CWMBRAN Town's European stalwart Richard Carter is hoping to be over the 'blue moon' tomorrow when the UEFA Cup qualifying draw is made.
The Crows defender, veteran of four European soirees with the Welsh Premier League club, is keeping his fingers crossed for Kevin Keegan's Premiership giants Manchester City when the names are drawn out of the hat in Geneva tomorrow (1pm GMT).
The 31-year-old missed Cwmbran's memorable UEFA date with glitzy Glasgow Celtic in 1999 due to a holiday, so he'll love a crack at one of British football's big guns.
"All the lads can't stop talking about Manchester City," admitted Carter.
"That would be a superb draw for us. They are also set to move into a new ground, the City of Manchester Stadium, after the summer and we, if we draw them, could be the first team to play a competitive match there.
"Also, England goalkeeper David Seaman would make his debut against us and they would be the first Premiership team we have ever played against - so we all hope it's Manchester City.
"Plus, Man City should help us attract a bumper crowd."
City apart, some of European football's best-known clubs are in the hat. European Cup runners-up FC Malmo of Sweden, who lost to Nottingham Forest in the 1979 final, lie in wait, as do top seeds FC Lens from France, Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel, Serbian side Red Star Belgrade and Scottish team Dundee.
"But we don't mind who we get," said Carter. "Even if we have to go to some obscure part of Europe it will be a great experience for me and all the lads.
"I know we are not seeded, unlike our opposition, but if we get a weak side and can cause a shock, then who knows - it could be Liverpool next up!"
New Cwmbran manager Brian Coyne's first competitive match will be the UEFA Cup qualifying tie. The first-leg is on August 14, the week before the Welsh Premier League season begins, while the second leg is two weeks later.
"It's exciting times at Cwmbran," revealed Carter. "There is a real buzz about the place and we're all eager to impress the new boss.
"There is the nucleus of a good squad here already so if Brian makes a few additions then we can be a real force in the league next year."
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