We saw another side of football life in Ballybofey a fortnight ago. Finn Harps do not have a massive ground like Goodison Park. Neither can they afford a full-time administrative set-up.

But they have enthusiasm - and a giant of a Chairman in Fran Fields. Five minutes in his company is enough to convince the most faint hearted that anything is possible.

It was this attitude which carried Finn Harps from local junior football to a place in Europe within their first four seasons in the League of Ireland. Now this "do it yourself" style of leadership has given them an impossible dream - a game against Everton at Goodison. That's how highly Finn Harps regard tonight's fixture.

This is the pay-off match for Fran Fields and his hospitable band of supporters from County Donegal. "It's an honour for us to play against a team of Everton's standing in the world," he says. More important, however, our visit to Ballybofey has given Finn Harps financial security for the rest of the season.

When the draw for the UEFA Clup ws made in July, they wanted a top English club but feared they might be unlucky, as Shamrock Rovers were in collecting a loss-making tie against Apoel Nicosia. On their three previous excursions into Europe, Finn Harps went into debt on each match and lost as much as £3,000 when having to pay travelling costs to Bursaspor in Turkey.

But it was different for Everton. They were able to increase prices to £4 for a seat and £2 for standing. This means a nice profit even after paying for their trip to England this week.

Fran Fields also believed that the occasion should not be a penny-pinching exercise. Finn Harps laid on a superb dinner for officials and Press from both clubs. They also gave each member of the Everton party a crystal-glass bowl.

We had heard all about such Irish friendship but Fran and his colleagues exceeded our wildest expectations on the night before the game. For them, however, there was still work to be done.
Whiile the Everton group retired for a good night's sleep, Fran drove 15 miles from our hotel in Donegal and started work on a few last-minute jobs behind the scenes at Finn Park. He was there until four o'clock in the morning and back on parade at breakfast time.

When we arrived for a look at the ground at mid-morning, Fran's voluntary workers were still tidying up. A few hours later, it was all over. Finn Harps had lost the match but had won many new friends at Everton.

We salute them all and hope that they enjoy their visit to Merseyside.