For the encounter Red Star 93 - Reims here are translations of articles and reports about matches involving the two clubs. The translation is ours, e & oe.
The first appeared in the supporters' magazine the 28th January 1968, the day of the match Red Star - Saint-Etienne (1-1), and a few days after Red Star beat Reims 2-1 in a cup match at the Parc des Princes, entitled.....
VIVE SAINT-OUEN !
Red Star have returned as winners from their " journey to hell ". How else could one have called the Parc des Princes on Wednesday 17th January ?
Fifteen thousand parisians, still attracted by the call of Reims, fifteen thousand parisians who have not forgotten everything that the grand club has achieved for French football came to see the Reims of 1968. Nothing, however links the current Reims with the one from the past, perhaps only the red and white shirts...
A puzzle - despite a love of the past, why did this sympathy for Reims have to be accompanied by such a hatred for Red Star, culminating in whistles every time one of their players touched the ball ? Extraordinary reaction, in view of the fact that the Parisiens were booing a club from the Paris region ! Not for just the Red Star is this treatment reserved, as Racing Club de Paris have also suffered at the hands of a fickle Parisian adience. After all that, one starts to appreciate more and more the crowd at Bauer.
ZIG DES PUCES
The second article concerns an encounter in division one, during the season 1970-71.
RED STAR - REIMS (23/08/70)
At a packed Stade de Saint-Ouen (15470 spectators), Red Star dominate the Rémois and win the match 2-1. (goals Simon 23rd & 60th) - Galic (65th)
Red Star : Laudu, Mouthon, Ferrié, Monin, Garrigues, Simon, Bacquet, Garcia, Milosevic, Ahache, Guéniche. Coach : Tomazover.
Reims : Darménia, Masclaux, Sillou, Brucato, Teisseire, Herbet, Dakic, Krawczyk, Kuzowski, Galic, Richard. Coach : Fruchart.
Writer for l'Equipe, Tony Arbona reports on the match.
Saint-Ouen - Everything was set for a good afternoon of football, hot weather but sunny, a large enthusiastic crowd but at the end not everyone went home happy.
Reims were much to blame for this dissatisfaction despite a bright opening. First Dakic then Richard, in collaboration with Galic, showed promise, but it was to be a false dawn. Of course there was always the astonishing midfielder Dakic, but on the other hand Richard quickly dulled and it could be said that Reims played without wingers apart from a few flashes from Kuzowski. Every time the wing backs attacked, posession was lost to Laudu.
In addition, Galic, well shackled by Monin, failed to give to Reims the pre-match billing of favourites. On the other had, Red Star, once they had weathered the opening storms began to look the more promising : the first shot from Guéniche (14th) brought a follow-up which Simon finished with a superb left-foot shot. Bacquet set up Milosevic who in turn released Simon, and the magnificent goal was nearly capitalised upon by Garcia (35th), then Milosevic (38th). Reims' defence was starting to look a little under pressure. They batlled, but appeared disorganized and lacking in efficiency, especially Herbet. Dakic threatened but Laudu was in fine form.
The second half started much as the first with Reims looking the stronger. Galic went close with a header before the match took the same direction as earlier. Red Star took control and Jacky Simon aided by Milosevic produced a second goal in the 60th minute, a right foot shot doubling the score.
Reims threw everything forwards in the last half an hour. They were rewarded by a goal from Galic whilst Monin and company were ball-watching. The Yugoslave took his times to dummy his shot three times before beating Laudu. (65th).
Now things looked better for Reims. Hebert was more direct and Krawczyk more in the game and Laudu pulled off a magnificent save to prevent the equaliser from eight meters (67th). Dakic also tried his luck in the 77th only for Laudu, one of the better Parisians to deny him. Undeniably, Reims dominated but it neede just a little more luck and application for Dakic to level the scores as Red Star were restricted to the occasional counter-attack. Even then, most of these were wasted by Milosevic.
Finally, as Simon went close tothe third goal, the match ended with a victory to Red Star, somewhat laboriously, in which Laudu shone along with the defence as a whole an the tireless Bacquet. Garcia was the best of the attck, whilst Guéniche, in trying to be everywhere at once was never quite in the right place. Simon, although well marked scored the two all-important goals, doing what is necessary.
Reims showed that they have good potential but need to be more cohesive and perhaps a greater use of the wingers. Top man was Dakic, despite falling off slightly at the end, as did Brucato, Sillou and lesser so Kuzowski and Krawczyk,. As for Galic, too often neglected, apart from Monin.
SEASON 1986-1987
RED STAR 0 REIMS 2
Red Star : Ruffier, Tinmar, Morin, Drouilhat, Faury, Besançon (Nicolas 69th), Del Alamo, Yally, Sy, Lerat, Bouzidi. Coach : Laurent.
Reims : Velud, Dufrêne, Prince, (Masclaux 62nd), Bozon, Drieu, Badjika, Vercruysse, Florès, Bertolino, Calderaro, Lafond (Giannetta 73rd). Coach : Bianchi.
On the 6th December 1986 for the 22nd week of the second division, Red Star, last with only two points welcomed Reims. Long condemned, Red Star only prolonged the agony. Crowds dwindled at Stade Bauer and came more by habit than in hope of seeing their team pull off a first win. (Now where have we seen that before ?)
Only 663 bothered to turn up, the lowest ever attendance for a visit of Reims. We are indeed a long way from the excitement of the 60's. Despite some improvement at ninety minutes the scoreline read 2-0 to Reims and a twentieth defeat. A goal in each half sufficed - the first a superb header from Prince beating the home goalkeeper, then seconds after the break a moments hesitation from defender Morin left Calderaro to set up Lafond in the 51st minute. Just before the final whistle Lerat, Red Star playmaker tested Velud with a lob.
Red Star were to wait another three matches before their first win at Abbeville (3-1).
G. Valck