FROM the dreamy spires of Prague to the blood, sweat and tears of Irongate.

A bigger contrast in venues and cultures you could not conceive.

But last night Unibond League champions Bamber Bridge and a enthusiastic sell-out crowd of 2,300 fans proved the perfect hosts for Euro-96 aristocrats - the Czech Republic.

And while the Republic oiled their shooting boots with a nine-goal salvo - this fixture was about much more than that.

It was about a former Preston park team who staged one of the most interesting and perhaps most bizarre football internationals ever seen in Lancashire.

Bamber Bridge were asked to provide opposition for the Czechs, who are based at their Euro 96 HQ - the Marriott Hotel at Broughton, Preston.

After permission was granted from the FA, Preston Council, UEFA and the local police, it was all systems go. The fixture - which sold out in days - began on a high note too.

The trusty Brindle Prize Band unofficially kicked off Euro '96 at 6.00pm, blasting out the notes of the Czech Republic national anthem and a hearty rendition of God Save the Queen.

This, of course, was the Czech Republic's final dry run for the Group C campaign against Germany at Old Trafford on Sunday. And they proved quite superb ambassadors, dishing up a footballing feast which left the locals drooling.

Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton and Burnley shirts were all out in force, savouring, I suspect, every kick, pass and save.

And for the fans who did not have a ticket. Well, they grabbed any vantage point they could around the cramped stadium.

Some stood precariously on garage roofs, while several perched high alongside the Preston to Blackburn railway embankment.

Behind the scenes, UEFA officials rubbed shoulders with civic dignataries. And BBC Match of the Day commentator John Motson scurried to and fro updating his stats for the Euro bonanaza.

At pitchside, Czech camera crews battled with their angles as they beamed back live pictures of the game to Eastern Europe.

And there was plenty of Bohemian cheer for the lads and lasses back home.

The Czech Republic were two goals up inside five minutes as Karel Poborsky and Pavel Nedved struck.

An only an inspired first half goalkeeping display by Stuart Barton in the Bamber Bridge goal kept the score down.

But the floodgates opened after half-time as skipper and man of the match Vaclav Nemecek netted twice and striker Vladimir Spicer completed his hat-trick.

But the proudest man of the night was Bamber Bridge substitute Steve Denny. He thumped an unstoppable shot past Newcastle United's Pavel Srnicek to claim his first and probably last ever international goal.

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