On this March 15 date exactly 55 years ago today
Posted : 15th March 2022 at 22:21:30
On this date exactly 55 years ago today Linfield were eliminated from the quarter final of the European Champions cup after a 1-0 second leg defeat in Sofia and an overall 3-2 aggregate reverse.
To mark this significant landmark in this club's proud and illustrious history Linfield chairman Roy McGivern reviewed the game in the anniversary match programme 5 years ago and the article is reproduced here to mark the 55th anniversary of the game.
The Games that made our History - by Roy McGivern
CSKA Sofia v Linfield, 15 March 1967
In this week's look back at a great game from the past, we feature an epic European Cup second leg quarter final tie which took place 55 years ago this week. Linfield faced the crack Bulgarian Champions CSKA Sofia in the 'People's Army Stadium' after a memorable 2-2 draw in the first leg in Belfast.
It was an incredible feat for a part-time Irish League side to have reached the last eight of Europe's most prestigious domestic competition. In those days before seeding, qualifying rounds and lucrative group stages, smaller clubs had a fighting chance against the European elite sides and Linfield certainly put up a brave fight in their 66/67 campaign.
The Blues had already overcome Aris from Luxembourg (9-4) and Valerengen from Norway (5-2) in the early rounds of the competition and now entered the quarter finals along with the likes of Inter Milan and Celtic. Goals from Bryan Hamilton and Tommy Shields cancelled out two long range strikes from Romanov in an exciting first leg and Linfield travelled to the Bulgarian capital with real hopes that they could pull off a spectacular upset and qualify for the semi finals.
Over 29,000 partisan fans packed into the stadium for the second leg and they were joined by a small but loyal travelling support from Belfast. Linfield were immediately on the back foot and goalkeeper Moffat was called into early action as the Bulgarians strived for an early lead. The Blues defence was superbly marshalled by Sammy Hatton and Tommy Leishman and managed to hold firm. Ferguson and Shields posed an occasional threat on the break but it remained 0-0 at half time.
The deadlock was broken and Linfield were rocked on 54 minutes with a fine goal from Bulgarian international Dimitar Yakimov. The six foot striker went on to play 287 games for CSKA, scoring 141 goals, and also made 67 appearances for his country. His solitary strike was enough to send the Bulgarians through 3-2 on aggregate and it was a case of so near yet so far for a brave Linfield side.
The late Malcolm Brodie commented in the Belfast Telegraph:
"This was a magnificent rearguard action from Linfield against a team which outclassed them in skill and fitness. Just think what history would have been made if those soft goals had not been conceded in the first leg at Windsor Park."
Heroic Linfield defender Tommy Leishman recalls his memories of the tie.
"The Bulgarians were a very good side and almost knocked out Inter Milan in the semi-final. I remember Phil Scott hitting the woodwork against them so I think we were unlucky to go out in the end. Iam McFall's transfer to Newcastle before the quarter final was a massive blow as he was an excellent goalkeeper. It was a tremendous experience though and I don't think we realised at the time what a fantastic achievement it was for a part-time side."
CSKA and Inter Milan were involved in an epic semi-final tie with both legs ending 1-1. The game was finally decided through a play-off game in Bologna which Inter won 1-0. The Italians eventually lost the final 2-1 to Scottish Champions Celtic who became the first British club to secure European success. That 1966/67 campaign was a memorable one for Linfield and it is fitting that we pay tribute to that great side in this 55th anniversary week.
For the record the Linfield team which lost 1-0 to CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria in March 1967 was Moffat, Patterson, White, Andrews, Hatton, Leishman, Ferguson, Hamilton, Thomas, Scott, Shields