Chris Venables says one more shot at Europe has delayed his retirement

Chris Venables is aiming to prove his decision to postpone retirement was the right one as his side welcome familiar Andorran opponents FC Santa Coloma on Thursday

It’s understandable that after 22 years playing in Welsh football, the seasons may begin to blur.

“Do you know what? I was talking to somebody about it yesterday when one of the boys asked me and I don’t know the answer. I should know. I got it on a spreadsheet somewhere,” professed Penybont’s Chris Venables, when quizzed on how many different European campaigns he’d participated in during his long career in the domestic game.

After a moment rattling through his former clubs and achievements, he correctly recalled this summer will be his 13th summer competing in Europe. And it may quite possibly be the last for Venables, who turns 41 later this month.

Penybont will return to UEFA Conference League qualifying action against FC Santa Coloma next week. It was Venables who scored the opener in May’s play-off triumph over Haverfordwest County, a victory that secured European football for just the second time in Penybont’s history.

However, a pitchside interview moments after the game cast doubt on his own future. When Venables declined to confirm whether he would return for the upcoming season, he offered a glimpse of what Welsh football might look like without the talismanic attacking midfielder.

“To be honest, the outcome of what I did this season, maybe hinged on what happened in that game to a degree,” said Venables, who explained the lure of another charge in Europe proved too tempting.

“I wasn’t really sure whether I was going to continue and do another season, but having qualified for Europe, the decision makes itself in the end really. It’s just not something that I feel like I can turn down.

“The initial decision to sign at Penybont was probably a short-term one, because I felt I was approaching the latter stage of my career. There wasn’t really a long-term sort of outlook to it, but then here we are now starting season four and I’m still here!”

Venables and Penybont will have an old score to settle against the Andorrans, after Penybont suffered an extra-time defeat in their first ever European tie in 2023.

“I’m still feeling good. A lot of people play for a long time but they don’t get to play in Europe and I’ve got a chance to do it again. I’m optimistic and looking forward to it,” he said.

Predictably, it was Venables who became the club’s first and only European goalscorer when his equaliser secured Penybont a 1-1 draw against Santa Coloma. However, his red card in the return leg in the Pyrenees preceded two late extra-time goals that handed Penybont a harsh defeat.

“I would say we feel quite confident as a group as the preview tie was close. We know there wasn’t much between the sides. If we could’ve been a bit better than the goal we conceded at home, things could’ve been different. It’s the small things, and we could’ve gone through. We certainly weren’t outclassed or anything like that, so we’re going into this time full of optimism,” added Venables.

Venables has witnessed first-hand the levelling up of domestic football and insists the game has come a long way.

“I would say the coaching and the preparation is certainly better,” he notes, contrasting today’s setup with that of his earlier career. “We weren’t 10% as prepared as we are now. We didn’t go through half of the process and the due diligence and the research. The preparation that we go through now is fine-tooth comb and is excellent and professional, and that comes off Rhys Griffiths and the coaching staff.”