THOUSANDS of West Ham followers are heading to Prague within the misguided perception that tomorrow’s Europa Convention League last is the membership’s first of its variety for 47 years.
But former Hammers skipper Steve Lomas hoisted aloft the ‘coveted’ Intertoto Cup in 1999 on a journey that proved memorable for the gamers concerned.
Steve Lomas captained West Ham to the Intertoto Cup in 1999Credit score: Alamy
This was the trophy for successful the competitorsCredit score: Information Group Newspapers Ltd
West Ham gamers Paolo Di Canio (L) and Marc Keller had been among the many successful squadCredit score: AFP
In addition to a younger Frank LampardCredit score: AFP
The now-defunct competitors is the trophy time forgot so far as supporters and the broader world are involved.
However for Northern Irishman Lomas the ‘Intertwobob’, because it had been dubbed, was memorable for causes that also make him chuckle immediately.
Not least was how successful it for West Ham landed the squad in a dream place of sharing a resort with dozens of glamorous Playboy fashions.
Is there a greater various to gruelling pre-season coaching with one-time team-mate Neil Ruddock?
The Hammers stars had been ordered again from summer time holidays painfully early to organize for a mid-July two-legged tie in opposition to tiny Finnish outfit FC Jokerit and it went from there.
By the top of August, they’d performed six video games in all, knocking out Dutch aspect Heerenveen earlier than beating French outfit Metz 3-2 on mixture within the last on August 24.
The 1999 Intertoto Cup was hardly a uncommon prize — there have been three winners in any case. West Ham, Juventus and Montpellier.
And midfielder Lomas, now 49, mentioned: “I used to be captain that night time.
“I went as much as get the trophy from one of many dignitaries and he handed me this little type of egg cup.
“I assumed we might all get one after which hold round for the trophy. However that was the f****** trophy.
“One of many different lads kicked me and mentioned, ‘Is that this what we got here again two weeks early for?’. He booted it throughout the dressing room later.
“If you happen to look in West Ham’s trophy cupboard and see a tiny cup there with slightly dent in it, you’ll know why. The membership didn’t even purchase us a medal.
“It was a bizarre match however it was an opportunity to keep away from the monotony of pre-season coaching. Thank God we had been getting away.
“We didn’t should do pre-season operating round bloody Hainault Forest for as soon as. I don’t actually thoughts that individuals don’t even give it some thought as a European trophy.
“We performed in Holland as properly after which beat an excellent Metz aspect that includes a younger Louis Saha.
“It was an excellent expertise. We noticed nice locations and began the season properly as a result of we had been match match. It served its goal.
“I feel we had been third or fourth at the beginning of that season consequently. As soon as we bought into it, we beloved it.”
Coming into the Intertoto Cup, on software not benefit, was a sensible transfer by boss Harry Redknapp to get his gamers by pre-season coaching by enjoying soccer as an alternative of mind-numbing drills.
The ‘triumph’ additionally put West Ham within the Uefa Cup, now the Europa League, for the primary time. The enjoyable was simply beginning.
After beating Croatians Osiejek within the first spherical they had been drawn in opposition to robust Romanians Steaua Bucharest.
Lomas mentioned: “After we bought there Harry was stunned by the place. Our resort was bang within the centre of city and there was a Playboy Bunny conference occurring. You couldn’t make it up.
“We had been meant to be flying dwelling after the sport and there was Neil Ruddock making us all snicker, on his knees clowning round and pleading with Harry to allow us to keep one other night time. He even supplied to pay your complete resort invoice if we did.
“The women had been on a separate ground to us and it was all simply mucking about however I bear in mind Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand had been younger, single lads on the time and their eyes had been on stalks.”
Lomas has beforehand recounted how their already weird journey took a fair stranger twist earlier than kick-off within the Romanian capital.
He mentioned: “The entire crowd stood up because the dignitaries walked onto the pitch.
“We thought it will need to have been the president of the nation however this geezer was sporting a Stetson hat. It was Larry Hagman — it was f****** JR Ewing.
“Apparently they had been to this point behind everybody else on Dallas that outdated Larry was nonetheless a celebrity in Romania.
“That entire summer time simply stored giving when it comes to camaraderie. You bear in mind the tales greater than the video games. It was nice.”