IT'S STARTED!

[geezer]

The 2009/10 season is officially underway after the first preliminary round of matches in the Europa League were played last night>

Results as follows:

2009 Europa League - First Preliminary Round

Wednesday July 2nd 2009

Olimpi Rustavi (Georgia) 2-0 B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands)

Simurq Zaqatala (Azerbaijan) 0-1 Bnei Yehuda (Israel)

Dinaburg (Latvia) 2-1 Nomme Kalju (Estonia)

Banants (Armenia) 0-2 Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia/Herzegovina)

Sutjeska Niksic (Montenegro) 1-1 MTZ-RIPO (Belarus)

Lahti (Finland) 4-1 Dinamo Tirana (Albania)

Valletta (Malta) 3-0 Keflavik (Iceland)

Zimbru Chisinau (Moldova) 1-2 Okzhetpes (Kazakhstan)

Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) 2-1 Renova (FYR Macedonia)

Narva Trans (Estonia) 0-3 Rudar Velenje (Slovenia)

Szombathelyi Haladas (Hungary) 1-0 Irtysh (Kazakhstan)

Spartak Trnava (Slovakia) 2-1 Inter Baku (Azerbaijan)

Slaven Belupo (Croatia) 1-0 Birkirkara (Malta)

Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) 0-3 Veta (Lithuania)

Anorthosis (Cyprus) 5-0 Kaerjeng (Luxembourg)

Randers (Denmark) 4-0 Linfield (Northern Ireland)

NSI Runavik (Faroe Islands) 0-3 Rosenborg (Norway)

Sligo Rovers (Ireland) 1-2 Vllaznia (Albania)

Fram (Iceland) 2-1 The New Saints (Wales)

Buducnost (Montenegro) 0-2 Polonia Warsaw (Poland)

Lisburn Distillery (Northern Ireland) 1-5 Zestaponi (Georgia)

Helsingborg (Sweden) 3-1 MIKA (Armenia)

Motherwell (Scotland) 0-1 Llanelli (Wales)

[Maksimov]

Good start for Lahti even if it was at home. I see Litmanen played the whole match.

[geezer]

Good start for Lahti even if it was at home. I see Litmanen played the whole match.

He must be an OAP by now.

[Maksimov]

He must be an OAP by now.

Bah, he's not even 40 yet. :)

[geezer]

Bah, he's not even 40 yet. :)

Euros or pounds?

[Maksimov]

Euros or pounds?

No, goals in European cups. I think he's only got about 30 goals in all European cup competitions.

Edited July 2, 2009 by Maksimov

[jordanl5182]

Only ever heard of 3 of those teams

[TheWestwayWonder]

Wow, I got excited seeing Lisburn Distillery on that list (my mom is from Lurgan) but 1-5....ouch!

[Maksimov]

Wow, I got excited seeing Lisburn Distillery on that list (my mom is from Lurgan) but 1-5....ouch!

But it was the mighty Zestaponi! :P :D

[BlueBeard]

How the f*ck did Motherwell lose at home to Llanelli??? And Linfield losing 0-4 isn't the best of starts for a season.

Still, there's always the second leg...

[Maksimov]

But isn't that the full name of the club: Motherwell Nil (?) :D

[dkw]

How the f*ck did Motherwell lose at home to Llanelli??? And Linfield losing 0-4 isn't the best of starts for a season.

Still, there's always the second leg...

it was at home? i thought it was in wales. thats a ridiculous result.

[MHedges]

Only ever heard of 3 of those teams

Me as well, probably the same 3...

[mad_mac]

How the f*ck did Motherwell lose at home to Llanelli??? And Linfield losing 0-4 isn't the best of starts for a season.

Still, there's always the second leg...

I still think the 'Well can pull it out over Llanelli, but the Northern Ireland Blues look like they are fecked already!

[Maksimov]

Me as well, probably the same 3...

I've heard about dozen of them, but that's probably because Finnish clubs always enter the European competitions in the early rounds and these are the clubs they usually play against.

[BlueBeard]

Just had another look, and I recognise 17 teams - but they don't include The New Saints, who the f*ck are they?

[dkw]

Just had another look, and I recognise 17 teams - but they don't include The New Saints, who the f*ck are they?

mixture of all saints, roger moore, the new schmoo and the new avengers.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Good ol' Llanelli beating Motherwell. Get in there.

[geezer]

Just had another look, and I recognise 17 teams - but they don't include The New Saints, who the f*ck are they?

Better known as TNS who we had a shared partnership during Bates last years at the club. Apparently they were going to be a feeder club for us but as far as I know we only ended up getting Welsh lamb on the menu and no players in the squad.