FANS of TNS are celebrating their side’s first competitive European fixture on ‘home soil’ as they faced FC Astana in the UEFA Conference League.

Leading the way is Mark Steyn, a TNS fan who travelled all the way from Shetland – where he lives for six months – to make sure he was at New Meadow, the home of Shrewsbury Town, where Saints are playing their home games.

Mark said he was delighted with the chance to see the team he has grown to love over the last 24 years and admitted he thought he would never see the day.

READ MORE: Waiting almost over as Saints gear up for visit of Astana

“I’m so happy to be here and I’m really looking forward to the game,” he said.

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“I watched the Fiorentina game on a tiny screen in Shetland as I’m semi-retired so I live up there for six months of the year.

“And then I come back down to do a bit of work and I live in Church Stretton.

Martin Morris, Pete Parkes and Ollie Parkers with their freshly-purchased TNS shirts. Martin Morris, Pete Parkes and Ollie Parkers with their freshly-purchased TNS shirts. (Image: Newsquest.)

“I was there at Park Hall when they finally qualified for the league stage and that meant the world to me.

“I have followed TNS since 2000 and the Rev (TNS media man Stewart Bloor) has got loads on me with my many shorts.

“I never thought I would see TNS in the group stages – nobody did – but it’s amazing and in my opinion, they are the smallest club in the competition.

“I’m delighted to have come from Shetland and I watched them there – on the beach!”

There was a Scotland theme again as Pete Parkes made the trip down from Dunfermline to ferry his son Ollie and friend Martin Morris to the game.

The pair, who are day-to-day Walsall fans, cemented their love of TNS with their first-ever paid for shirts.

And they said they fancied the chances of Craig Harrison’s men.

Pete said: “These boys live in Nuneaton so I came down to bring them here and I’m going back tomorrow.”

Ollie said: “The Petrocub home leg was my first-ever European game ever.

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“I’m a Walsall fan but we’ve developed an affinity because of a link between the two clubs in players such as Rory Holden.

“We’re going to Dublin too to watch them against Shamrock Rovers and we’ve got the ‘season’ ticket for all the home games here.

“They handled the Fiorentina game brilliantly and they must fancy their chances.”