Bangor City 'fairytale' excites boss Neville Powell

UEFA EUROPA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG

Maritimo v Bangor City

Venue: Estádio da Madeira Date: Thursday, 29 July Kick-off: 1945 BST

Coverage: Live score on the BBC Sport website and UEFA.com

Boss Neville Powell has told Bangor City to enjoy their greatest European night when the Welsh Cup winners take on Portuguese side Maritimo, writes the BBC.

Powell was in Bangor's famous team of 1985 that earned a memorable clash with Atletico Madrid as reward for their first European win over Fredrikstad.

Now he has led Bangor 'back where they should be playing' and the now boss is enjoying his case of Euro deja vu.

"It's fairytale stuff and we'll take take the occasion in," Powell said.

Powell insists Bangor's Europa Cup triumph over Finnish side FC Honka in the previous round was the 'proudest moment of his life' as victory secured them a similar glamour tie to the one he experienced as a player 25 years ago.

"It is incredible to to say 25 years on, I am going into another great European night with Bangor City as their manager," he added.

"I didn't think that could happen but I am a very lucky man lightening strikes twice.

"Bangor City means everything to me and I must thank the players for giving me this great honour.

"But it is not about individuals, it is about Bangor City and probably one of the biggest non-league clubs in the country being back where they should be playing and enjoying their football on the European stage."

Bangor qualified for Europe after winning the Welsh Cup - the third successive time they have won it, all under the guidance of Powell who replaced Steve Bleasdale in May 2007.

They now face a Maritimo side who boast a cosmopolitan squad of Brazilians, French, an Angolan international, an Algerian international and a host of Portuguese youth stars.

Most of part-time Bangor's squad travelled to the holiday island of Madeira on Monday due to cheaper flights and it also allowed acclimatisation time in the 25 degrees centigrade heat.

Defenders Chris Roberts and Dave Morley flew out on Wednesday as the squad countdown to play the team that finished fifth in the Portuguese top-flight last season.

"We've already been to Helsinki so it has been very difficult for the players to get time off work," Powell told BBC Sport from Madeira.

"So they have all worked so hard to get here both on and off the pitch to be here so they must enjoy the occasion.

"It has been fantastic as soon as we landed here TV crews and reporters greeted us and it has been something special and something for the players to savour forever.

"There is a lot of interest from British holidaymakers over here, they want to watch the game and are asking about Bangor City, asking about the Welsh Premier - and it is fantastic and credit to the players.

"We are fully relaxed, there is no pressure on us being the underdogs. Such is the calibre of their players, a win would be a massive achievement as they have a squad full of internationals.

"We hope to do Wales proud and, as TNS did the other night, put the Welsh Premier League on the map."