First Euro trip did not go very Well
John Philliben hopes Motherwell enjoy their European adventure next season a lot more than he did the club’s first continental experience.
The former defender was part of the squad who secured a European Cup Winners’ Cup spot with the dramatic 4-3 extra-time Scottish Cup win over Dundee United in 1991.
But Philliben, 56, revealed Well’s first ever Euro stars were quickly brought back down to earth after they drew Polish side Katowice in the first round.
He said: “We were a wee bit disappointed to draw Katowice. It was our first time playing in Europe and we were hoping for a bigger tie.
“Then our flight was delayed for three hours when the plane the club had chartered from Poland didn’t turn up. So when we arrived in Poland everything was dark and grey.
“Our hotel was supposed to be the best in Katowice but we were scared to go to sleep because you didn’t want to lie on the sheets.
“There was a nightclub or possibly a brothel downstairs and the place was dank and smelly.
“The game itself was OK, we were unfortunate to lose 2-0, but everything else was a nightmare. We went back to the airport and were stuck for another five hours. The Polish authorities wouldn’t let us board the plane until we paid for the petrol to fly home. The club argued that everything had already been paid for.
“We won the second game 3-1 but their goalkeeper had a great game and we just couldn’t bury our chances to progress to the next round.”
Philliben still keeps tabs on events at Fir Park and was delighted Stephen Robinson’s side clinched a Euro return.
He added: “I keep an eye on their results and Motherwell did brilliantly to qualify for Europe.
“I just hope they don’t draw a team in somewhere like we did!”