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GRAZ REVIEW
First of all, an apology. Harry's pre draw review which we published on Thursday clearly stated that GAK were a Ukraine based team. So it was obvious that we were going to draw them and have to suffer this major embarrassment...
We have since explained the difference between Ukraine and Austria to Harry and we will be dipping into our funds to buy him an atlas for Christmas. And a one way ticket to Cherkassy. 'You're a funny guy, Harry. I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last.'
So off we go to Austria and the city that was the capital of Culture and Art in 2003. We'll be playing in The Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadion, on a date that is yet to be 100% confirmed. Despite UEFA's complete inflexibility in October when three English teams played in Athens within two nights, the next phase of the competition is subject to change right up until mid January. 'I'll be back' when UEFA decide whether we play on the Wednesday or Thursday.
Arnie just after the draw was made
Nestling in the very south of Austria, Graz is not such an easy place to get to. You can fly direct from Teesside or Newcastle but the price is extremely prohibitive. However, 'If it bleeds, we can kill it.'
Ryan Air fly from London Stansted to Graz but if you book now, it is still over £200 for the return flight and that's before your hotel and match tickets are paid for.
We spoke to Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryan Air and asked him about his outrageous prices, who told us; 'I'm no mercenary. Nobody pays me. And if I think somebody owes me something, I take it.'
So we won't be using them any more. 'Consider this a divorce.'
The good news is that you can do the return journey for less than £100. EasyJet have return flights from Luton to Bratislava for £66 including taxes.
However, 'this hero stuff has its limits' and if you take this option, you will need to take a three and a half hour train journey to Graz and although Austria is generally not a cheap country, in our experience European rail travel is very reasonably priced and reliable.
Of course, the dates that we have chosen for our selected flight will not be to everyone's liking; 'yeah, but they were all bad...'
We will continue to seek out reasonable options for you, so keep checking back for any good offers that we may come across. We'll leave you with this announcement that was made on the official AK Graz website just after the draw was made. In the meantime, 'Hasta la vista, baby.'
Middlesbrough waits in the UEFA Cup. The DEAR GENTLEMAN GAK bereist again the island. Middlesborough is the opponent in the next round. A hammer lot for DEAR GENTLEMAN GAK. both sportily and economically.
Here equivalent times the cadre of the Englishmen. At present "Boro" ranks at place five in England. Play dates are at the 16./17.02.05 and to 24.02.05 Lukas Strohmayer is pleased about the lot and believes on the chance. "with the twelfth man in the back is possible everything," looks forward for Strohmayer to the play.
The stadium calls itself Cellnet Riverside and offers place for 35.100 spectators. Qualified they itself by success in English league cup. This is also the only title in club history. The association was created to 1.1.1876. Thus a Patzen at tradition in Graz to guest.
The club colors of the "Boros" are likewise red white. Star of the crew the Spaniard Mendieta, the dutchmen Hasselbaink, is Zenden and Reiziger as well as the Australian stuermer Mark of Viduka.
Each GAK fan can look forward to this hammer troop of the island. Should we the ascent create to meet we on the winner of the play Sporting Lisbon against Feyernoord Rotterdam.
Nobody calls our Mark of Viduka a stuermer and gets away with it, I can tell you! And I'd be very wary of that twelfth man in the back, if I were you. Think I'll stay at home for this one...
| 2004/05 UEFA Cup match calendar |
| Stage |
Dates |
| First knockout round, 1st leg |
16 & 17.02.2005 |
| First knockout round, 2nd leg |
24.02.2005 |
| Second knockout round, 1st leg |
10.03.2005 |
| Second knockout round, 2nd leg |
16 & 17.03.2005 |
| Quarter-finals, 1st leg |
07.04.2005 |
| Quarter-finals, 2nd leg |
14.04.2005 |
| Semi-finals, 1st leg |
28.04.2005 |
| Semi-finals, 2nd leg |
05.05.2005 |
| Final (Lisbon, Portugal) |
18.05.2005 |
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