Today marks the 50th year of European football for Aberdeen Football Club. Some of the Club’s most memorable performances have come in European competition so to mark this special occasion we have decided to take a trip down memory lane, as well as share some facts and figures you may or may not already know about the Dons long history in Europe.
We also asked the Red Army to share some of their memories on social media and have picked out a few.

The Red Army’s European Memories:

Ian Fulton –
“Must be Gothenburg, but 50 years ago tonight was my first.”

Lewis Sutherland –
“Bayer at home obviously, but knocking out holders Ipswich Town in the UEFA Cup was great. It was my also my first European away trip.”

Rod Hutchison –
“That free kick against Bayern, seeing off a very good Ipswich at home, semi final cup winners cup (first leg) when we were all but through before full time and Croatia a couple of years ago. Many more too.”

Edward Robert Hyslop –
“Hiding behind my parents’ sofa as the minutes ticked away in Gothenburg.”

Phil Hunter –
“The very first European game against Reykjavik was a bit special for me, maybe because we banged in 10 goals was something to do with it.”

Ryan Crombie –
“Rijeka 0-3 Aberdeen – A stunning, sweltering and sweaty evening in the stands of the Stadion Kantrida as the Dons came away with one of the greatest away European results in the clubs history.”

Graham Findlay –
“Beating Ipswich Town. In fact hammering them when they were holders of the UEFA Cup. This was the start of our super team.”

Daniel Corr –
“Lee Richardson's goal against Torino is one of my favourite memories”

Did You Know?
 
– In 1955/56 the first edition of the European Cup took place. Aberdeen were Scottish League Champions so nowadays would have competed in the tournament, however Hibernian were invited to take part due to being one of the founding clubs.

– In the 1970/71 Aberdeen became the first club to be knocked out of European competition via a penalty shootout, losing to Hungarian side Honved. Record goal scorer, Joe Harper scored his first European goal in the first leg.

– Aberdeen have faced British opposition four times in Europe. As well as Tottenham and Ipswich, Liverpool and Barry Town of Wales have been opponents.
 
– Aberdeen played British opposition in Europe for the first time when Tottenham Hotspur defeated the Dons over two legs in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup.

– Aberdeen knocked out UEFA Cup holders, Ipswich Town in the 1981/82 competition after one of the best performances Pittodrie has ever seen.

– The Dons have played 20 of their ties v German opposition- more than any other nation.
 
– Three Aberdeen players have scored hat-trick's in European competition. Frank Munro, Mark McGhee and Adam Rooney.

– Aberdeen have scored 195 goals in European competition. Captain Graeme Shinnie with the latest thanks to his strike against Apollon Limassol in the Europa League back in July at Pittodrie.

– There have been four own goals scored in Europe in favour of Aberdeen.
 
– Ahead of the 2005/06 season Aberdeen added two stars to their crest in recognition of our two European trophies.

– Aberdeen only lost one match on their way to winning the 1983 European Cup Winners – the second leg in Waterschei.

– Mark McGhee scored the 100th European goal for Aberdeen. Robbie Winters scored the 150th goal.

– The entire playing squad from the 1983 Cup Winners Cup triumph were Scottish.