Rhyl power leads Welsh bid

By Paul Saffer

On one side, a world-record holding club containing seven members of a UEFA EURO 2004™ squad. On the other, a team of part-timers making their debut on the continental stage.

Rhyl test
That is the reality for Welsh title-holders Rhyl FC, as they visit Skonto FC in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round on Wednesday. The Riga team supplied the spine of Latvia's squad in Portugal, have won their championship for an unprecedented 13 consecutive seasons, and are unbeaten in five home league games this season, having conceded just one goal.

On the up
In contrast Rhyl, who pipped professionals Total Network Solutions FC to win their first League of Wales title last season and also claimed the Welsh Cup and League Cup, are the only side in the first qualifying round to be making their European debut. But they are a club on the up, and boast former Manchester United FC player Mickey Thomas as director of football and have recently been linked with Paul Gascoigne.

'Hardest draw'
John Hulse has masterminded Rhyl's rise since becoming manager in 2002. He told uefa.com that he was under no illusion as to the size of their task. "It is the hardest draw we could have got," he said. "It will be good experience for our lads and it's obviously tough. All the preparations have been spot on and I just hope we can go and do a good job for ourselves."

Excitement growing
Unsurprisingly, the excitement is growing in the north Wales seaside town. "We are looking forward to it," Hulse said. "We have only had one friendly since returning to training. I have been fortunate enough to be involved with the [UEFA] Intertoto Cup with Conwy United [FC] but this is a first for most of the players."

First sighting
With only a few weeks between the draw and the match, Hulse admits the first time he will be seeing Skonto in the flesh will be at kick-off on Wednesday. "We have had a few dossiers sent on them and two videos but we have not had the time to watch them," he said. However, with 100 fans expected to follow them to Riga and a capacity crowd of nearly 3000 expected for the second leg at their Belle Vue home next week, Rhyl will not be short of support.

Impressive victory
Indeed, their stadium was filled several times last season as they clinched the title ahead of TNS, who as the only full-timers in the league were hot favourites for the championship. Hulse still glows with pride at that memory.

'Magnificent and unbelievable'
"It is magnificent and unbelievable," he said. "Everyone thought it was a formality for TNS, and to be fair to them they worked hard and pushed us all the way in the end. We only lost one game all season but we only won the league on the last day by one point."

'Goalscoring machine'
A major reason for their success was prolific forward Andrew Moran, who registered 47 goals. "I think it is unbelievable that no one has been in and signed him," Hulse said. "He is a goal machine and his general play showed a 100 per cent improvement last season."

Hunt out
Moran will be without striking partner Lee Hunt. Hulse said: "He's had a little knee injury and we hope he'll be ready for the second leg." However, if Rhyl can keep themselves in the tie for that return match, Skonto - shocked by Malta's Sliema Wanderers FC last season - could be in for another nasty surprise.