“And he’d managed to get hold of a Dukla Prague away kit”
– All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
So… what do we know about Dukla Prague?
The A to Z of HMHB
The A to Z of HMHB
“And he’d managed to get hold of a Dukla Prague away kit”
– All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
So… what do we know about Dukla Prague?
Brian Duffin
If you see more than one person wearing a Dukla Prague away shirt (most likely bought from TOFFS), you know that HMHB are in town to play a gig.
But then you probably already knew that and are currently on your way to the gig wearing a Dukla Prague away shirt yourself.
At least that’s been my experience…
19 September 2014
Bobby SVARC
I’ve just found 15 Dukla Prague enamel badges in my drawer, brand new still in the wrapper, size approx 20mmx10mm. If anybody wants one they’re £4 each, I’ll be at Bilston and God’s own City, you can’t miss me.
19 September 2014
dr desperate
@Brian Or you could be at a SK Dynamo České Budějovice match.
19 September 2014
T.U.C.O.L.O.
According to current website information, the home shirt is yellow. The original club colours were red though.
This was gleaned through debate with my fellow writers at the music and football blog duklapragueawaykit.com.
Although not exclusively Half Man Half Biscuit focused, the magic of the Four Men from the Wirral is often referenced in articles, particularly but not only in the various Indie theme Top 10s.
Sorry if this plugging goes against the grain, so to speak, but for what its worth the HMHB A-Z is a highlight of my twitter day.
19 September 2014
paul f
Unrelated to Dukla, but that use of the word Indie has reminded me of a conversation last night. My daughters (17 and 16 who mock my tastes as children of that age should) were talking about some “Indie” band when I pointed out that Half Man Half Biscuit were Indie. As they scoffed I trotted out the fact that Back in the DHSS was the top selling Indie album of 1986. They tried to rubbish me, but the younger one (as she tends to do) immediately checked on her iphone and her sheepish look showed me that she’d found I was right.
Proving your kids wrong – it’s what the internet was made for.
19 September 2014
peter mcornithologist
Dukla Prague chose their name in honour of the countless numbers who died in the battle of Dukla Pass in 1944.
19 September 2014
acidic regulator
@@Peter McOrnithologist, not many people knew that it seems. I’ve just updated the Dukla Prague and Battle pages in Wikipedia.
BTW is that your sanderling?
19 September 2014
EXXO
Of course the reasons why the Czech Army renamed its football team, and in fact all its sports teams after Dukla was a direct response to the Hungarian revolution in 1956 and therefore to two other Biscuit References – the immediate defection to the West of Puskas and his comrades from the Hungarian Army team (Honved) after the uprising in late 1956. The re-branding happened within weeks.
The Hungarians were supposed to be the greatest football team in the world in the early-to-mid fifties, although the Germans had somehow amazingly beaten them in the 1954 ‘Miracle of Berne’ World Cup Final. But now the Czechs had a generation that fancied its chances and they entered the nascent European Cup competition to take on the Germans, the Hungarians, etc …as they had done just a decade earlier at Dukla Pass, where the Nazis’ crack Hungarian division fought to the death with the Germans against the Soviets and Czechs. Dukla was to be the national team in club form, as Honved had been for the Hungarians. With defections crippling Hungary, the golden generation of Czechs would dominate soon Europe and the next world cups – that’s what they hoped (and indeed they were worthy runners-up to Brazil in Chile 1962).
At least ten times more Soviet troops than Czechs died at Dukla, but above all it symbolised the Soviet role in liberating Czechoslovakia. The name told the Soviet masters that the Czech footballers remained loyally on their side – “you can trust us – not like those collaborating, counter-revolutionary, defecting, mercenary Magyars”, and it told the Dukla players, all of course army officers (as Puskas had been) “don’t even think about defecting while competing abroad – you would betray the blood of your Czech and Soviet comrades who fell at Dukla Pass”.
19 September 2014
WARDEN HODGES
Joy was finding ‘some’ of the EFC v DP prog from UEFA Cup 1978/79 season in the church last night. Did really someone have to take out ‘centrefold’ Mick Pejic??!
19 September 2014
Mr Larrington
I once wore my Dukla Prague shirt to a non-HMHB gig. “České?” asked a passing Czech. It would have taken too long to explain…
20 September 2014
peter mcornithologist
I know it has nothing to do with Dukla but I just had to mention that Elvis Costello scored for Greenock Morton today.
20 September 2014
acidic regulator
@@Peter McOrnithologist, good knowledge again. But, just checking: scored for, or with?
20 September 2014
moofest moo thousand
We were in Praha back in 1988 and all that was on offer in the way of Dukla souvenirs back then was a small pennant and a Dukla mug. A week after returning home I mistakenly had a cup of tea in the mug and it fell away from the handle not being designed to take the weight of liquids in it and it smashed on the floor. The small penant is still around somewhere up in the attic.
20 September 2014
Dr Desperate
@PMcC Under his original name, I assume.
21 September 2014
Bobby SVARC
This.
(Nice – CtSO)
22 September 2014
brumbiscuit
I’ve just returned from a short trip to Budapest – it snowed. January is not the best time to visit, but mine host has contacts in Prague and he gave me an ancient, though very authentic Dukla Prague scarf. I doubt it will be needed in Bury St Edmunds in June, its virgin outing, but it shall be there, nonetheless.
1 February 2015
Chris The Siteowner
When Saturday Comes, June 2015 issue: good piece entitled “Remembered in song” about Dukla Prague’s appeal to groundhoppers. Good because it assumes the reader already knows about That Song, and doesn’t even mention the title. Normally I’d link to a scan of the article, but this is WSC and we should all be buying copies.
11 May 2015
EXXO
Just been tidying up some of Mrs. Exford’s ridiculously vast array of football shirts, and realised that she has twelve Dukla Prague shirts of various vintages from 1977, plus a 1970’s Dukla Liberec volleyball shirt. This is almost certainly more than she needs and she may be persuaded to ebay some at a time when we’re not exactly rolling in cash. One or two are for other sports within the Dukla sports club, with the 1999 XXXL yellow volleyball shirt and the 1970’s Dukla Liberec maroon & yellow volleyball shirt (exact same design as classic Dukla Prague home) most likely to go for auction first. Watch this space & I’ll post here as well as on face-ache when the auctions happen in case anyone interested.
17 November 2016
EXXO
1999 handball shirt, in fact – obviously that wasn’t intentional, which mistakes about handball don’t have to be, and very rarely are.
17 November 2016
Chris The Siteowner
Neil Fredrik Jensen article from The New European, if you didn’t manage to get a copy last week…
http://www.halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_6540.jpg
http://www.halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_6541.jpg
28 August 2017
Peter Mcornithologist
Relative blindness denies . But I am certain that the Czechoslovakian team which reached 1962 world cup final was basically Dukla Prague .
29 August 2017
Huddersfield’s Very Own… Steve Malkmus
Currently sat in the “Steampunk Prague” bar (yes, I know…) with my nice new DPAK in a bag beside me (when did replica shirts start coming in boxes? Glad I’m not flying home!), was tempted by the current Adidas one but decided to stick with tradition. I was quite impressed that the lass in the club shop recognised my HTHK despite it being one from 2011/12. Guess that’s what happens when you get into the top flight, even if our stay looks like it might be a short one!
16 October 2017
PETER MCORNOTHOLOGIST
Currently bottom of Czech first division .Bohemias answer to Ipswich.
13 August 2018
EXXO
After the penultimate round of fixtures it’s now all-but-mathematically certain that the play-off to see who’s relegated along with our brave heroes will involve Příbram, and that on recent form it’s highly likely that they – the club who took over Dukla’s registration in 1996 (and legally still have it) – will be the club to join the heroes of the great patriotic war in next season’s second tier.
23 April 2019
EXXO
Seven straight wins to end a generally mediocre season see the mighty heroes (of the great victory over fascism at the pass of glory) finish 3rd in the 2nd tier and emerge into the play-offs, and a very outside chance of bouncing straight back. However, as to when these play-offs will actually happen …
20 July 2020
EXXO
So as mentioned above, the 2nd division was completed with Dukla in the play-off spot just before the 1st division was suspended again due to C-19, with 2 games left. I’d been assuming that we were just waiting around for the all-clear to get some play-off dates, but no, that’s it, they’ve decided it’s musical statues and as you are is how it finishes. No play-off for Dukla, no reward for the seven straight wins to finish the season, which so marvellously mirror last season’s seven straight losses to start the relegation season. Apparently this was all decided about three days after I posted the above, but info in English has been hard to find.
2 August 2020
Brumbiscuit
Prior to a house move, I’ve just had a clear out of random stuff. I’ve got a couple of HMHB-related items to give away (although if you feel like donating to Water Aid, please do).
Firstly, I have a Dukla Prague home top, size large. The v-neck collar is a bit wavy, but intact. G’wan, be different!
Secondly, my Toffs Barnstoneworth Utd top has always been, ahem, snug on me. Lockdown hasn’t made me any more svelte, so it has to go. Another size large.
If he’s happy to get involved, ask Chris nicely and he might put us in touch.
I’m not going to send photos or anything like that, sorry, so g’wan, take a punt. Preference given to anyone wanting both. It’s a given that you’ll be asking for them to use personally and not be selling them on, isn’t it…
6 February 2021
Lord leominster
Brumbiscuit, are those shirts still going or have they been bagsied? I think I’d rather like them but I’m not sure where I’d wear them so if there’s a better cause for them to go to I won’t mind. I’d be very happy to make a donation as you suggest, and pay you for the postage, of course.
8 February 2021
Lord leominster
Brumbiscuit, are those shirts still going or have they been bagsied? I think I’d rather like them but I’m not sure where I’d wear them so if there’s a better cause for them to go to I won’t mind. I’d be very happy to make a donation as you suggest, and pay you for the postage, naturally.
8 February 2021
Lord leominster
Not sure how I managed to post twice. Did you notice that I’d changed ‘of course’ to (static) ‘naturally’?
8 February 2021
Brumbiscuit
@Lemmy: Knowing they’re going to someone who’s going to wear them is consolation enough. Perhaps Chris will put us in touch, so the goods can end up in your sticky mitts…
8 February 2021
Lord leominster
Thanks, BB. That’s my Christmas present to myself sorted. I’ll wear the DP home shirt to my next HMHB gig so you’ll spot me in a crowd. I think we’re in the same neck of the woods so there’s a good chance you’ll be in attendance too. CtSO, I’m happy for you to pass my email address to BB, if you wouldn’t mind. Thanks, both.
8 February 2021
Brumbiscuit
Consider the tops claimed, despite Lemmy’s very questionable former footballing preference…
9 February 2021
lord leominster
Thanks, BrumBiscuit. I’m surprised the deal isn’t off. BrumBiscuit offered me a 1970s BCFC shirt to add to my haul and I felt compelled to confess to having previously been a glory hunter, following the 1982 European Champions for a couple or three of years whilst I was based in the Second City.
9 February 2021
dr Desperate
Ask anyone from Birmingham which is England’s Second City and they’ll say Birmingham.
Ask anyone from Leeds which is England’s Second City and they’ll say Leeds.
Ask anyone from Manchester which is England’s Second City and they’ll say London.
9 February 2021
EXXO
That joke is adapted by Mancs from the accurate and correct Scouse version which has Manchester for the second and Liverpool for the third line.
(and only a Manc would think that anyone in Leeds would say that, because someone in Leeds would only ever have said it to annoy a Manc)
9 February 2021
dr Desperate
(and, of course, vice versa.)
9 February 2021
lord leominster
FOR SALE
1 Dukla Prague Home Kit top, large, as new – 25 Euro + 5 Euro p&p.
1 Barnstoneworth Utd top, large, as new – 25 Euro + 5 Euro p&p.
Buy both for 60 Euro, free postage.
Genuine reason for sale – financial gain. Unwanted gifts – not all I wanted for Christmas, after all.
From a smoke, pet and scruples free home. No time wasters.
15 February 2021
Brumbiscuit
Go on then, looks like a bargain. Do you take Luncheon Vouchers?
15 February 2021
lord leominster
No, but I do accept Bitcoin. Just one will suffice for your good self.
15 February 2021
EXXO
Two wins and last night’s draw adds up to the best start to a new campaign since 2010 (the last promotion campaign).
Good luck to all the Biscuiteers’ teams this season.
7 August 2021
EXXO
Another home defeat this morning and 16 points from the first 6 games has turned into 20 points from the first 12 🙁
23 October 2021
EXXO
Sniffing around the rip-off face mask designs available through the reprehensible redbubble, I noticed one for the old VTJ Dukla basketball logo, and sniffing backwards at peak-hour along the internet I discovered the ‘designer’ most likely got it off of Toffs, who are now indeed catering (unknowingly) for basketball fans, with a logo that has never been used by the football club (VTJ is “Military Sports Club,” but Dukla Praha football never used it, always being part of the separate “Army Sports Club”).
https://www.toffs.com/dukla-prague-12th-man-navy-t-shirt
Anyways, snoods are the way forward.
9 December 2021
EXXO
Sniffing around the rip-off face mask designs available through the reprehensible redbubble, I noticed one for the old VTJ Dukla basketball logo, and sniffing backwards at peak-hour along the internet I discovered the ‘designer’ most likely got it off of Toffs, who are now indeed catering (unknowingly) for basketball fans, with a logo that has never been used by the football club (VTJ is “Military Sports Club,” but Dukla Praha football never used it, always being part of the separate “Army Sports Club”).
https://www.toffs.com/dukla-prague-12th-man-navy-t-shirt
Anyways, snoods are the way forward.
9 December 2021
STRETCH IN EXILE
Would it be a Faux Pas to put the legend that is Josef Masopust’s name and number (6, I believe) on the back of a TOFFs DP away shirt?
4 May 2022
Chris Quinn
Met a guy wearing a DPAK at the Greenday concert in Huddersfield on Saturday – complimented him on his taste.
28 June 2022
EXXO
Hope there’s some comfort for Man United fans that they’re not the only former giant of their league that has started their season rock bottom of the table with 0 points. Shame ‘cos August was Dukla’s only good month last season.
14 August 2022
Chris The Siteowner
“Three World Cup Finalists were in the Dukla Prague team that came to Roker to play after school one night 57 years ago. Perhaps they were hoping to compete for some kind of championship?”
On This Day (7 Dec 1965): All Sunderland wanted for Christmas was Dukla Prague in their away kit by Rich Speight on SBNation
9 December 2022
Huddersfield’s Very Own Steve Malkmus
#Post 46: There’s an obvious joke to be made there, but I’ll be better than that. Everyone reading can tell what it would be anyway. I’ve certainly no room to talk about going to see bands that hipsters would scoff at!
20 April 2023
The Bullet of Escobar
Is it bad that I prefer the home jersey? I’d still get both just my preference is the home jersey.
17 August 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Opening bids from £800 but “Auctioneer’s estimate £3,000 – £5,000”
F.K. DUKLA PRAGUE, EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL (2ND LEG) JERSEY 25TH APRIL 1967
vs. Celtic F.C., Chebana label, stitched crest, and number 11 verso, long sleeved
Note: Believed worn by Josef Vacenovsky.
From The Bertie Auld Collection.
Josef Vacenovsky was a Dukla Prague stalwart.
Over the course of twelve seasons (1957-69) he would tally 271 appearances, winning six league titles, four Czechoslovakian Cups, and four American Challenge Cups.
His tenure coincided with a period of domestic dominance for Dukla, a team that had only been founded as recently as 1948. Indeed, they had initially been formed under the control of the Czechoslovakian Army, Vacenovsky himself spending a period in the armed forces before becoming a full team member.
As swiftly as they burst onto the domestic scene, Dukla would begin to compete in Europe’s burgeoning knock-out competitions. This would include six European Cup appearances prior to 1966/67, reaching the quarter-final three-times.
They entered the 1966/67 competition resolute, fresh off the back of a domestic double and ready to challenge once more. The first two rounds proved relatively straightforward, the team scoring twelve and conceding two as they saw off Esbjerg and Anderlecht.
The quarters brought on a more difficult opponent however, the hotly tipped Ajax having just defeated Liverpool 7-3 on aggregate. This was the ‘Total Football’ team put together by Rinus Michels. The talismanic Johan Cruyff dominating the park.
A first leg draw took the game to Prague, giving Dukla the home advantage. Perhaps it didn’t seem that way when a Sjaak Swart strike put them 1-0 down in the 54th minute. It would eventually take a penalty and an 87th minute own goal to secure Dukla’s place in their first ever semi-final.
All was to play for as they travelled to Glasgow to take on Jock Stein’s Celtic. Dukla knew this and started with confidence, two early efforts forcing great saves from Ronnie Simpson. A Jimmy Johnstone strike in the 27th minute put the home team ahead, though a goal on the stroke of halftime quietened the Parkhead crowd.
Willie Wallace would prove the hero during the second half, two goals securing a comfortable lead for the away game in Prague.
Despite this lead, Jock Stein knew he couldn’t gamble such a match, and, whilst he had built his reputation on playing beautiful attacking football, he made the decision to set up defensively. This would prove critical, the 0-0 draw securing Celtic’s place in Lisbon, Dukla bowing out in what remains their best European finish.
Those two ties and the Lisbon Lions were later recalled by Vacenovsky:
‘Celtic was a typically British team, playing consistently on the body, hard, and against Celtic we always had someone at our backs.’
Archive screenshot
8 October 2023
Chris The Siteowner
The Forgotten Football Clubs Podcast
Episode 32 – Dukla Prague (CZE)
Rory and Dave sit down with Phil Harrison to discuss one of the biggest former clubs in Europe – Dukla Prague!
They go through their trophy-laden history, international exploits and the factors which allowed them to be as successful as they were. They also discuss FK Dukla Prague, the ‘successor’ to the original club, and ask the million dollar question; can FK Dukla Prague truly call themselves the successor clubs of Dukla Prague?
• Listen to the podcast on Spotify
1 December 2023