A MOMENTOUS week in Welsh football history could be even more memorable amid reports that Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County could be handed a passport back into playing European cup competitions.
Cymru Premier League champions The New Saints will make history on Thursday when they become the first Welsh team to take take part in the group stages of a European competition when they go to Italian giants Fiorentina in the Europa Conference.
Wales' four English Football Leagues were stopped from entering the Welsh Cup - a competition Wrexham have won more than any other team.
But only clubs playing in the new Welsh set-up were allowed to represent the country in Europe after UEFA's rule changes.
According to reports from BBC Sport Wales, who have seen a document entitled Prosicet Cymru (Project Wales), clubs have had discussions about entering the Welsh League Cup competition.
According to the Prosiect Cymru report: “Welsh football is in a unique position within European football in that its largest clubs play in the domestic league of another country (England).
“This has historically limited the ability of Welsh domestic clubs to be competitive in UEFA club competitions.
"An innovative solution to address this position has transformational potential for the whole Welsh football ecosystem from grassroots to the professional men’s and women’s game.”
UEFA, the Football Association, Premier League and clubs in the Cymru Premier have also been involved in talks although Wrexham Football Club, who last played in Europe in 1995 when they were knocked out by Romanians Petrolul Ploiești.
Their first foray into Europe was against FC Zürich of Switzerland in 1972 while the reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup four years later when they were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Anderlecht.
This week also marks the 40th anniversary of arguably Wrexham's best ever European performance.
Heading to Portugal leading 1-0 from the first leg, Wrexham lost 4-3 to Porto on October 3 1984 but went through on the away goals rule thanks to a late goal from Barry Horne.
“I know fans talk about the 2-1 FA Cup win over Arsenal but that victory against Porto was something else and, for me, that was the best result in Wrexham’s history," said former Wales captain Horne.
"Beating one of the champions of European football over two legs!
“To play in that game in Portugal and the way we won it, was a great memory. They went 3-0 up, Jake King scored two to make it 3-2 and they scored a fourth and switched off.”
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