17/09/1985 – Slavia Prague (A)

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UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg
17th September 1985
Stadion Dr. Václava Vacka, Prague, Czechoslovkia

Slavia Prague 1-0 St. Mirren

Kouril 76

ATT: 7,000

Referee: Gerard Geurds (Netherlands)

  • Although defeated, Saints return to European football after a one season break yields a very useful result behind the “iron curtain” in communist Czechoslovakia, with goalkeeper Campbell Money in inspired form on his European debut.
  • The Czechs may not have had the same quality as previous European foes St. Etienne or Feyenoord, but are one of the biggest clubs in Eastern Europe and have seven Czech internationalists in their match squad, including six in the starting XI.
  • However, their star forward, and Czechoslovakia regular, Ivo Knoflíček is injured and missed the match, in fact he would be absent in both legs, which is perhaps a deciding factor in the overall tie as the Czechs found breaching the Saints defence an almighty task.
  • Saints meanwhile have former Scotland striker and club legend, Frank McGarvey, back at Love Street, and future Scotland cap is Steve Clarke partnering Peter Godfrey in a very strong looking central defence.
  • However, the hundred or so St Mirren fans that ventured into the relative unknown of communist Europe would have been in for a big shock when Tony Fitzpatrick led the side out, as they were in all BLUE with white pinstripes.
  • The referee requested a late kit change due to the clash between the Slavia Prague home kit of half red/white shirts and both of Saints kits, and the blue kit was the only Adidas one available locally. This is the first time Saints had worn blue since the 26th of April 1904.
  • Once the teams kicked off, Saints were pushed back for long periods and only a goalkeeper masterclass from Campbell Money and the woodwork kept the Czechs at bay, although McGarvey has the best chance of the match on the half hour, but his low shot smashes off the shins of Zdenek Hruska.
  • The home side finally break through with just 14 minutes remaining when Kouril bundles in a cross.

TEAM LINEUPS

SLAVIA PRAGUENOST. MIRREN
HRUSKA Zdenek1MONEY Campbell
SOKOL Roman2WILSON Tommy
KUBIK Lubos3HAMILTON Derek
TAKAC Mirian4ROONEY Jim 88
JESLINEK Jiri 5GODFREY Peter
JAROLIM Karel6CLARKE Steve
NEMEC Jaroslav 697FITZPATRICK Tony
DOLEZAL Jiri8COOPER Neil
FRYDA Milan9McGARVEY Frank 89
JANU Miroslav10GALLAGHER Brian
KOURIL Miroslav11ABERCROMBY Billy
REHAK Pavel 6912McDOWALL Kenny 88
VIGER Bohas14MACKIE Peter 89
BERANEK Miroslav15SPEIRS Gardner
COMISSO Alexander16STEWART Jim (GK)

THE MATCH

THE TRIP

Stadium: Stadion Eden or Stadion Dr. Václava Vacka, Prague, Czechoslovkia
1985 Capacity: 38,000
Record Attendance: 41,000 (1965)
1985 Metropolitan City Population: 1,197,000
Distance From Paisley (air): 871 miles – 2.5 hour flight
Distance From Paisley (road): 1,193 miles – 20 hours drive
Times Played at Stadium: 1 (1 loss)

THE STADIUM

Match Poster – Click on Image to purchase

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