{"id":19588,"date":"2026-07-07T12:25:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T11:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faw.cymru\/cymru-leagues\/?p=19588"},"modified":"2026-07-07T15:01:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T14:01:21","slug":"chris-venables-delaying-retirement-for-one-more-shot-at-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/faw.cymru\/cymru-leagues\/news\/chris-venables-delaying-retirement-for-one-more-shot-at-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Venables says one more shot at Europe has delayed his retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630093009\/2026-3-14_Penybont-v-TNS_180-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630093009\/2026-3-14_Penybont-v-TNS_180-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630093009\/2026-3-14_Penybont-v-TNS_180-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630093009\/2026-3-14_Penybont-v-TNS_180-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630093009\/2026-3-14_Penybont-v-TNS_180-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630093009\/2026-3-14_Penybont-v-TNS_180-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>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<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s understandable that after 22 years playing in Welsh football, the seasons may begin to blur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDo you know what? I was talking to somebody about it yesterday when one of the boys asked me and I don&#8217;t know the answer. I should know. I got it on a spreadsheet somewhere,\u201d professed Penybont\u2019s Chris Venables, when quizzed on how many different European campaigns he\u2019d participated in during his long career in the domestic game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Penybont will return to UEFA Conference League qualifying action against FC Santa Coloma next week. It was Venables who scored the opener in May\u2019s play-off triumph over Haverfordwest County, a victory that secured European football for just the second time in Penybont\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-faw-card card-with-image-bg\"><div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-faw-card\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-block-button__link-card\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cymrufootball.tv\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a><div class=\"faw-cards__card__text p-4\"><h2 class=\"is-style-faw-h3 mb-4 faw-text--border\">Penybont v FC Santa Coloma<\/h2><p class=\"faw-cards__card__text-p\">Watch LIVE on Cymru Football TV<\/p><div class=\"btn-w-auto wp-block-button \"><div class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Click here<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-faw-card-background_bg\" style=\"background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260706121812\/CFTV-Launch_4x5-with-URL.png);background-position:44% 50%\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTo be honest, the outcome of what I did this season, maybe hinged on what happened in that game to a degree,\u201d said Venables, who explained the lure of another charge in Europe proved too tempting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI wasn&#8217;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&#8217;s just not something that I feel like I can turn down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe 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&#8217;t really a long-term sort of outlook to it, but then here we are now starting season four and I\u2019m still here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260707150042\/13-7-23_Penybont-v-Santa-Coloma_114-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260707150042\/13-7-23_Penybont-v-Santa-Coloma_114-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260707150042\/13-7-23_Penybont-v-Santa-Coloma_114-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260707150042\/13-7-23_Penybont-v-Santa-Coloma_114-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260707150042\/13-7-23_Penybont-v-Santa-Coloma_114-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Venables scored against FC Santa Coloma in the first leg of the 2023 tie<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m still feeling good. A lot of people play for a long time but they don&#8217;t get to play in Europe and I&#8217;ve got a chance to do it again. I\u2019m optimistic and looking forward to it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Predictably, it was Venables who became the club\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI would say we feel quite confident as a group as the preview tie was close. We know there wasn&#8217;t much between the sides. If we could\u2019ve been a bit better than the goal we conceded at home, things could\u2019ve been different. It\u2019s the small things, and we could\u2019ve gone through. We certainly weren\u2019t outclassed or anything like that, so we\u2019re going into this time full of optimism,\u201d added Venables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Venables has witnessed first-hand the levelling up of domestic football and insists the game has come a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI would say the coaching and the preparation is certainly better,\u201d he notes, contrasting today\u2019s setup with that of his earlier career. \u201cWe weren&#8217;t 10% as prepared as we are now. We didn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-faw-card card-with-image-bg\"><div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-faw-card\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-block-button__link-card\" href=\"https:\/\/faw.cymru\/cymru-leagues\/news\/cymru-leagues-transfers-summer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a><div class=\"faw-cards__card__text p-4\"><h2 class=\"is-style-faw-h3 mb-4 faw-text--border\">Novira Cymru Leagues Transfer Tracker <\/h2><p class=\"faw-cards__card__text-p\">Keep up to date with all clubs&#8217; new signings and departures here.<\/p><div class=\"btn-w-auto wp-block-button \"><div class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Click here<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-faw-card-background_bg\" style=\"background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260701144145\/Melbourne.png);background-position:53% 28.999999999999996%\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-faw-card card-with-image-bg\"><div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-faw-card\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-block-button__link-card\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventscardiffcity.co.uk\/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSweFtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBBYjVDYnNBSjkzbGFkUGF5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvmZ8WYgvPkQn-lSKvVzfa79IbKcvc425-Z1PXDvM1mJrNidVm9onrO6CrNT_aem_P-b9T6Px-XLzSWrBMIF9-Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tickets<\/a><div class=\"faw-cards__card__text p-4\"><h2 class=\"is-style-faw-h3 mb-4 faw-text--border\">Penybont v FC Santa Coloma<\/h2><p class=\"faw-cards__card__text-p\">Thursday 9 July, 19:45, Cardiff City Stadium<\/p><div class=\"btn-w-auto wp-block-button \"><div class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Tickets<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-faw-card-background_bg\" style=\"background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(https:\/\/d20w35i08zcmee.cloudfront.net\/20260630112108\/2024-03-21-Cymru-v-Finland_ac_006-scaled.jpg);background-position:38% 63%\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chris Venables is aiming to prove his decision to postpone retirement was the right one as his side welcome FC Santa Coloma on Thursday. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":271,"featured_media":19589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ftr_img_focal":{"x":0.46,"y":0.23},"footnotes":""},"categories":[163,1],"class_list":["post-19588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-european-football","category-cymru-premier"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - 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