THE scoreline didn't matter ... the splendid occasion mattered far more as 2,300 fans witnessed this Irongate match which was an event that most had only dreamed of!

It was sportsmanship at its best.

As for the game, Bridge found themselves trailing by two goals within five minutes ... the masters had seen to that!

Chances came when Bridge tested Newcastle keeper Pavel Srnicek - but they were rare.

In fact, before half-time it was 3-0 to the Czechs.

No-one appeared disturbed as their treat was simply to watch international class football.

After Patrick Berger made it 4-0, Steve Denny got a well-deserved consolation goal for Bridge.

A time he will remember, along with countless fans - after all, this was D-Day June 6.

The Czechs carried on regardless and five more shots hit the back of the net before it all ended.

It seemed the eyes of the whole world of football became focused on the Unibond Champions ... and the media came too in the form of John Motson no less.

Shame that the Irongate ground was fit to stage international football but fails to meet Vauxhall Conference standards.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.