Aberdeen v Tottenham | UEFA Cup 1973/1974
 

Aberdeen’s first ever competitive fixture against an English club came in the 1973 UEFA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur. The English side had built up an impressive pedigree in European circles and were immediately installed as favourites not only to see off Aberdeen but to win the trophy. Aberdeen for their part seemed to attract all the ‘big guns’ when it came to European football. After negotiating an easy enough path past Irish part timers Finn harps in the opening round, Aberdeen came up against Spurs with the first leg at Pittodrie on 24th October 1973. It was also one of the last occasions that Pittodrie attracted a crowd in excess of 30,000 before seating in most parts of the ground reduced the capacity.
 
While Tottenham did not enjoy the best of starts in the English league that season, they were previous winners of both the ECWC and UEFA Cups. The visitors took the lead after 15 minutes with a stroke of good fortune. Young Aberdeen defender Willie Miller made a superb tackle on McGrath only to watch in agony as the ball broke to Ralph Coates who gave Clark no chance to put Spurs into an early lead. From that point on it was a nit like the Alamo at times as Aberdeen laid siege on the Spurs defence, mindful of their ability to hit on the break. With three minutes left Aberdeen finally made the breakthrough. Trick winger Bertie Miller went past Evans who tripped the Dons winger to give Aberdeen a late penalty. Jim Hermiston scored to level the tie with it all to play for in the White Hart Lane return.
 
The second leg in London on 7th November ended with a convincing 4-1 win for Tottenham but it was far from easy for the Londoners. England 1966 World Cup hero Martin Peters put Tottenham ahead in 13 minutes after a slip by Willie Miller. Aberdeen came back and were awarded a penalty three minutes later when Jarvie was brought down in the box. Unbelievably the referee was encouraged to consult his linesman after Spurs protests and he incredibly changed his mind. Jimmy Neighbour put Tottenham 2-0 up before the break but when Drew Jarvie pulled a goal back in 54 minutes, another for the Dons would put them through on away goals. Despite some incessant pressure, Aberdeen could not make the breakthrough and two goals from Chris McGrath in the final nine minutes was harsh on Aberdeen and gave Spurs a 5-2 aggregate scoreline.

For the record the English side made it to the final but were beaten 4-2 by Feyenoord.

 
Pictures in the gallery are from the first leg at Pittodrie.

The teams at White Hart Lane that night were:
 
Tottenham; Jennings, Evans, Knowles, Pratt, England, Beal, Gilzean, Neighbour, Perryman, Chivers, Peters.
 
Aberdeen; Clark, Hair, Hermiston, Thomson, Young, W Miller, Willoughby, Robb, Jarvie, J Smith, Graham.