Peter Houston was a TV addict in the 1980s when it came to watching Dundee United beat some of Europe’s top clubs.
It made for pleasant viewing as the Tangerines boasting star turns such as Paul Hegarty, Dave Narey, Eamonn Bannon, Paul Sturrock and Kevin Gallacher took on and conquered the best the continent had to offer.
The telly treats included victories over Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach and Monaco to name but a few, and now Tannadice boss Houston is hoping United can turn the style on again all these years later when they meet AEK Athens tonight.
“I wasn’t up here in Dundee at the time because I am from Glasgow but I used to watch Bannon play against Borussia and all these games,” recalled Houston. “I also remember the Barcelona match when Kevin Gallacher scored.
“Paul Hegarty, our coach, was obviously a player here at that time. He is very modest about what went on but I remember as a younger man being desperate to watch the highlights on TV at night.
“United were fantastic in Europe and the crowd here was always fantastic as well. They were always raising the roof. Hopefully we can give them something to shout about against AEK.”
Hegarty, of course, was the one to witness the riot on the park when Athens had their pre-season friendly abandoned as boss Dusan Bajevic was attacked by his own supporters.
So Houston has not seen them in person but has returned to the TV to watch hours of DVD footage and knows they will be a class act.
Asked if AEK would be good enough to win the SPL, he replied, “They did beat our champions Rangers during pre-season in Australia but Rangers created a lot of chances against them and that’s given me a bit of heart.
“They keep the ball well, as do most European teams, but Rangers kept the ball well against them and Steven Whittaker put in some good crosses and Kenny Miller almost got on the end of a few things.
“As far as where they would finish in the league, they would probably be top two or three.”
United, of course, had a top-three finish themselves last season and Houston believes they have plenty in their armoury to trouble the Greeks.
“I think we have a combination of strengths,” he said. “At St Mirren on Saturday there were about 50 crosses into their box and we were just unfortunate nobody got on the end of them.
“We also have loads of energy in the middle of park.
“Up front, we have big Jon Daly, who is always a threat. So if Craig Conway can deliver his crosses and Daly is in there along with David Goodwillie, I think we can score goals.
“Mind you, I would take a 0-0 I really would. That would mean we had something to hold on to.
“Ideally a 1-0 or 2-0 victory would be fantastic, but it is going to be difficult.
“We are going out there to try to make sure we don’t lose any goals but I am not going to sit in and regret it, saying to myself, ‘I wish I had attacked more.’
“If I never gave it a go I would feel let down myself and feel I had let the players down by not having a wee pop.”
As well as trying to enhance the club’s European tradition, there is big money at stake should the Tangerines get past AEK and into the group stages and the manager is well aware of what is up for grabs.
“It would be huge financially for the club,” he added. “Every club in the SPL starts about £700,000 down per year (because of the collapse of the Setanta TV deal). Right away, before you kick a ball, it is a case of how you are going to make 700 grand up.
“Getting to the group stages would help enormously.”
United will be along familiar lines, with a chance of playmaker Danny Swanson, who has been sidelined for weeks, featuring at some stage.Ticket sales are approaching the 11,500 mark and the office remains open today.United, of course, had a top-three finish themselves last season and Houston believes they have plenty in their armoury to trouble the Greeks.
“I think we have a combination of strengths,” he said. “At St Mirren on Saturday there were about 50 crosses into their box and we were just unfortunate nobody got on the end of them.
“We also have loads of energy in the middle of park.
“Up front, we have big Jon Daly, who is always a threat. So if Craig Conway can deliver his crosses and Daly is in there along with David Goodwillie, I think we can score goals.
“Mind you, I would take a 0-0 I really would. That would mean we had something to hold on to.
“Ideally a 1-0 or 2-0 victory would be fantastic, but it is going to be difficult.
“We are going out there to try to make sure we don’t lose any goals but I am not going to sit in and regret it, saying to myself, ‘I wish I had attacked more.’
“If I never gave it a go I would feel let down myself and feel I had let the players down by not having a wee pop.”
As well as trying to enhance the club’s European tradition, there is big money at stake should the Tangerines get past AEK and into the group stages and the manager is well aware of what is up for grabs.
“It would be huge financially for the club,” he added. “Every club in the SPL starts about £700,000 down per year (because of the collapse of the Setanta TV deal). Right away, before you kick a ball, it is a case of how you are going to make 700 grand up.
“Getting to the group stages would help enormously.”
United will be along familiar lines, with a chance of playmaker Danny Swanson, who has been sidelined for weeks, featuring at some stage.Ticket sales are approaching the 11,500 mark and the office remains open today.