`Those European Nights`: Dunfermline Athletic versus St Patrick`s and Ujpesti Doza

There is now an opportunity to buy prints of two titanic clashes from Dunfermline Athletic`s first campaign in Europe which was in the 1961-62 European Cup-Winners` Cup.

These prints celebrate Dunfermline`s very first victory in Europe, which was over St Patrick`s Athletic of Dublin and the quarter-final contest against Ujpesti Dozsa of Hungary.

They are based on specially commissioned paintings by renowned football artist Paul Town.
The limited edition, signed, prints also feature images of memorabilia from the two ties.

The profits from these sales will go to the Club to benefit the Dunfermline Athletic Youth Academy.

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European Series: St Patricks and Ujpesti Doza (2).
The prints are sold as a pair for £50. Your support is much appreciated.

The prints can be collected at the Calander Event on Thursday 7th December or the home game versus Partick Thistle on the 16th December or posted out. Details will be given when purchasing.

Dunfermline`s very first European tie was against St Patrick`s Athletic of Dublin. The games were played on the 12th and 27th of September 1961.

The first leg was played at East End Park. The Irish were said to have `an unquenchable spirit and boundless energy` against a technically superior Dunfermline side, according to the Scotsman newspaper.

It was a Dunfermline team which consisted of Connachan, Fraser and Cunningham, Mailer, Miller and Duffy, McDonald, Smith, Dickson, Peebles and Melrose. Dunfermline were leading 3-1 at half-time but became sloppy and complacent, and were fortunate to see a late goal which brought the first leg to a 4-1 victory.

Two weeks later, Jock Stein guided the team to a comprehensive 4-0 victory in Dublin with both Charlie Dickson and George Peebles scoring a brace.

The 13th of February1962 saw Dunfermline travel to Hungary to meet the Magyar cup-holders, Ujpesti Dozsa in the quarter-finals of the European Cup-Winners Cup.

It was a close match but Dunfermline were edged out 4-3 in a pulsating tie, having gone two goals ahead. A late goal by Tommy McDonald gave the Athletic a tremendous chance of reaching the semi-final, with Ujpesti Dozsa taking a one goal lead to East End Park a week later.

The Hungarians produced a great defensive performance which saw Dunfermline with 80% of the possession but unable to score. To compound matters, the Hungarians scored from a cross from a free-kick just after half time and went on to hold the two goal advantage until the end.

Chairman Davie Thomson said: "It was a hard game. Our boys gave everything. We were against a brilliant Hungarian team, but we did not let Scottish football down."

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