The North Lights of Rovaniemi | By George Rutherford (Red Matchday European Football columnist)

This week sees the Dons set out on another European away adventure.

Starting our season’s travels with the first ever trip to Finland for a competitive game.

Our trip on Thursday will set another record.

Since Aberdeen first participated in European competitions in 1967, the city of Reykjavik has held two records. One is well known, the Dons’ biggest win in Europe, a 10-0 win over KR at Pittodrie and 14-1 on aggregate.

However the Icelandic capital will this week lose one Dons’ distinction, our furthest north European destination.

Take a quick look at your mobile phone, or an atlas, if you’re old school.

You’ll see Rovaniemi come in at a longitude of 66.5039 degrees north, pipping Reykjavik’s reading of 64.1466.

Purists will note that Akranes 20km north of the Icelandic capital at 64.2319 holds the title, but we never set foot there, playing both ties in the national stadium.

Your mobile may also tell you that directions are not available between Aberdeen’s first and latest Euro rivals.

It’s a good job that back in the 1890s, English sailors not hampered by modern technology, made their way to Finland and are credited with the introduction of association football there.

1897 saw the first clubs appear followed by the Finnish FA, Suomen Pallolitto.

Refreshingly, football’s world domination hasn’t prevented ice hockey remaining the country’s favourite sport. Not surprising in arctic climes.

The Finnish League was founded in 1930, only joining the professional ranks as late as 1990.It then became known as the Veikkausliga, named after the state-controlled betting agency.

The 12 club top league season runs from April to October.

Two leagues, Ykkonen (Division 1) with 10 clubs and Kakkonen (Division 2) with 36 clubs, divided regionally into 3 sections, complete the upper strata.

Finland’s most successful club is Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi, hailing from the capital Helsinki, a mere eight hour 877km train journey south from Rovaniemi (no more complaints from the central belt please about long trips to Dingwall…)

HJK have been champions 29 times, ahead of FC Haka and Helsinki neighbours Helsingin Palloseura on 9.

The latter, whose best days were in the 20s and 30s, now languishes in the lower leagues. Back in 1958 they made a brief appearance in the European Cup losing 7-0 to Stade Reims.

RoPS were Veikkausligarunners up in 2015 and have 2 Ykonnen titles to their name.

As for the Finnish Cup founded in the auspicious year of 1955, HJK are also top with 13 cup wins ahead of Haka on 12 and Reipas Lahti on 7.

RoPS have lifted the cup twice, their last trophy win, like the Dons’, arriving in 2013.

The Finland national team first played in 1911, losing 5-2 to Sweden. A year later they recorded their best result, taking 4th place in the 1912 Olympic Games.

The national side has yet to qualify for a European or World Cup Final tournament, but has been graced by star players such as Ajax star Jari Litmanen who played 137 times, and Liverpool’s Sami Hyypiä.

Dons fans will also recall Mixu Paatelainen and Markus Heikkinen representing both Finland and the Dons.

Finland have been infrequent visitors to Hampden. Back in 1964 they made their first visit losing 3-1 in front of a crowd of over 55,000. 4 friendlies apart, on their only other visit, 35,505 fans saw a 1-0 Scotland victory on the way to Euro 96.

Aberdeen have never played a side from Finland before in Europe but toured Finland as part of their pre-season campaign in the summer of 1994.

So this week we head north on European duty for only the fifth time.