Record-breaking Derby 1965
On 4 September 1965 the attendance was 50,105, to be exact. And some people even remained outside as the Strahov stadium - the biggest one in the country - was sold-out. No incident was reported among the fans. Slavia under manager František Ipser managed to overcome their “dark days” and were promoted from 2nd division a year before. The red and whites played their typical game based on technical skills but showed much more strength in duels in compare to other games. Sparta had more possession and outplayed Slavia on the field as the core of the team was made by players of Czechoslovak national team.
Slavia gained 2-1 lead after goals scored by Píša and Veselý, but Sparta managed to equalize by Pospíchal 10 minutes before the final whistle. In their first season after returning to the top division Slavia finished 3rd in the table. Sparta were 2nd and Dukla Prague became champions. The competition was extremely tight that year as all 3 clubs finished with 33 points. Slavia had only 12 wins, Dukla and Sparta both 13 and the same goal difference. Mutual games decided who will be the champion.
In 1965 both clubs could also return to their (almost) original names. Shortly after the communist putsch in Czechoslovakia in 1948, Slavia - as fundamentally anti-communist club founded by intelligentsia - were renamed “Sokol Slavia Praha”, a year later “ZSJ Dynamo Slavia Praha” and in 1953 the name Slavia disappeared for good as Slavia became “Dynamo Prague” and had to exchange their typical red and white shirts for dark blue.
Sparta also changed their name several times after 1948 (as “Athletic Club” reminded English roots of football too much) and in 1953 definitively became “TJ Spartak Praha Sokolovo” for 12 more years. It was not until the easing of political situation in the middle of 1960s when both clubs could return to their names Slavia and Sparta. And people were crazy to see the first “real” Prague Derby after 17 years.
One of the biggest attractions before the Derby was a bet between Sparta fan Mr. Pavlíček and Slavia fan Mr. Pacák. Pavlíček promised that if Slavia returns to the top division, he will drive his friend Pacák to the Derby on the old wheelbarrow from their hometown of Smržovka in northern Bohemia. The journey took almost a week and it was even broadcasted by Czechoslovak TV! On matchday, they arrived to the stadium greeted by fans of both teams.
Btw, the 1965 Derby was the first one with live coverage both by Czechoslovak Radio and Czechoslovak TV.
Buy tickets for virtual charity Derby on 10 May 2020! All proceeds go to nurses in Czech hospitals!
Sparta 2-2 Slavia (1-1)
4 September 1965, Strahov stadium
Goals: Mráz, Pospíchal - Píša, F. Veselý
Sparta: Kramerius; Hudcovský, Tichý, Táborský; Vojta, Kos; Pospíchal, Mráz, Kvašňák, Mašek, Vrána
Slavia: Ledecký; Lála, Hildebrandt, Smolík; Beran, Nepomucký; F. Veselý, Kadraba, Šindelář, Píša, F. Uldrych
Attendance: 50,105
