After waiting 23 years, the day has finally arrived, Dundee Football Club are in the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1974. We had drawn KS Vllaznia who play in Albania, so after scare stories for our safety, I booked up to go with the official trip with the team. Costly at £500 but it had to be done. So after staying overnight at Mike Dunn's the morning had arrived. After a lift to Edinburgh Airport at 07:00am, I joined the queue to book in. The Capital Dark Blues had arrived just before the players led by Jim Duffy. It was quickly done and it was up to the departure lounge for the charted flight to Tirana. A few pints and something to eat it was time to go. Dundee fans from all over Britain were on this trip. Once on the plane after sky tv were filming our every move, Jim Duffy welcomed everyone on to the flight; I was sitting next to Troyso one of the head people from the Trades Bar Dark Blues. The journey went very quick as we seen Dusseldorf(Germany) and Naples(Italy) and then across the sea our first glimpse of Albania with Tirana in the distance. It looked quite barren, as we approached the airport I will never forget the landing as we just went straight down to the runway, which is very small. Getting off the plane the first thing that hit us was the heat, it was well over 100 degrees, after a long wait in the arrival lounge where we had to fill forms and pay a tax to enter the country. It was time to get on the two buses that was waiting to transfer us to our hotel.It certainly looks a poor place with loads of beggars outside and the local kids selling cigarettes. After a 40-minute trip we arrived at the 5 star Sheraton Hotel.
After a quick pint, I booked into my room, what a hotel the best I've stayed in. Unpacked my bag then had a quick shower. It was back down to the hotel bar which was busy with the 75 Dundee fans some of them them in the swimming pool. Which the bar staff stopped serving beer to because of safety fears. After that we planned to hit Tirana so after meeting up with two of the Glasgow fans Deeko and Colin who had travelled via Budapest. Ian Rae and Brian Gavine came along as well. We then hit the bars of downtown Tirana; it's a bit mad traffic wise. It seems who ever gets to the corner first, has first go at the roundabout. After a few beers we all went for a meal, which was very good. The people can't do enough for us and the Bitsburger beer is going down a treat.After a walk back toward our hotel, we end up meeting the Charlton dees and end up sitting outside this massive disco complex, a pity it's a Tuesday night. After getting lost we ended up at the local army base with guards outside. Better not mess with lot real guns and all that. No photos they say, anyway they point us in the direction of the Manhattan Cowboys Bar, and what a place full of Dundee fans singing outside with the Lokeran fans who are playing Tirana. The local police come along to say we need to go inside as it's a residential area. So inside the singing goes on into the small hours of the morning, with the dj blasting out Blondie. Got back to the hotel at 04:30.
Up early for breakfast, a great selection of meats, cheese ect. All washed down with coffee. A few of the lads are looking rough this morning, with Ian Rae going back to his bed. Myself and a few of the Capital Dark Blues head down for our last walk about Tirana, loads of markets and there does not seem to be any major shops. We end up in this small bar, where the barman would not take some of our Albania money saying it's out of date! They take anything euros, pounds or leke which is their currency. But you have to watch what change you get back. Anyway time flies and it's back to the hotel for the midday bus trip to Shkoder.
Packed with loads of bottled water the two buses leave the very hot Tirana. The first bit is good motorway and what's all the fuss about the roads. Then we hit the countryside with views of a place stuck back 100 years ago. People living in tin sheds, sniper positions still with Albania flags flying, with plenty evidence of the war and people rebuilding their houses. The road is just a dirt track now with top speed around 30 mph, a long journey is now faced. As we go through the steep mountains the villages seem to get poorer and poorer, with men and woman selling fruit by the roadside. We even had to stop to let a herd of cattle by and some of the vehicles should be in museums. Any way after two and a half hours we stopped for a break, a cool beer and toilet. With the local bar must have made a fortune. The strange thing l noticed was the dead foxes hung up on the wall. They were very small and thin. The sight of the kilts also amused the locals. We were just 20 miles from Shkoder and we got a police escort into the industrial town.
We were met by loads of riot police, very friendly though. After the match tickets were handed out, myself and a few other Dundee fans went in search of food, Vllaznia scarf which l got for 3 leke, then a few beers in the scorching heat. There was a TV station moving about as well filming the fans. It was getting close to kick-off time and we wished the Vllaznia fans all the best, most of them though Dundee would get beat 2 or 3 nil. Once inside the ground we had a good view of the pitch. The teams then came out and the Vllaznia captain carried a hugh photo of the ex president, who got murdered 3 weeks ago. Strangely instead of a minute's silence, the fans stood up and clapped their hands for the whole minute. So the game got underway, with Dundee starting very well. They forced Vllaznia into defending deep, and only good saves from their keeper kept Dundee out, with Hernandez missing two sitters. The home crowd are very loud, and nearly go ahead against the run of play. Spearoni making a brilliant save to deny Mansaku. The 11,000 Vllaznia fans could not beleive it. A couple of minutes later Steve Lovell puts Dundee ahead with a great goal, started by Smith who fed Nemsadze,who then plays a wonderful pass to the on rushing striker Lovell who blasts the ball into the bottom corner of the net, to send the Dundee fans wild in the Loro Borici Stadium.We reach half-time and we are really happy with the game so far. The police have to let us out for the toilet (a wall outside) we even managed a beer at the bar across the road. Back into the ground for the second half and straight away Dundee seal the victory when after good work by Gavin Rae who's shot is blocked, but he gatheres the rebound passes to Brady on the right and Nacho Novo is on hand to sweep the midfielder's low cross home. Dundee sit back a wee bit now, because the heat is unbelievable. Vllaznia hit the post late on, but we hold out and the final whistle sounds and theres sceans of joy from the Dundee players, staff and fans. Dundee have been wonderful tonight and now should get to the first round proper.
We are kept in for around 20 minutes, but when we get out the Bar across the road is swamped and by the time everyone is served all that's left is some bottled water in the fridge, the poor barman did not know what hit him. So it was time to head back down to Tirana Airport for the flight back to Edinburgh. The journey was a lot quicker in the dark or so it seemed. No problems at check in as they let us back on the plane, which had to leave before midnight or it's not aloud to go. So we leave at 11:30 pm and after a smooth flight we touch down in Edinburgh at 03:30. I got a taxi back to Mike's and l had some stories to tell. Got home to Cupar the next day, tired but very happy. Here's to the next trip.
