide a bit of footballing interest during the close season/Euros/days off. Usually you'll see a team that's "oh, I remember them from when Newcastle were in Europe" or "ah, I've been there on holiday", or even "weren't they banned for siding with the Nazis?" (don't worry, they don't enter until the next round). So, who do we fancy to push through to the league phase? Some fantastic names in there, by the way, ties are to be played 9th/10th of July and 16/17th July. Teams in bold are, as far as I'm aware, are from countries of interest to people on here (UK, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Ireland etc). The more important countries enter later on. Of all the teams below, only Slovan Bratislava, KI Klaksvik, Ludogorets, Steaua Bucharest, HJK Helsinki, Ballkani, Astana, HJK, and Sheriff Tiraspol made the group stage of a European competition last season, the ones in bold got out the groups. Champions League Slovan Bratislava vs Struga The New Saints vs Decic Borac Banja Luka vs Egnatia Hamrun Spartans vs Lincoln Red Imps Ballkani vs UE Santa Coloma Flora Tallinn vs Celje KI Klaksvik vs Differdange 03 Panevezys vs HJK Helsinki RFS vs Larne Vikingur Reykjavik vs Shamrock Rovers Virtus vs FC Steaua Bucharest Ludogorets Razgrad vs Dinamo Batumi Ordabasy vs Petroclub Hincesti Dinamo Minsk vs Pyunik Europa League Botev Plovdiv vs Maribor Elfsborg vs Pafos Paks vs Corvinul Hunedoara Sheriff Tiraspol vs Zira Llapi vs Wisla Krakow Ruzomberok vs Tobol Kostanay Europa Conference League Velez Mostar vs Inter Club d'Escaldes Floriana vs Tre Penne Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino vs Milsami Orhei Siauliai vs FCI Levadia Bala Town vs Paide Linnameeskond La Fiorita vs Isloch Minsk Caenarfon Town vs Crusaders Tallinna Kalev vs Urartu Valur vs Vllaznia Bruno's Magpies vs Derry City Malisheva vs Buducnost Athletic Club d'Escaldes vs F91 Dudelange Marsaxlokk vs Partizani Auda vs B36 Torshavn Stjarnan vs Linfield Torpedo Kutaisi vs Tirana Shelbourne vs St. Joseph's Aktobe vs Sarajevo Bravo vs Connah's Quay Nomads Vikingur Gota vs Liepaja Noah vs Shkendija Tikvesh vs Breidablik Mornar Bar vs Dinamo Tblisi UNA Strassen vs KuPS VPS vs Zalgiris Special mention has to go to Bruno's Magpies of Gibraltar, who were set up a decade ago by a bunch of mates who drink at Bruno's Bar and Restaurant in Gibraltar and are co-owned by three time British Figure Skating Champion Haig Oundjian.
I am intending to attend the Caernarfon Town fixture - ECL First Qual round is football at its rawest (and warmest)!
