Happy Dukla Prague day everybody 🎉 to celebrate i've done some #duklafacts

First up the histoire, Dukla Prague, or Dukla Praha as the locals annoyingly insist on mispronouncing it, was formed by the Czechoslovakian Army after the arse end of World War 2 in 1948 whilst Old Git was still at Romford Uni. It was originally known as Armádní tělovýchovný klub (ATK) Praha and started life in the top division of Czechoslovak football. The Dukla organisation, as it later became known, was run by the Czechoslovak Army and included seven sports teams including athletics, rowing, handball, modern pentathlon, cycling and performance darts. no, not performance darts.

They are currently plying their trade at the top of the rather splendidly named Gambrinus Liga and play their home matches at the "Stadion Juliska" which is a multi-use stadium in Prague-Dejvice. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home of Dukla Prague. The stadium is also used for athletics events, including the annual Josef Odložil Memorial pointless running around and chucking things event. The stadium seats 8,150 people on individual seats whilst the rest of the capacity is taken up by terracing. They play their away matches somewhere else.

"One stand, you've only got one stand...." User Posted Link Nice stand though if you are going to go with the whole one stand look then that's not a bad one to pick at all.

In 2012 a statue of former Dukla player and European Footballer of the Year 1962 Josef Masopust was unveiled outside the stadium. User Posted Link

The club changed its name to Ústřední dům armády (ÚDA) Praha in 1953, winning the first of eleven league titles in the 1953 season. The club went on to win the 1956 league title, changing their name to Dukla Praha the same year in honour of those had fallen at the Battle of Dukla Pass in 1944.

Unlike it's more illustrious neighbours Sparta, Dukla was always a proper ‘communist’ representative, founded by the regime as an Army team. It wasn’t until after the Iron Wall disolved that they slowly descended into oblivion. The Dukla Prague team you see playing in Czech league today is, in fact, another club that simply bought the rights to use the name. But let’s not make too much of this because name changing in Czech football is so common and seemingly random that even local fans often don’t know what the hell is going on.

Living in the shadows of Slavia, Sparta and Bohemians 1905 within the capital, Dukla are often overlooked. But the Gambrinus Liga’s smallest club probably wouldn't have it any other way. In 1964 the sports journalist Ota Pavel wrote about Dukla's trip to America in a book entitled 'Dukla Amongst the Skyscrapers', a title that is a parable for the club’s position today.

Dukla are ranked a credible #489th in the world club rankings a mere 66 places behind the mighty FC Norwich so today could prove to be a good test for the low-flying canaries.

The more rounded football fan will be well aware of the HMHB Dukla link but my gosh what a stonker of a badger they sport User Posted Link

Last season they finished a credible 6th in the Paul Gambocini league only missing out on the Europa league jolly by a set of ridiculous results in the Czech up that meant some other chancers got the last spot. #boo

For more info on the Duklaites go to the clubs sexy little website that is sporting our own loverley badger as well here: User Posted Link

Hopefully, today they will be playing in their away kit.

Dukla Prague, we salute you 💂👋 Na míč města!

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Posted By: Tombs, Jul 20, 13:55:24