ATALANTA EVENING (CANDAC SUITE SATURDAY 15TH SEPT 2012)

Hi all, as part of the 25 year anniversary celebrations of the Atalanta matches this weekend the club would like to share in some of your personal memories, thoughts and experiences of those special evenings which put Merthyr Tydfil FC well and truly on the European football map.

We would like to welcome all supporters to roll back the years and share their comments, memories and experiences with us by sending your blogs or messages to me either by replying to this thread, PM (private message on here), via email mtfc1982@hotmail.com or by signing the guest book that will be available at the club (In the Candac) from this coming Saturday 15th September 2012 (vs Fleet Town).

Selected entries will be read out on the night where Lyn Jones and members of the 1987 squad will be in attendance hopefully along with members of the current Martyrs squad. Coverage of the both fixtures and subsequent media interest that engulfed the club will be shown on the big screen as we extend the festivities into the evening onto our Italian theme night, with raffles, a quiz, Italian food, and or course the odd beverage.... if you've still got the match programme, or scarf, or anything that was produced for the fixtures then why not bring them along too!

Entry to this event is FREE and everyone is welcome, the festivities will begin around 7/7.30pm..

Cheers guys

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/merthyr-tydfil/2012/09/13/it-was-the-best-match-of-my-life-no-question-91466-31821957/

Amazed he can remember anything - seem to remember he looked virtually p*ss*d throughout the " Saint and Greavsie" interview!

Martyrs magic in European thriller
Terry Phillips, Western Mail

PATRICK SWAYZE strutted his stuff in Dirty Dancing, the Ford Escort was the UK’s top-selling car... and Coventry City won the FA Cup. Up in Merthyr, though, 1987 is remembered most for the greatest night in the club’s history.

Exactly 25 years ago tomorrow, the little Welsh club rocked the football world by leaving top Italian Serie A opponents red-faced with embarrassment. Their 2-1 victory over Atalanta in the European Cup Winners’ Cup first round, first leg, is right up there among the greatest results achieved in Welsh football history.

How appropriate we can reflect on a nice bit of nostalgia at the end of what has been a horrendous week for Welsh football, Chris Coleman’s senior team losing 6-1 in Serbia and Geraint Williams’ Under-21s being battered 5-0 by the Czech Republic.

Merthyr’s success that September evening at Penydarren Park ranks up there with the best Welsh moments in Europe, whether it’s Brian Clark’s winner for Cardiff City against Real Madrid or Bangor City’s stunning 2-0 victory against Napoli. Swansea City will remember their 3-3 draw against Panathinaikos, Newport County fans cherish memories of a 2-2 draw against Germany’s Carl Zeiss Jena, while Wrexham gave Porto one heck of a shock before being edged out 4-3. They were nights when Welsh football fervour was at a high – and none could have been celebrated more than Merthyr’s win under the Penydarren floodlights.

Merthyr held a unique football position in Wales and England during that year. They were the only team from either country to play in Europe after English clubs were banned following the Heysel Stadium disaster in Belgium. After being drawn against Atalanta, an Italian journalist said before the first leg: “If Atalanta aren’t 5-1 ahead by half-time it will be a farce.”

Farce it was then, for the Italians, anyway.

Merthyr had qualified for Europe by winning the 100th Welsh Cup final in 1987, beating Football League club Newport County 1-0 in a replay at Ninian Park. Victory against powerful Atalanta looked an impossible dream for the Welsh club. But manager Lynn Jones masterminded a stunning victory after watching Atalanta play Vicenza in Italy.

“When Atalanta defended a free-kick they had a defensive wall, but rather than being strong and solid they ran at the ball,” said Jones. “Their wall disintegrated because they ran towards whoever was taking the free-kick. Vicenza scored when one shot hit a defender and flew in, while another free-kick deflected just over.”

Merthyr players spent training time in Porthcawl firing free-kicks straight at the wall and the ploy worked wonders on match night. The two goals scored both came from free-kicks which flew in off defenders.

It was Ceri Williams who fired the winner, and he says: “I still watch the match on YouTube and the memories are fantastic. The atmosphere that night was brilliant. I will never forget the moment that goal went in. No question, none whatsoever, that was the best match I’ve been involved in.”

The official attendance at Penydarren Park was 8,000, but team captain Andy Beattie was adamant it was bigger, saying afterwards: “There were far more than that. I reckon 14,000! The atmosphere was magical.”

Atalanta were able to spare their blushes by winning the second leg 2-0 to squeeze through 3-2 on aggregate, but that home leg will never be forgotten.

It will be celebrated this evening at a special 25-year anniversary function after Merthyr’s FA Cup game against Fleet.

The team that night was: Gary Wager, David Tong, Chris Baird, Roger Mullen, Phil Evans, Kevin Rogers, Nigel French, David Webley, Chris Williams (Peter Jones 88), Andy Beattie, Ceri Williams.

Great evening in the Candac yesterday. It was good to catch up with Lyn Jones, Ceri Williams, Andy Beattie and Peter Jones. Fantastic memories.

Yes, a night of nostalgia for those who saw the games with Atalanta. I am sure Lyn Jones must have recounted stories of that era time and again but is proud to do so.
If such an occasion comes to a football fan once in a lifetime, it is more than anyone could realistically expect.
After every Merthyr match, before the Atalanta encounters, I supplied a short report for the Italian football newspaper (in English) detailing the Merthyr scorers, aspects of play etc but I don't think the Italian Press were really worried about a likely upset for Atlanata----until that night at Penydarren Park.
And in The UK, the Daily Star reported after the game that "there was singing in the Rhondda Valley..." ??

A big thank you to everyone who came Saturday evening, a great night of football memories, nostalgia and respect..

Thoroughly enjoyed until stop tap by a full club house..

Great effort.