ROVERS: EUROPEAN SEASONS

1977

RED STAR BELGRADE: Rovers’ first European outing was a baptism of fire in the European Cup against highly-rated Red Star Belgrade. They proved to be worth their reputation as they won both legs 3-0.

1983

FC HAKA: Rovers were in Cup Winners’ Cup action against Finnish outfit FC Haka in 1983. Haka were 1-0 winners in The Showgrounds before putting the tie beyond doubt with a 3-0 second leg win.

1994

FLORIANA: Mark Reid and Padraig Moran found the net in a 2-2 draw away from home before winning the tie at The Showgrounds with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a John ‘Jumbo’ Brennan goal.

CLUB BRUGGE: In one of the biggest occasions in the club’s history, they welcomed Club

Brugge in the Cup Winners’

Cup second round. Johnny

Kenny struck in a 2-1 home defeat before the Belgians won 3-1 at home. Aidan

Rooney claimed the consolation goal.

1996

INTERTOTO CUP: Rovers competed in the Intertoto Cup in the 1996-97 season. They drew 0-0 with Heereveen of Holland, lost 4-0 to Lillestreom of Norway, lost 1-0 in Lithuania to Kaunas and drew 3-3 with French outfit Nantes, with goals in that fixture coming from Johnny Kenny, Dale Hawtin and Lee Thew.

2009

VLLAZNIA: Rovers faced Albanian side Vllaznia in the inaugural Europa League. A Raffaele Cretaro penalty provided some hope after a 2-1 home defeat, while Alan Keane scored in a 1-1 draw away.

2011

VORSKLA POLTAVA: The Bit O’Red put in an almighty effort to take a 0-0 draw back home , a game which they’ll feel they could have won. Ukraine side Poltava showed what they were all about at The Showgrounds with a 2-0 win.

2012

SPARTAK TRNAVA: The Slovakian outfit were 3-1 winners at home, with Gavin Peers scoring the away goal. The second leg finished 1-1 in Sligo, this time with Jason McGuinness getting on the scoresheet.

2013

MOLDE: The Showgrounds first ever Champions League game was against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde who won 1-0 before comfortably winning 2-0 in the second leg in Norway.

2014

FK BANGA: Rovers played out a 0-0 draw in Lithuania, but returned to win the second-leg in style with a 4-0 win courtesy of goals from Alan Keane, Danny North, Aaron Greene and David Cawley. ROSENBORG: Rovers recorded a memorable 2-1 win away to Norway club Rosenborg in the first leg with goals coming from Danny North, pictured left, and Alan Keane. North opened the scoring in the second leg but Rosenborg struck three times to put Rovers out.

ROVERS’ EUROPEAN GOALSCORERS

3 GOALS: Danny North, Alan Keane; TWO GOALS: Johnny Kenny; ONE GOAL: Aaron Greene, David Cawley, Jason McGuinness, Gavin Peers, Raffaele Cretaro, Lee Thew, Dean Hawtin, Aidan Rooney, John Brennan, Padraig Moran, Mark Reid.