Next Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the culmination of Wimbledon’s first and – to date – only foray into European football.

It’s not a milestone which will raise too much celebration or hullabaloo.

However the Dons, then managed by an unimpressed Joe Kinnear, were cajoled into entering the Intertoto Cup after UEFA had threatened the FA it would ban English clubs from all European competitions if it did not fill the three available spaces.

Uefa president Lennart Johnansson was taking it all very seriously, but everyone knew it was all a monumental waste of time and energy.

So it was that a Wimbledon XI made up of youth-teamers and loanees lined up for their opening game with Turkish side Bursaspor at Brighton’s long-gone Goldstone Ground.

Just 1,879 fans turned up for a 4-0 defeat, but those that followed the brief foray into Europe can say they caught a first glimpse of then 18-year-old Jason Euell, who went on to become a bona fide Dons legend.

Draws with Kosice of Slovakia and Beitar Jerusalem ended any chance of progression from a five-team group before a 3-0 defeat to Charleroi in Belgium wrapped things up.

The saving grace of the whole pointless exercise was a laudable bit of solidarity among the Premier League clubs, who shared the bill for fines imposed on Wimbledon and Tottenham for fielding weakened sides.

And what of Spurs? Somewhat bizarrely the team for their venture included a then 33-year-old Alan Pardew.

During his four appearances in the famous white shirt he suffered the ignominy of being a member of the team that suffered a club record 8-0 defeat to Cologne.

Picture gallery: Crystal Palace boss cuts the ribbon on Sutton United's new pitch

Chelsea skipper Terry is face in crowd as the Blues beat Ks

It’s safe to say the now Crystal Palace manager took more pleasure out of this week’s guest appearance, cutting the ribbon on Sutton United’s new 3G pitch.

A Palace XI visiting Gander Green Lane this week and a young Chelsea side playing at Kingstonian on Monday were more valuable to football in these parts than the nonsense which took place 20 years ago.