Penybont re-united with missing boots for European tie
Penybont aware of 'dark arts' in Europe - Griffiths
- Published
Welsh side Penybont's preparations for their Uefa Conference League qualifier in Lithuania have been disrupted after losing their luggage en route.
The lost luggage included the squad's boots, and the travelling party had to hastily buy replacements from a store in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, before the luggage was returned to them on Thursday morning.
Penybont, who qualified for Europe by finishing second in last season's Cymru Premier, face Kauno Zalgiris in Thursday's first qualifying round first leg.
The Bridgend-based club side flew out of London City airport on Tuesday, and on arrival in Vilnius found that their bags had been lost in transit.
The Polish airline, Lot, said in a statement: "Due to adverse weather conditions en-route and weight limitations at London City airport, we made the decision to leave some baggage behind and offload two passengers.
"This decision was made in strict accordance with our highest safety standards.
"The delayed baggage was delivered to the affected passengers yesterday, and those who were unable to board the original flight were properly assisted and rebooked on the next available service."
"We didn't have anything to be honest," manager Rhys Griffiths told BBC Wales.
"We got off the plane from London City at the airport in Lithuania, we were waiting at the carousel like everyone does, and then nothing was coming out at all.
"There was a few other passenger on the plane as well, and they were doing the same, looking around and then all of a sudden the message came out, there were no bags on the flight."
"We basically learned that we didn't have any luggage whatsoever, it was a case of finding a toothbrush as quick as we could and then making amends the next day.
"We did [have to buy boots], because we knew that there would be no postponement of the game, and rightfully so, because there's no sensible solution to a situation like that.
"So we knew very well we had to get boots as quick as we could, we had to try and break them in, get clothes, it sounds crazy but we were buying underwear.
"The club had to do what the club had to do, and I'm proud of the way the clyb responded, we didn't mope,
"We just went out there, got things going and made it a source of amusement in many ways."
A spokesperson for the club had confirmed that the luggage lost contained the team's training and playing kit.
"We found out our luggage didn't arrive around half an hour after landing after waiting at the baggage carousel.
"Only six bags made it through for the whole flight. The airline, for some reason, didn't load the luggage onto the plane."
After recieiving the missing belongings in the early hours of matchday, the club's press officer Ryan March said: "Everyone's relieved to get their bags back and we're looking forward to this evening's match."
A post on the club's X account had initially confirmed that their luggage had not arrived but that the new boots had been "broken in".
Griffiths' side are appearing in the Conference League for the second time having made their debut in the competition in 2023.
The second leg will be played at Cardiff International Sports Stadium on 17 July as their own SDM Glass Stadium does not meet Uefa criteria.
The winners will face Valur from Iceland or Estonian side Flora Tallinn in the second qualifying round.
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