The story of Finn Harps is as near as you would expect to find a fairy-tale in the fiercely competitive arena of European football.

For the 1,800 inhabitants of Ballybofey in County Donegal, North West Ireland, it is a source of pride to find their local club in the UEFA Cup draw alongside such household names as the former European Champions, Ajax, Benfica and AC Milan.
For visitors to their ruggedly beautiful part of Ireland, it is hard to imagine how Finn Harps managed to navigate a path from junior football in the fifties to a place in the League of Ireland in 1969 and then to European entry in 1973.

"We just had a field to play in 25 years ago", says their inspiring Chairman, Fran Fields. "Everything has been a problem all along the way. But we had Directors who were prepared to work hard. And we had a supporters club who raised subscriptions from all round the country and from loyal businessmen."
Fran has his own way of expressing Finn Harps' climb to a European meeting with a club such as Everton. Oddly enough, his story is connected with a famous occasion when the Republic of Ireland defeated England 2-0 at Goodison Park in 1949.

After a word-perfect run through the Irish team of that day, Fran told us: "The well known English journalist, Henry Rose, said before the game that anyone expecting Ireland to win should have his head examined. It was the same when I first tried to develop our club. People thought I should have my head examined."

"We had no money at all in 1969, but I was in the plant-hire business and this helped when we began to build up the ground. But with a lot of people working hard, we became the most consistent club in the League of Ireland.

"Everton's first visit to Ballybofey was just what we had dreamed of from the start. I shall never forget their gesture in agreeing to switch the legs and play first at our ground. When we met Derby, we lost heavily over there and that ruined interest in the home game.

"But Everton's gesture has set us up for the season. There has always been a great deal of goodwill between Everton and Ireland. It is now stronger than ever. They gave us a tremendous boost and the people here appreciated it."

Finn Harps first achieved national prominence in 1967 when they won the FA of Ireland Junior Cup from an entry of 1,000 teams. Since joining the League of Ireland, they have never been out of the top half of the table and have finished runners-up three times. They won the Irish FA Cup in 1974 and the Dublin City Cup in 1972.

Their geographical situation dictates that they are the most travelled club in Ireland. Their nearest neighbours are Sligo Rovers 60 miles away and for a season of 15 away matches, they reckon to log 8,000 miles.

By overcoming so many handicaps, Finn Harps have earned great respect at home and it was a fine tribute to Fran Field's energy and enterprise when he was elected President of the League of Ireland last season. That meant devoting even less time to his trade as a Wholesale Butcher, but, as they say in Ballybofey, he only thinks about business when football activities permit!

Harps' manager is Eunan Blake, a Donegal man from Letterkenny. In the fifties, he played in a junior team which also included Fran Fields and Harps' present Secretary, Tom Furlong. Eunan went on to play for 20 years, serving Harps, Sligo Rovers and Derry City, and was an automatic choice for the League of Ireland team. On retirement, he had a spell as trainer and then acting manager of Athlone Town.

The Harps team is made up solely by part-timers and cost just £5,200 to assemble. The record fee of £4,000 was spent in 1972 to buy Tony O' Doherty from Coleraine, where he had won three Northern Ireland caps, including one at Wembley in 1970. Tony, a clerk, refused many offers to play in England.
Only two other players cost money. Peter Hutton, a joiner, was signed from Belfast Crusaders for £800 in 1970, while John Minnock, formerly with Arsenal and an Irish Under-23 international, came from Athlone Town for £400 this summer. He is a central heating fitter.

Harps captain is centre half Jim Sheridan, a Police Sergeant who did well against Bob Latchford in Ballybofey. He was formerly with St Patrick's Athletic in Dublin.

One of Sheridan's defensive colleagues, right back Paul Mc Guinness, is reckoned to be the club's outstanding player but missed the first leg against Everton because of injury. Paul, a joiner, played for the League of Ireland in one of Argentina's warm-up games before the World Cup this year. Against Everton, he was replaced by Declan McDowell, another joiner, who turned out for Derry City and Coleraine before joining the Harps in time to earn an Irish Cup-winners medal in 1974.

Harps have two goalkeepers and they both played against Everton. Eddie Mahon, a wine merchant, who has been in senior football for 20 years, started the game, but stepped down in the second half when Joe Harper, a postman from Tyrone, was unfortunate to concede two goals in his first three minutes on the field.

One of Harps' most impressive performers in the first leg was Pat Healy, a midfield man with a powerful shot. Formerly with Sligo Rovers and Distillery, he is well used to a starring role from his experience as a professional musician in a group.

John Duffy, a decorator, who previously played for Athlone and Derry, made up the midfield trio against Everton. But we did not see Joe Healy, a travelling salesman, who was voted Player of the Year last season. Joe had a spell with Shrewsbury Town.

Harps' leading goalscorer last season was Joe Logan, a salesman, who was signed from Sligo Rovers in exchange for Paul McGee, the Irish international now with OPR, Tom Mc Guinness, a fitter, who converted from Gaelic Football, leads the attack, and Charlie Ferry, a milkman, makes up the front line. He is the only survivor from the original Harps senior side of 1969.

Harps have several useful reserves, Paul Magee, formerly with Shamrock Rovers, has a good footballing background from his father, Jimmy, who commentates on soccer for RTE in Dublin. Paul is also in the entertainment business as a disc jockey.

Donal O' Doherty, a storekeeper, is the brother of Tony, and came from Derry City, while Eddie McGroarty, a joiner, is following in the steps of his brother, Jim, who was transferred from Harps to Stoke City last season. Defender Andy Stevenson, a decorator by trade, and Terry Harkin, who had plenty of experience in England as a striker, make up the the squad. Terry is now Harps' reserve coach and works for the club's sponsors, the Leicester footwear firm of John Tyler & Sons.