Well now… Today is a very historic day for those of us assembled here at the i2i Stadium! As far as I am aware this is the first time that The Albion have hosted “international” opposition in a competitive fixture.

And while even I am prepared to concede that it is likely to be several more years yet before we are competing in the Champions League (although it is merely a matter of time of course!) it nevertheless adds that extra bit of spice to a routine league fixture to consider that there is also international pride at stake this afternoon.

After last summer’s Euro 2016 debacle in France, the words “international pride” and “England” are no longer seen in the same sentence in a footballing context. Although, of course, the one game in which England did manage to secure the right result was the 2-1 group stage victory over Wales in Lens.

From then on, however, the Welsh performed magnificently, reaching the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in their history (beating much-fancied Belgium along the way) before ultimately bowing out to eventual winners, Portugal. As for England… well… ahem… Isn’t he weather mild for the time of year?!

Colwyn Bay (Bae Colwyn) are to be commended for electing to compete within the English “Pyramid” with all the logistical challenges that entails. It would surely have been far easier in many ways for them to have joined the Premier League of Wales.

No doubt they would have been likely to win far more honours and compete in the UEFA competitions but, instead, they have opted to test themselves against higher quality opposition.

Of course we have become accustomed over the years to having Welsh clubs competing in the English league and cup competitions. Indeed, Swansea and Cardiff have both graced the Premier League in recent years and the Swans in particular have not looked out of place, although their six-season tenure in the top flight does now appear to be under serious threat.

We also have the reformed Newport County plying their trade in League Two, albeit in serious danger of relegation. And then there are Wrexham, with their long Football League history, who are currently playing in The National League and finding it difficult to regain their former status, as is the case with so many other ex-League clubs at that level.

Welsh sides have also experienced some success in English cup competitions with The Bluebirds of Cardiff famously winning the FA Cup in 1927 before reaching the final once again in 2008, eventually losing to Portsmouth (now of League Two!).

Defeat also followed, this time on penalties, to Liverpool in the 2012 League Cup Final. Then, only 4 years ago, eternal rivals, Swansea City, claimed the League Cup at Wembley, as plucky Bradford City were put to the sword by a record five goal margin after a magnificent run to the final.

The Anglo-Welsh border isn’t the only one to be crossed in terms of clubs competing in “foreign” leagues of course. Possibly the longest-standing case of cross-border footballing skirmishes involves Northumberland side Berwick Rangers, who were founded in 1881 and have happily competed in various Scottish leagues since 1905.

Passing Hadrian’s Wall in the opposite direction for many of those years were Gretna. Representing a small Scottish town in Dumfries & Galloway, which is more famous as a destination for people wishing to elope than it is for football, they joined the Carlisle and District League before eventually climbing The English Pyramid as far as The Northern Premier League.

In 2002, however, they made the decision to join The Scottish League. Backed financially by colourful entrepreneur, Brooks Mileson, a whirlwind fairy-tale ensued. They won no fewer than three successive promotions to reach the Scottish Premier League in 2007! By 2008, following the illness of their owner, they were bankrupt and dissolved!

In 2006 Gretna had been runners up in The Scottish Cup and this afforded them entry to the UEFA Cup the following season where they were eliminated in the second qualifying round by none other than Derry City, themselves a club competing in a league beyond their own national boundary.

The side from Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland choose for political and religious reasons to compete with their fellow Catholic teams in the Republic’s League of Ireland.

The principle of clubs playing in “foreign” leagues is long-established and many such sides have enjoyed considerable success over the years. Success which hopefully will not continue today, however! So while we extend a warm Yorkshire welcome to The Bay this afternoon, our aim is, of course, to ensure they journey back across the border pointless – Come on you Brewers!