Ivan Little article in today's "Belfast Telegraph"

Submitted : 19th September 2012 at 8:35:25 PM

The following article in today's "Belfast Telegraph" is reproduced with the kind permission of the newspaper and the writer of the article, Ivan Little.



Six members of a history-making Linfield team who almost caused one of the European Cup’s greatest upsets returned to Windsor Park yesterday for an emotional reunion with players from a Norwegian team they beat in the competition 46 years ago.

Six of the Valerengen team whom the Blues beat 5-2 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup in the 1966/67 season were in Belfast for a surprise visit.

“We didn’t tell them where they were going” said Herman Foss who’s part of a Valerengen old boys group that travels around Europe on sporting tours. “We’ve been staying in Dublin and the former players only knew that Belfast was on the itinerary for a day trip.

“But when we arrived at Windsor Park, one by one they recognised the stadium. It was a very pleasant surprise"

Waiting at Windsor to greet them were ex-Linfield players who helped the Blues beat Valerengen 4-1 in Oslo and draw 1-1 in Belfast – Iam McFaul, Ken Gilliland, Jackie Patterson, Isaac Andrews, Sammy Pavis and Tommy Shields.

After knocking out Valerengen, Linfield came close to reaching the semi-final of the old European Cup. And but for a couple of goalkeeping errors they might just have done it.

They drew 2-2 at home to CSKA Sofia and lost 1-0 away in Bulgaria.

Inter-Milan needed a play-off against CSKA to reach the European Cup final against Celtic who famously beat them 2-1 in Lisbon.

“Yes we might have got to the semi-finals of the European Cup” Linfield chairman Jim Kerr told a special reception yesterday for the Norwegians. “If we hadn’t sold our goalkeeper Iam McFaul to Newcastle United, we might just have done it.”

Former Irish international McFaul said “I don’t know about that. But getting to the quarter-finals was superb for a part-time Irish club”

Sammy Pavis, one of Linfield’s top goalscorers of all time said “ It’s great to meet up with the Valerengen lads again, though I wouldn’t have recognised one of them.”

Tough tackling right half Isaac Andrews agreed “No, I didn’t spot any familiar faces. I just nodded and shook hands with them.”

Defender Ken Gilliland “It was an easy match for us over in Norway. We were on top from the very start. And this is a really special day, and an unusual reunion.

“I would like to do this again especially to meet up with some of our rivals from Glentoran.”

Winger Tommy Shields who brought newspaper reports of the Valerengen ties with him to Windsor was in forgiving mood with the Norwegians. “I recall getting kicked two or three times in the first minutes and after we got a penalty, we dominated the game.

“The return game in Belfast was just a formality”he said

For left-back Jackie Patterson, his memories of the match in Oslo were sketchy.

But he does remember meeting a famous film star and singer in the team hotel.

“Yes, Yul Brynner and Julie Felix were there for a Save the Children fund-raiser. But we couldn’t persuade them to come to see the game.”

* The six Valerengen players in Belfast were Einar Bruno Larsen; Terje Skolie; Thorvald Larsen; Lief Erikson; Helge Sorlea and Kgell Marusan.