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In 1914 Glentoran embarked on their
first european tour. It was on 18th May 1914 that the
Glentoran tour party set out by ferry to Stranraer on
the first leg of their journey to conquer Europe. They
travelled to Prague were they met the Deutsche team.
Played in front of a large crowd in 82 degree heat the
glens took a second minute lead but Deutsche aided by
some Berlin players fought back and at half time it
was 3-3. Despite Glentoran pressure however
Deutsche managed to grab a late winner.
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Next it was on to play
Hertha Berlin, the party was greeted by the Hertha Club's
officials at the train station and although the temperature
had risen to 90 degrees on arrival it had soon dropped
to the seventies when the match kicked off at 6.30 that
night. The Glens playing with the wind in the first half
went ahead through Sam Napier in the third minute and
at half time it was 2-0 at full time it was 4-1. A crowd
of over 6,000 applauded the glens as they had witnessed
what may said was the best display of
football seen in Berlin to date. |
Following the Hertha
match it was time to travel to Vienna to prepare for the
Vienna Cup. The tournament was organised by the Vienna
Football Club and the tourament was to last one week.
During the week two fixtures were played against a Vienna
select played in front of over 6,000. The Glens dominated
the game but conceded a last minute equaliser to end the
game 1-1. The destination of the trophy depended on a
victory in the last match
and the glens won it easily and became the first Britsh
team to win a European trophy! |
| On Sunday a three hour
sailing on the Danube took the party to Pressburg where
the Glens again impressed with Prince Albert of Austria
commending the Glens style of play.
The tour ended with a game against an the full Hungarian
international team and although they proved to strong
for the Glens the tour had been a resounding success.
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