Hmm, subjective. As qualification wasn't specifically performance/success based, I'd personally say not really.
Yes and no. The Fairs Cup was a recognised European trophy at the time and I was there at the home game in the Final, so it counts. FACT.
Aside from the one city one club rule the Fairs Cup was based on league position so I would say a slightly guarded yes to that. Still a tough competition to win at the time. Not sure I can really see the difference between the Intertoto and the Europa Conference aside from an actual one off final so again a guarded yes albeit third tier European competition.
I’ve drank out of bigger and more prestigious coffee mugs than the inter toto cup, and that was made of polysteirein and had Starbucks logo on it
Yes and no, rules for qualification were quite different, not as prestigious. From wiki; While the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup is generally considered to be the predecessor to the UEFA Cup, it was not organised by UEFA and ran under different regulations; consequently, the confederation does not consider clubs' records in the Fairs Cup to be part of their European record
Was a cup once went the furthest in the competition out the 3 certificate winners. Still on display at SJP
That last part kind of answers the main thread question then. If it's not officially recognised as part of a club's European success record, then it can't be a 'proper' trophy. Whether or not Trev was there to see it.
Yes it was considered a major competition at the time so it counts. If you win a major competition and that competition ends it still counts although the outsiders at clubs who didn't win it will say otherwise... hmmm I wonder why. The draws these days are all rigged so who cares how you entered the competition? You still had to win it.
Only the last 30 years count now .. historical success as I recall...only problem is they omit everything they want to.
The Fairs Cup was a forerunner to the UEFA Cup so to my mind it can be counted as a proper trophy. The first time I went in St James Park was to welcome the players back after winning it. I was four years old and don't remember seeing any players though.