Why did Manchester United play their 'home leg' of the 1977-78 Cup Winners' Cup clash with Saint Etienne in Plymouth, of all places?
It was over 30 years ago that Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium staged one of the biggest games in its history when Manchester United played St Etienne in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
October 5th 1977 was the day when European football came to Plymouth although it wasn't Argyle in action but Manchester United and French side St Etienne who graced the Home Park turf!
So why were two top European teams playing in Plymouth?
Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup competition after winning the FA Cup the previous season. The Red Devils were drawn to play against St Etienne and travelled to France for the first-round first-leg game.
United held on for a 1-1 draw but crowd trouble disrupted the match with riot police being deployed to quell the fighting between the two sets of fans.
Dave Sexton's side were severely punished by UEFA and were briefly thrown out of competition but were then reinstated and ordered to play their 'home' leg at least 200 miles from Old Trafford.
Argyle's Home Park stadium was chosen with the match taking place on October 5th 1977 with today being the 30th anniversary of that historic match.
Striker Stuart Pearson gave United a first half lead with winger Steve Coppell adding another goal midway through the second half to ensure Manchester beat St Etienne 2-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to progress into the second round.
United crashed out of the Cup Winners' Cup in the next round, losing 6-5 on aggregate over two games to FC Porto.
Will Home Park ever see another European cup tie?
Read more: http://www.plymouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/...z2jD3IfVzp
![[Image: %24(KGrHqNHJF!FIpyK(!JvBSLFK!JSUw~~60_35.JPG]](http://i.ebayimg.com/t/05-10-1977-At-Plymouth-Argyle-Manchester-United-v-St-Etienne-European-Cup-Winn-/00/s/MTAwMFg3NTA=/z/fpMAAOxyp-BSLFKA/%24(KGrHqNHJF!FIpyK(!JvBSLFK!JSUw~~60_35.JPG)
![[Image: MAP1587.jpg]](http://mediastore4.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/TR6/b/b/1/5/MAP1587.jpg)
It was over 30 years ago that Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium staged one of the biggest games in its history when Manchester United played St Etienne in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
October 5th 1977 was the day when European football came to Plymouth although it wasn't Argyle in action but Manchester United and French side St Etienne who graced the Home Park turf!
So why were two top European teams playing in Plymouth?
Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup competition after winning the FA Cup the previous season. The Red Devils were drawn to play against St Etienne and travelled to France for the first-round first-leg game.
United held on for a 1-1 draw but crowd trouble disrupted the match with riot police being deployed to quell the fighting between the two sets of fans.
Dave Sexton's side were severely punished by UEFA and were briefly thrown out of competition but were then reinstated and ordered to play their 'home' leg at least 200 miles from Old Trafford.
Argyle's Home Park stadium was chosen with the match taking place on October 5th 1977 with today being the 30th anniversary of that historic match.
Striker Stuart Pearson gave United a first half lead with winger Steve Coppell adding another goal midway through the second half to ensure Manchester beat St Etienne 2-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to progress into the second round.
United crashed out of the Cup Winners' Cup in the next round, losing 6-5 on aggregate over two games to FC Porto.
Will Home Park ever see another European cup tie?
Read more: http://www.plymouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/...z2jD3IfVzp