Czech stars give pub footie team a tour to remember
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Your support makes all the difference.A team of hard-drinking footballers were played off the park during a tour of the Czech Republic after their hosts mistook them for a professional team from the English First Division.
Sunday side Stockport Town were given red-carpet hospitality, including a tour of the stadium and trophy room, after their hosts FK Meteor from Prague mixed them up with their professional neighbours Stockport County.
Their illusions were quickly shattered when the Stockport and District League side heavily hungover from a pub crawl of the Czech capital the previous night went nine goals down in the first half and ended up beaten 14-1.
The Stockport Town manager, Peter Healey, an accountant aged 35, said the squad of 22 players had grown suspicious when they arrived by coach at their first game and were greeted by the sight of 1,000 FK Meteor fans.
After finding themselves 5-0 up within half an hour, FK Meteor, a second division side whose former players include the international stars Pavel Nedved and Karel Poborsky, changed their line-up.
"By that time the crowd had realised we were an amateur side and were cheering us. Every time we got the ball which wasn't often they began cheering and applauding," Mr Healey said.
Theylost their next game 16-3 to the second division champions, FC Strichlov, despite a hat-trick from Trevor Beswick.
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