Penybont FC Forced to Buy New Boots After Luggage Lost Before Europa Conference League Match

Welsh football club Penybont FC faced a travel nightmare after their essential equipment, including football kits and boots, was lost in transit ahead of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Kauno Žalgiris in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Lost and Found Chaos Hits Penybont FC’s European Journey
The Cymru Premier runners-up flew from London City Airport on Tuesday, only to discover upon arrival in Lithuania that most of their gear — including all training and matchday equipment — was missing. The lost luggage included players’ boots, kits, and essential gear, creating panic within the camp.

Airline Blames Weather, Weight Restrictions for Lost Baggage
Polish airline LOT confirmed it had to offload luggage and even two passengers due to adverse weather conditions and weight restrictions at London City Airport.

“We made the decision to offload some baggage and two passengers in strict accordance with our highest safety standards,” said a LOT spokesperson.

The airline’s lost and found team ensured the delayed luggage was located and delivered by Thursday morning — just hours before Penybont’s crucial clash.

Emergency Shopping in Vilnius to Replace Lost Football Gear
With the original kit still missing, Penybont FC staff rushed to local sports shops in Vilnius to buy replacement football boots and training gear. This last-minute purchase ensured players could train while waiting for the original equipment to be found.

“Only six bags arrived for the entire flight. We realized our luggage wasn’t loaded about 30 minutes after landing,” said a club representative.

The club’s official X account (formerly Twitter) shared that the team had managed to break in the new boots and was prepared to face their opponents despite the chaos.

Penybont FC’s Lost and Found Relief Before Kickoff
Just in time for the Europa Conference League match, Penybont FC was reunited with their lost luggage in the early hours of matchday. Club press officer Ryan March said:

“Everyone’s relieved to get their bags back and we’re looking forward to this evening’s match.”

Looking Ahead: Europa Conference League Journey Continues
This marks Penybont FC’s second appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League, after debuting in 2023. Managed by Rhys Griffiths, the Bridgend-based club will host the return leg at Cardiff International Sports Stadium on 17 July, as their SDM Glass Stadium doesn’t meet UEFA standards.

The winner between Penybont FC and Kauno Žalgiris will move on to face either Valur (Iceland) or Flora Tallinn (Estonia) in the second qualifying round.