Latest news with #TonyPennock
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Haverfordwest can progress in Europe
Tony Pennock led Haverfordwest County to third place in the Cymru Premier in 2024-25 [FAW] Tony Pennock says Haverfordwest County have shown they have enough quality to turn around their Uefa Conference League tie against Floriana. Haverfordwest trail the Maltese side 2-1 heading into Thursday's first qualifying round second leg at Parc y Scarlets (18:00 BST). Advertisement The Cymru Premier club took the lead in Malta last week and were only beaten by a debatable second-half penalty. And Pennock says his team of part-time players should have belief going into the return fixture. "It's going to be a tough one - Floriana are a good side and we have got to turn round a deficit," said the Haverfordwest boss. "But we go into the game with a lot of confidence because we competed well with them in the first leg. "We went into that game not really knowing what we were up against, whereas now we know a bit more about the opposition. The boys should definitely take confidence from the first game." Advertisement This is just the third European campaign in the history of Haverfordwest, whose one previous victory in continental competition came when they fought back after losing the away leg to beat Shkendija on penalties at the Cardiff City Stadium two years ago. Prize money in the Conference League is significant for the Bluebirds, who have earned around £280,000 for reaching this stage and will bank around £170,000 more should they reach the next round. Thursday's winners will quickly be back in continental action, with a second qualifying round first leg tie to come away to Kosovan side Ballkani on Tuesday, 22 July. "We had a crowd of more than 2,000 last time up in Cardiff, which is a lot further from Haverfordwest than Llanelli, so hopefully there will be another good turnout for this one," Pennock said. Advertisement "I am guessing there will be a good walk-up crowd on the night, and that's important for the boys."
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Haverfordwest can progress in Europe
Tony Pennock says Haverfordwest County have shown they have enough quality to turn around their Uefa Conference League tie against trail the Maltese side 2-1 heading into Thursday's first qualifying round second leg at Parc y Scarlets (18:00 BST).The Cymru Premier club took the lead in Malta last week and were only beaten by a debatable second-half Pennock says his team of part-time players should have belief going into the return fixture."It's going to be a tough one - Floriana are a good side and we have got to turn round a deficit," said the Haverfordwest boss."But we go into the game with a lot of confidence because we competed well with them in the first leg."We went into that game not really knowing what we were up against, whereas now we know a bit more about the opposition. The boys should definitely take confidence from the first game." This is just the third European campaign in the history of Haverfordwest, whose one previous victory in continental competition came when they fought back after losing the away leg to beat Shkendija on penalties at the Cardiff City Stadium two years money in the Conference League is significant for the Bluebirds, who have earned around £280,000 for reaching this stage and will bank around £170,000 more should they reach the next winners will quickly be back in continental action, with a second qualifying round first leg tie to come away to Kosovan side Ballkani on Tuesday, 22 July."We had a crowd of more than 2,000 last time up in Cardiff, which is a lot further from Haverfordwest than Llanelli, so hopefully there will be another good turnout for this one," Pennock said."I am guessing there will be a good walk-up crowd on the night, and that's important for the boys."
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Haverfordwest 'better prepared' for European bid
Haverfordwest County begin their second Uefa Conference League adventure in three seasons against Floriana on Tuesday (18:30 BST) with boss Tony Pennock confident the Bluebirds are better prepared for the competition this time claimed a memorable victory over North Macedonia's Shkendija in 2023-24, when they were playing in Europe for the first time in 22 years on, Pennock believes Haverfordwest have a greater chance of making a mark in the Conference League thanks to increased experience and depth in his men are in Malta for their first qualifying round first leg at the Centenary Stadium before the return fixture at Parc y Scarlets on Thursday, 17 July."We are better prepared than last time," Pennock said. "A lot of our players were involved two years ago so they have that experience, and we are coming into this on the back of a really good season in the Cymru Premier."As a club, too, we knew all the things we needed to have in place for Europe, whereas that was all new for us two years ago."In 2024, Haverfordwest claimed the first European win in their history as they overcame Shkendija on penalties at the Cardiff City Stadium, before losing out to B36 Torshavn in the second qualifying round. This year, a meeting with Kosovan side Ballkani is the prize on offer as Haverfordwest take on Floriana, who finished third in the Maltese league last money in the competition is significant for Haverfordwest, who have earned around £280,000 for reaching this stage and will be around £170,000 more should they progress."Nobody can hide away from the fact that getting into Europe is financially rewarding, although you can get ties where a lot of the money goes on sorting out the trip and everything that goes with it," Pennock said."In fairness, the chairman has given us what we want in terms of flights and hotels to give us the best opportunity to get through."Haverfordwest, who finished third in the Welsh top flight last season, will start as underdogs against Floriana – but that is not a concern for Pennock."They are a seeded team and we are not, but two years ago Shkendija were a high-seeded team and we got through that," he added."The big thing going away from home first is to make sure we are still in the tie going into the second leg, which hopefully will be a good occasion that everybody enjoys."Haverfordwest's home leg is to be held at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli because their Bridge Meadow home does not meet Uefa standards for European games.
Pembrokeshire Herald
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Parc y Scarlets to host Haverfordwest's European adventure
UEFA Conference League clash to take place in Llanelli stadium PARC Y SCARLETS will once again welcome European football this summer, as Haverfordwest County AFC prepare for their latest UEFA Conference League campaign. The Llanelli-based stadium has been confirmed as the home venue for the Bluebirds' first qualifying round fixtures in the European competition. It marks another major football event for the ground, which has previously hosted Wales men's and women's internationals, most recently in 2023 when Cymru's women faced Ukraine and Kosovo in UEFA Euro 2025 qualifiers. Parc y Scarlets, the home of the Scarlets rugby team, was also the base for Llanelli AFC's European matches in 2009 and has regularly hosted domestic finals and Swansea City reserve games. Haverfordwest County secured European football for the second time in three seasons after their 3-1 victory over Caernarfon Town at the Ogi Bridge Meadow last week. They now enter the UEFA Conference League at the first qualifying round stage. The Bluebirds will find out their opponents when the draw is made at UEFA headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday, June 17. The two-legged tie is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 10, and Thursday, July 17. Scarlets Managing Director Jon Daniels said: 'We are immensely proud of the facilities we have here at Parc y Scarlets and are thrilled to be hosting Tony Pennock and his Haverfordwest team for such an important fixture. 'We have hosted high-profile international, European and domestic matches since the Parc was opened in 2008 and the team here are looking forward to being part of Haverfordwest's European adventure.' Ticketing details will be announced in due course.
Pembrokeshire Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Henri Cynwyl claims podium in Wigan rally
IN the days leading up to Sunday's play-off final, Haverfordwest County manager Tony Pennock said one thing clearly: 'The boys are looking forward to it and will be up for the challenge.' He wasn't wrong. While supporters rightly celebrate a 3–1 win over Caernarfon Town and the return of European football to the club, it's worth remembering that this moment was forged not in 90 minutes, but across a season built on togetherness, hard graft, and quiet conviction. Pennock, reflecting before the final, pointed to signs he'd seen as early as last June. 'From the first session up at the Racecourse, then the beach the following week, you just saw a group that really wanted to work hard for each other,' he said. That unity has defined the Bluebirds' campaign. They achieved a club-record 51 points and finished with the best defensive record in the Cymru Premier — conceding just 26 goals in 32 games. It was a season not of flashy wins, but of collective discipline, focus, and belief. And while Haverfordwest's third-place finish guaranteed them a home final, it also meant an unusually long layoff — nearly four weeks without competitive football. For some, that might have spelled rust or lost momentum. For Pennock, it was opportunity. 'The break has given us a chance to get a few of the injured boys back fit,' he said on Friday. 'No excuses from us — the boys are ready.' Sunday's performance proved that readiness, not just in energy but in character. It was a composed display from a squad that knew what was at stake and trusted in the process that had brought them this far. Behind the scenes, there was also a challenge: keeping the squad focused and mentally prepared during the long wait. 'Whatever happened in the previous 32 games doesn't matter anymore,' Pennock said. 'It's all about Sunday.' With the job now done and European qualification secured for the second year running, attention turns to logistics, the UEFA draw, and the question of whether Haverfordwest will again have to play at Cardiff City Stadium due to ground regulations. But for now, the focus remains on a season that delivered on its promise — and on a manager who asked for belief and got it in return. Photo caption: Stronger together: Haverfordwest's season success rooted in unity and belief (Pic: HCAFC) Cover photo by Pic by Craig Thomas/FAW
