University Football Team Eyeing Qualification For Next Season's Europa League

Leicester City's fairytale Premier League triumph in 2015/16 is in danger of being ousted as the greatest achievement in sporting history.

There's still some way to go but over in Wales, Cardiff Met FC have a genuine chance of earning a Europa League play-off spot.

The South Wales outfit, with their squad largely made up of students pursuing PHD and Masters degrees in various subjects such as sport psychology, sport coaching, performance analysis and more, narrowly missed out on a Europa League spot in 2017.

On that occasion they finished in sixth place in the Welsh Premier League but made the most of the play-off system before losing 1-0 to Bangor City.

The Welsh league has two phases in, meaning the division splits into 'Group A' and 'Group B' at the start of February.

The top six teams form the Championship Conference, and the bottom six teams forming the Playoff Conference.

And this season, Cardiff Met are currently leading the Playoff Conference (seventh place in the overall league table) with 36 points from 25 games and should they stay on top - will advance to the European Playoffs - which are contested by teams between 3rd-7th in the final league table.

The team that finishes sixth host seventh in a Quarter-Final, with the winner travelling to the side occupying third for the first Semi-Final, while fourth and fifth lock horns in the second semi.

Following that, the winners will play the final at the ground of the highest-ranked side and whoever emerges victorious will make the UEFA Europa League play-offs and embark on a European adventure.

The outcome of the JD Welsh Cup, specifically if the trophy is won by one of the top two sides in the league or one of the five teams in the play-offs, can change things up as that will see the play-offs start from the semi-finals with the remaining teams.

Cardiff Met themselves will automatically get into the play-offs if they manage to win the cup, where they are currently in the quarter finals.

Should they fall in the knockout cup, there are still seven league games remaining for them to ensure they finish top and then as far as the play-offs go, anything can happen - as the cliche goes.

It's still a pretty big ask but we're fully behind manager Christian Edwards and his army of students. Just imagine if they do the unthinkable and end up mixing it up with some of Europe's big boys?

Topics: Football News, Football

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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