Before his memorable exploits with Portadown, Stewart had already sampled European football with former club Glentoran.
“Although the game was played across the border, huge numbers of Serbian fans travelled, and they were incredibly loud and hostile,” he said of the away leg in Hungary.
“It made things a bit tougher, but as a footballer you love walking into that kind of atmosphere. Those are the nights you dream about.
“Standing next to lads who are 6’3″ or 6’4”, you’re facing elite athletes with raw power and blistering pace—it was a real test.
“People have asked me for years what it’s like against top full-time pros, and it’s simple—they think quicker, they run quicker, and they’re stronger.
“You felt a bit anxious, but not scared. My mindset was to embrace it. You’re in awe, sure, but you’ve a job to do and you won’t let yourself down.”
The Ports defender felt a 4-0 defeat to Europe’s best side was a result they could hold their heads up about.
“We ended up losing 4-0 after two late goals, but we were very proud of how we played and how we rose to the challenge.
“Sinisa Mihajlovic later spent most of his career in Italy with Lazio and Sampdoria. He was special—he scored two late free-kicks from outside the box.
“From 30 yards you’d think you were safe, but he finished his career recognised as one of the greatest dead-ball specialists the game has seen. He really stood out.”
The second leg at Shamrock Park was unforgettable, with 1991 European Golden Boot winner Darko Pancev among the scorers for the illustrious visitors.
“There was huge excitement. It was a fantastic night for the fans, a real reward for their support,” Stewart reflected.
“Having the European champions at Shamrock Park is probably something we’ll never see again—maybe at any Irish League ground.”
“Darko Pancev moved to AC Milan a year later. He’d been scoring for fun in the Yugoslav league before heading to Italy, which was the place to be then—just like the Premier League is now. He was a terrific striker.”
Current Irish League champions Larne will host Red Star in the first leg on Tuesday, 21 July (20:00 BST), with the return away on Wednesday, 29 July (19:00 BST).