A snapshot look at the five teams that we have been grouped against in the UEFA Europa Conference League first round draw which will take place at 3pm today in Switzerland.
VPS VAASA FC
VPS Vaasa (also known as Vaasan Palloseura) are a team from Vaasa, Finland that play in the top division of Finnish football, the Veikkausliiga. Their home stadium is the Hietalahti Stadium which has a capacity of 6,005. The stadium was originally built in 1935 but had its capacity expanded in 2016 during a redevelopment of the ground. This is VPS Vaasa’s 6th European campaign in their history having never faced a Northern Irish team so far in Europe. Finishing 3rd last season, VPS won the European play-off to secure first round qualifying to this seasons Conference League.
STJARNAN FC
Ungmennafélagið Stjarnan, commonly known as Stjarnan, is an Icelandic multi-sports club specialising in handball, football, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics located in Garðabær. The team, founded in 1960, has played in the top-tier Úrvalsdeild karla since 2009. In 2014, Stjarnan won their first ever Úrvalsdeild karla title by going through the season unbeaten and equalled the Úrvalsdeild point record of 52 points. Stjarnan play their matches at Estádio Stjörnuvöllur (also known as the Samsung Stadium) which holds a seated capacity of 990. Stjarnan finished 3 in the Icelandic league last season with a record of 14 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses. This is their 7th European campaign and have never faced Northern Irish opposition however they have previously met League of Ireland teams Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians in previous campaigns.
BALA TOWN FC
Bala Town was formed in 1880, although there is record of a football club competing in the 1877–78 Welsh Cup. They finished 3rd in the Cymru Premier league last season, securing a return to European football having missed out the previous season. Bala’s last two European opponents both came from the Island of Ireland having played Larne in 2021/22 qualifying losing 1-0 in both legs and then League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers on penalties in the 2022/23 campaign. Their home European games will be played at The Park Hall stadium home of TNS. A ground Linfield fans will know well having played TNS there in the Champions League 1st Qualifying round in 2022.
FCB MAGPIES
F.C. Bruno’s Magpies finished 3rd in the Gibraltar National League. Qualifying for the Europa Conference league for the third consecutive season. The club was formed in 2013, initially as a group of friends who drank at the Bruno’s Bar & Restaurant (a bar in Gibraltar).
In their previous European campaign in 2022/23 they played fellow Northern Irish side Crusaders. After a 2-1 home win, they lost 3-1 in Belfast to narrowly miss out 4-3 on aggregate and 2023/24 lost 3-1 on aggregate to League of Ireland side Dundalk. F.C. Bruno’s Magpies play their home games at Victoria Stadium which has a capacity of 5000.
VIKINGUR
Víkingur is a Faroese semi-professional football club based in Leirvík. The club was founded in 2008 after the merger of GÍ Gøta and Leirvík ÍF.
They play in the Serpugerdi stadium is in Norðragøta. Vikingur finished 2nd in the Faroe Islands Premier League 7 points behind Champions Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag.
This is Vikingur’s third season in the UEFA Europa Conference League and a potential tie with Linfield would be the first time they have played a team from Northern Ireland.
The draw will take place at 3pm UK time.