Champions League: ‘The nights you dream of’ – former Portadown player Alfie Stewart recalls facing Red Star Belgrade

Stewart had also played in Europe with former club Glentoran, before enjoying further “special” adventures with Portadown.

“Even though we were playing across the border, the Serbians had come across in great numbers and they were very loud and very hostile,” he explained of the away leg in Hungary.

“It made the occasion a bit more difficult but it’s always great walking out into an atmosphere like that as a footballer. Those are the nights that you dream of.

“When you stand beside these guys and they’re 6’3” or 6’4”, you were facing supreme athletes with sheer power and pace and it was a challenge.

“People have asked me over the years, what’s it like when you play against those elite full-time players and it’s simply this – they think quicker, they run quicker, they’re stronger.

“You were apprehensive, but not afraid, because my attitude was to embrace it. You’re in awe of them but you have a job to do and you don’t want to let yourself down.”

The Ports defender felt a four-goal reverse against the best team in Europe represented a creditable outcome.

“We came out at the end of the night having lost 4-0 after conceding two late goals but we were extremely proud of how we performed on the night and met the challenge.

“Sinisa Mihajlovic went on from Red Star to play most of his career in Italy with Lazio and Sampdoria. He was something special and he scored two late free-kicks from outside the box.

“When you saw those free-kicks being taken from 30 yards out you probably thought that you were safe but this guy, he ended his career being recognised as one of the greatest dead ball specialists that the game had ever seen. He stood out.”

The second leg at Shamrock Park was a memorable occasion, with 1991 European Golden Boot winner Darko Pancev among the goalscorers for the illustrious visitors.

“There was great excitement. It was a tremendous night for the fans, a tremendous reward for their support,” reflected Stewart.

“To have the European champions playing at Shamrock Park it is something that will never happen again, probably at any Irish League ground.

“Darko Pancev, who moved to AC Milan a year after, he was scoring goals for fun in the Yugoslav league and moved to Italy, which at that time was the place to be just as the Premier League is now. He was a fantastic striker.”

Current Irish League champions Larne will host Red Star in the first leg of their tie on Tuesday, 21 July (20:00 BST), with the second leg away from home on Wednesday, 29 July (19:00 BST).