Aberdeen will shortly start their 31^st European campaign.

The very first season playing European football started after the Washington Whips has returned home from their travels across American. Day’s before heading out to the US Eddie Turnbull’s side had lost the Scottish Cup final to European Cup Champions Celtic. However, with Celtic going back into the European Cup, the Dons were awarded a spot in the European Cup Winners Cup. Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Hibernian and Rangers represented Scotland in Europe in 1967/1968.

On the 6th September 1967, the Dons played their first tie in European competition and they registered a club record 10-0 win over KR Reykjavik from Iceland at Pittodrie in the European Cup Winners Cup.
 

RedTV | three of the players involved in the starting XI that night, Jimmy Wilson, Tommy McMillan and Jim Whyte spoke to Andrew Shinie about the fixture. To watch the interview please click here
 

Aberdeen v KR Reykjavik match report

The oldest club in Iceland were the Dons first ever opponents in Europe when the sides were drawn in the opening round of the 1967.68 ECWC competition. Aberdeen were in Texas of all places when they learned of the opponents on 5th July 1967 after the draw was made in Belgrade.

KR Reykjavik were founded in 1899 and were Icelandic champions on 19 occasions when they travelled to Pittodrie for the Dons historic debut in the European arena. Reykjavik may have been ‘kingpins’ in Iceland but they were strictly amateur, captained by Ellert Schram, a 27 year-old Reykjavik lawyer. Their manager Sveinn Jonsson was a player for ten seasons and was in his first coaching job in charge of the side. Bjarni Felixon was the club secretary and also doubled up as KR’s left back.

Aberdeen manager Eddie Turnbull predicted his side would score a few goals and he was certainly proven correct as Aberdeen went on to win the opening tie 10-0, the club’s record score in European football. Frank Munro had the distinction of scoring Aberdeen’s first ever goal in Europe and he went on to complete a hat trick in that tie. Since then only Mark McGhee and Adam Rooney have equalled that feat. Reykjavik held out for 19 minutes but after that the Dons imposed themselves on the game and virtually scored at will. Bobby Clark had one save to make in the game, from Hafsteinsson in 82 minutes. The goal avalanche came from Munro in 19, 53 and 62 minutes, Jimmy Smith in 32 and 78 minutes, Jim Storrie in 21 and 56, Tom McMillan 44, Ian Taylor 49 and Jens Petersen in 72 minutes.

On that same evening a certain Alex Ferguson scored for the Scottish League against Ireland in Belfast, while at Pittodrie, the 14,000 crowd were surprised to see Aberdeen reserve keeper Ernie McGarr listed as substitute against Reykjavik. Harry Melrose had been listed but European rules at that time meant that only a substitute keeper could be listed and not outfield players as had been the way in the Scottish League.

Aberdeen completed the job in the Icelandic capital a week later with a 4-1 win that also brought them a rebuke from manager Turnbull who was annoyed at the loss of an Hafsteinsson volley in the 74th minute after Aberdeen had built up a four goal lead in the return.

Wednesday 6th September 1967

ECWC 1st Round

ABERDEEN 10:0 KR Reykjavik

Aberdeen; Clark, Whyte, Shewan, Petersen, McMillan, Buchan, J Wilson, Munro, Storrie, Smith, Taylor. Sub; McGarr.

Attendance; 14,000