Soccer Nostalgia: Memorable European Confrontations, Part 34-Ipswich Town FC vs. AS Saint Etienne, 1981-Video Interview and Blog Presentation with English Author Mr. Graeme Brooke)

Memorable European Confrontations, Part 34-Ipswich Town FC vs. AS Saint Etienne, 1981-Video Interview and Blog Presentation with English Author Mr. Graeme Brooke)

For this interview, I look back at the UEFA match-up between Ipswuch Town and Saint Etienne in March of 1981.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewee is:

English Author, Mr. Graeme Brooke.

Mr. Brooke is the author of 'Adventures Of A Tractor Boy', with all profits being donated to the Colchester Hospital Special Care Baby Unit.

Mr. Graeme Brooke’s contact info:

Twitter: @Advoftractorboy

Website: https://www.adventuresofatractorboy.co.uk/

Link to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1499350570?tag=infiniplusthe-21#reader_1499350570

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

Ipswich Town FC vs. AS Saint Etienne, 1981

Saint Etienne and Ipswich Town were paired in the quarterfinals of the 1980/81 UEFA Cup.

The French, managed by Robert Herbin, had been the dominant team in France since the 60s and had the greatest French star of the day, Michel Platini, in their ranks.

The side had strengthened its defense with the arrivals of Patrick Battiston (Metz) and Bernard Gardon (Monaco). The major loss was the transfer of Dominique Rocheteau to PSG.

The young Jean Castaneda had displaced the veteran Yugoslav goalkeeper Yvan Curkovic with Captain Christian Lopez leading the defense with the likes Battiston, Gardon and Janvion.

Michel Platini and Larios led the midfield with Dutchman Johnny Rep leading the front line with youngsters such as Paganelli and Roussey.

The side were on their way to win the French League title but hungry for European glory since losing the 1976 Champions Cup Final to Bayern Munich.

They had eliminated in the previous rounds (without conceding a goal) Finland’s Kuopio Palloseura, Scotland’s Saint Mirren and West German side SV Hamburg (see: http://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2013/09/memorable-european-confrontations-part.html).

England’s Ipswich Town, managed by the Bobby Robson since 1969, also included several Internationals and top stars in their ranks.

They had won the FA Cup in 1978 and were now challenging for bigger honors.

The backbone of the side was led by veteran defender and Captain Mick Mills, as well as Kevin Beattie along with rising young defenders Terry Butcher and Russel Osman and Paul Cooper in goal.

The midfield included Scottish midfielder John Wark complemented by the Dutch duo of Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren.

Paul Mariner led the frontline with Scottish International Alan Brazil and Eric Gates on the wings.

Trevor Putney’s arrival from Brentwood was the major transfer that season as Robson had maintained an improving side.

Ipswich were having a great season and were fighting for the League title along with Aston Villa.

They had eliminated in the previous rounds Greece’s Aris Salonika, Czechoslovakia’s Bohemians Prague, and Polish side Widzew Lodz.

The first leg, on March 4^th, was played at Saint Etienne’ Stade Geoffroy Guichard. Saint Etienne felt confident, especially after their demolition of SV Hamburg in the previous round.

Herbin had said that they were ten times more solid in defense and better balanced in midfield and more consistent. He believed the key to victory lay in their desire and faculty to physically match them.

Herbin added that Ipswich was a team comparable to Ajax or Liverpool and even Hamburg.

They would have a rude awakening as Ipswich overran them and physically outplayed them.

They should have perhaps listened to their legendary recruiter, Pierre Garonnaire. He had described Ipswich as a ‘new Ajax’, capable of defending and attacking in five or six.

Saint Etienne took the lead in the 16^th minute with Rep heading in Zanon’s cross.

It did not take long for Ipswich to tie the score and Mariner replied with a header of his own in the 28^th minute from Muhren’s cross.

Rep scored a goal in the 31^st minute that was ruled offside.

The sides remained even in the first half, but just two minutes after the restart Muhren unleashed a long-range shot to give Ipswich the lead.

After this, Saint Etienne seemed to give up and Ipswich scored two more goals.

Mariner knocked in a rebound in the 57^th minute and John Wark headed in a cross in the 77^th minute.

It was an impressive performance by the English, and they took many plaudits for their performance.

Saint Etienne President Roger Rocher went as far as to say, that they were the best team they had ever faced in Europe at home.

Platini had been non-existent and afterwards said the first Ipswich goal had disoriented the team. Saint Etienne Manager Robert Herbin added that the second goal by Muhren had knocked out his team.

Platini also added that upfront they were playing with two eighteen-year-olds (Paganelli and Roussey) while Ipswich played with men upfront.

St Etienne Captain Christian Lopez was furious of his team’s display as well. He said if we are losing at home (1-2), and that qualification was compromised, we should have sealed the result and try get a (2-2) with the return leg in mind. He felt they gave up like children and as such they are not worthy of European Competitions.

Such was Ipswich’s display that the return leg was already a formality.

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Saint Etienne v. Ipswich Town, 1981

Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 13, April 1981

(March 4, UEFA Cup, Saint Etienne 1-Ipswich Town 4)

Photo From: Le Livre d’Or du Football, 1981

(March 4, UEFA Cup, Saint Etienne 1-Ipswich Town 4)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Ipswich Town v. Saint Etienne, 1981

(March 4, UEFA Cup, Saint Etienne 1-Ipswich Town 4)

Photo From: L’Annee du Football 1981

(March 4, UEFA Cup, Saint Etienne 1-Ipswich Town 4)

The second leg, on March 18^th, was played at Ipswich’s Portman Road Stadium. Saint Etienne made only one change with Zimako starting ahead of Paganelli.

Platini was slightly injured and had wanted to miss this match but was convinced to play on.

Ipswich were forced to make a couple of changes in the back. Captain Mick Mills was out as well as Kevin Beattie.

Kevin Steggles and Steve McCall started in their absence.

It was a relatively non-eventful match as the task seemed insurmountable for the French side.

The French had two goals disallowed for offside in the first half.

Ipswich took the lead in the 46^th minute with Butcher headed in Thijssen’s cross.

The French tied the match in the 79^th minute with Zimako heading in Rep’s cross.

Just minutes later in the 82^nd minute, Larios handled in the box from a corner kick and Wark knocked in the spot kick.

Just before the end, Mariner knocked in a rebound to give Ipswich a (3-1) win and (7-2) aggregate win.

Saint Etienne had been physically dominated in both matches with the team’s stars Platini and Larios were disappointing in both legs and only Christian Lopez and Rep maintained their standards.