No surprise to learn that this is the first time Wrexham have faced Wisla Krakow, but it isn’t the first time we’ve faced Polish opposition.

Victory in the last 32 of the 1975-76 European Cup Winners Cup meant we faced Polish cup holders Stal Rzesow, who were as starry-eyed as we were at the novelty of continental success. They had upset the Polish applecart the previous season by winning the second division and becoming the first team from outside the top flight of Polish football to win the domestic cup, earning a first foray into Europe.

John Neal stated before the first leg at The Racecourse that he hoped for a two-goal lead to take behind the iron curtain for the return match, and he was given exactly that. The hero was Billy Ashcroft, stepping into the team to replace the injured Geoff Davies up front. From the very start his physicality ruffled the Polish defence’s feathers, and after ten minutes he’d put Wrexham ahead. Brian Tinnion’s corner overshot the goalmouth but Mickey Thomas kept the threat alive by forcing the ball back into the six-yard box where Ashcroft fired home.

This would prove to be a familiar pattern over the years as Wrexham over-performed in Europe: physical target men like Ashcroft and Jim Steel would prove to be very successful against centre-backs who were not used to their disruptive, aggressive style.

Ashcroft would get his second after 34 minutes, the beneficiary of a defensive mix-up which perhaps illustrated the extent to which he’d got into the Polish defenders’ heads. Mel Sutton drove the ball into the danger area, Thomas flicked it on, both goalkeeper and centre back hesitated, and as they left the ball to each other, Ashcroft pounced.

He could have got more: he was fractionally short of reaching a Tinnion cross, lashed a left-footed drive narrowly off target and put a header wide of the post.

Eddie May was also making his presence felt from set pieces and hit the post twice with headers. With Arfon Griffiths running midfield, Wrexham were dominant against opponents who were technical but boasted no goal threat.

They upped the tempo in the second leg, putting Wrexham under terrific pressure, but Neal’s side defended heroically and, again, Stal lacked bite in the box. On the rare occasions when they got to test the goalkeeper, Brian Lloyd was up to the challenge.

The first goal was always going to be crucial, and the game was goalless at the break. Marian Kozerski struck after an hour to set up an awkward conclusion to the match, but our nerves were settled with six minutes left when Mel Sutton hot an equaliser to ensure a 3-1 aggregate win and a quarter final against Anderlecht.