BEN RAMAGE
Campbell Money knows just how electric the atmosphere can get in Paisley on European nights.
Going on to become the club’s record appearance holder in European competitions, the legendary Saints goalkeeper experienced the thrill of taking down a continental heavyweight at a packed Love Street when he kept a clean sheet in a thrilling 3-0 extratime UEFA Cup victory over Slavia Prague in 1985.
His beloved club, where he spent his entire playing career making nearly 400 appearances in an 18-year spell, have an outside shot of returning to the European stage next season.
If they can clinch a top six spot come the split, they’ll then be battling it out with Livingston for fifth place which could well earn qualification for the new UEFA Conference League, should the Scottish Cup not be finished in time for next season.
Money fondly remembers taking on the likes of Slavia Prague, Feyenoord, Tromso and St Etienne as the Buddies regularly qualified for Europe in the 1980s.
And he revealed his European adventures with the Buddies remain some of his best memories as a player in Paisley, experiences he hopes the new generation of Saints supporters can experience sooner rather than later.
Speaking exclusively with Express Sport, he said: “I’m definitely proud of still holding that record for the club and
I was fortunate with picking up clean sheets in Europe. I managed quite a few.
“We’d get considerably higher crowds than league matches in Europe and the atmosphere was always incredible.
“Any games under the lights were amazing at Love Street, but they were so special in European ties. The noise was incredible and we felt like we could beat anyone on our day in Paisley.
“Beating Slavia Prague in the UEFA Cup was the stand-out.
“We lost the first leg in Prague 1-0 and we were hoping to get an early equaliser back at Love Street.
“Brian Gallagher scored before half-time and then it was a case of hanging on to extra time. Thankfully Frank McGarvey scored a couple in extra time to put us through.
“It was a terrific night and the atmosphere at full time was unbelievable. It’s certainly up there in terms of feeling the anticipation ahead of the match and then the excitement of the game.
“It was similar to the run up to the Scottish Cup final in 1987. “You felt the significance of it. “It would be a fantastic experience for the players and the manager to taste European football next season. I really hope the fans get to see their team in Europe again soon because they deserve it.
“Fifth place is going to be a tough task because Livi have been blinded by their run to the League Cup final a bit, I feel.
“Once that’s out the way their focus will be back on the league.
“Saints have got to get into the top six first and then they can have a go at fifth. In the last five games after the split anything