16th September 2004 - Our 1st ever European cup campaign

[erimus74]

I never in my wildest dreams thought this day would arrive & most likely, if truth be told, a day thousands of Boro fans home & around the world probably never ever thought they would see, the mighty Boro playing in a REAL European competition, yet here we were 6 months after winning our 1st major trophy, starting on our debut European adventure on this historical night

First round of the UEFA cup we needed to beat Banik Ostrava over 2 legs to progress to the Group stages
1st leg at the Riverside seen a nervy Boro go in at HT 0-0

2nd half the Boro eased our worries with a comfortable 3-0 win to take to the 2nd leg
Just before the hour mark, our two top strikers on the big stage for this big night didn't let us down
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink going down in history to record our first  ever UEFA cup goal, with Mark Viduka putting the game & possibly tie to bed with  a brace in the 63rd & 80th minute

Banik will now have a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg to stop the Boro progressing to the group stages
 
Steve McClaren picked the following team

M. Schwarzer
S. Parnaby
C. Riggott
G. Southgate
F. Queudrue
S. Nemeth
R. Parlour
G. Boeteng
B. Zenden
M. Viduka
J. F. Hasselbaink
Subs
C. Nash
C. Cooper
Doriva
J. Morrison
S. Downing
J D Job
Attendance - 29,746

[redpete]

When I was a kid I always used to look out for the games on my birthday.I did get a shout out from Bernard Gent at Ayresome one year but missed it as if you remember in the 70s the PA system was useless in the holgate.
So to have our 1st European game on my 38th birthday is a day I will never forgot 😁😎

[erimus74]

When I was a kid I always used to look out for the games on my birthday.I did get a shout out from Bernard Gent at Ayresome one year but missed it as if you remember in the 70s the PA system was useless in the holgate.
So to have our 1st European game on my 38th birthday is a day I will never forgot 😁😎

Nice post redpete

[TerryCochranesSocks]

A great night! My mate got us tickets somewhere in the West stand.