European competition – even with the current 4,000-team Europa League – is generally a privilege reserved for the historic powers. And it’s usually those clubs’ achievements which pass into football folklore. Plenty has been written about Rangers’ resplendent Cup Winners Cup’ win of 1971-72, and of course, the Lisbon Lions, who were Britain’s first club to win European honours, with the 1967 European Cup.
But a handful of sides currently outside of the Premiership have had their own forays into Europe – filled with joy, despair and last-gasp drama. From sleeping giants to lower-league mainstays, here’s six of the best ties involving sides currently in the Scottish Lower Leagues.
Livingston v. Vaduz (Agg: 1-1. Livingston advance on away goals) [2002-03]
Despite Liechtenstein’s national team having been about as much of an international powerhouse as Sealand, capital club FC Vaduz ply their trade in the Swiss Premier League, and were embarking on their 8th European Campaign. Livi, meanwhile, were fresh off the back of a 3rd-placed SPL finish, which saw the seemingly wealthy and healthy Lions make their way into Europe.
The first leg, a 1-1 draw in Vaduz was comfortably the better game. Ex-Deportivo la Coruña midfielder Rubio pounced after Gary Bollan’s shot was parried away, giving the West Lothian side a 51st minute lead. Burgmeier equalised ten minutes later, after a neatly worked move, and it ended all-square.
The replay was a turgid affair, and memorable only for the fact that Vaduz’s last-gasp ‘goal’ was scored just an instant after the referee’s whistle blew. A relieved Livi marched onto the second round, where they were beaten 8-6 on aggregate by Sturm Graz. At least they went out with a bang!
Hibs v. Rot-Weiss Essen (Agg: 5-1) [1955-56]
Just as Scotland provided Britain’s first European Cup winners, they also provided its first entrants – Hibernian. Hugh Shaw’s side had only finished fifth in the top-flight the previous season, but were chosen to join the newly-founded competition due to their success in the early part of the decade. Their opponents – Rot-Weiss Essen, fresh from their first (and only) German title.
The Hibees burst onto the continental red carpet with a 4-0 win away at the Georg-Melches-Stadion, with three of the Famous Five – with Turnbull, Reilly and Ormond all on the scoresheet, on a fantastic night in Germany. The return leg finished 1-1, as Essen stopped the rot (sorry) at Easter Road, when Jock Buchanan’s goal was cancelled out by Abromsil. One German paper was especially admiring after the first leg, claiming “the Hibernian team from Scotland gave the greatest display by a British team since the war.” Possibly even better than last month’s 1-0 win at Alloa, then.
Raith Rovers v. Bayern Munich (Agg: 1-4) [1995-96]
The remarkable events at the Olympiastadion were covered superbly on a recent Terrace Podcast episode, but it would be ridiculous not to include this unforgettable tie. Following Rovers’ unbelievable victory over Celtic in the 1995 Scottish League Cup, the club embarked on their inaugural European campaign, beating GÍ Gøta of the Faroes and IA (Iceland) to set up a tie which Bayern Munich fans had always dreamt of…
A respectable 2-0 loss at Stark’s Park saw the Kirkcaldy club head to the cavernous Olympic venue proud of their efforts, but with pride seemingly the only thing to play for. However, Danny Lennon scored the opener to send the away fans into raptures, and Rovers led 1-0 at half-time.
Bayern scored twice to progress, and eventually went on to win the tournament. Manager Otto Rehhagel called the two games against Raith “the toughest we endured during the competition”, thus settling the question ‘Are Raith Rovers better than Barcelona” once and for all.
Greenock Morton v. Chelsea (Agg: 3-9) [1968-69]
Even as an established Division One (current Premiership) club, Morton’s tie against ‘The Kings of the Kings Row’ always looked like a mismatch, and so it proved. Notable mainly for being Morton’s only ever European tie, and one of the early Anglo-Scottish clashes in Europe, it was an insurmountable task for the Cappielow club to turn around a 5-0 first-leg defeat at Stamford Bridge.
However, 8,000 turned out at a cold Cappielow to watch Morton produce a spirited performance, losing the home fixture 4-3. There was a glimpse of hope when Morton raced into a 3-1 lead, with Børge Thorup, Joe Mason and Tony Tailor netting within the first half-hour. Dave Sexton’s men came roaring back, with Blues legend Bobby Tambling completing the turnaround. European football must feel like a distant dream these days, though if Jim
Duffy can take Morton back into continental competition, he might even become popular.
St Mirren v. Slavia Prague (Agg: 3-1) [1985-86]
With the passing of the years, and decisions like appointing Tommy Craig as manager, it’s easy to forget that St Mirren were really rather good, way back when. Amidst top-six finishes in ‘84-85 and ‘85-86, and four European campaigns in eight years (1980-88), this was surely among the highlights.
After a narrow defeat in the Czech capital, Brian Gallagher’s goal took the contest to extra-time, before the talented Frank McGarvey popped up with two strikes, whilst Campbell Money made crucial saves at the other end. Alex Miller left as boss at the end of the season, later going on to manage JEF United China, AIK and Sibir Novosibirsk. So, as far away from Paisley as possible, in other words.
Dunfermline Athletic v. West Bromwich Albion (Agg: 1-0) [1968-69]
In retrospect, the biggest shock about this scoreline is the fact that it wasn’t a huge shock at all. Albion may now be Premier League heavyweights, and Dunfermline just marginally better than Ayr United, but back in the ’60s, the Pars were something of a powerhouse. Scottish Cup winners in 1961 and 1968, and pipped only by the Old Firm clubs in the table this season, this narrow victory took Dunfermline into the semi-finals of the sadly defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup.
A humongous crowd of 26,000 squeezed into East End Park for an objectively drab, but gripping 0-0 draw. And a big crowd of Pars fans also got to see the away game from the comfort of their home ground – with the club erecting two giant TV screens in East End Park. For those who made the pilgrimage to the West Midlands, though, it was a worthwhile trip. Pat Gardner’s early strike was the difference at The Hawthorns, and set up a semi-final tie with Slovan Bratislava, which the Pars lost 2-1 on aggregate. They may have been nearly men, but nearly can still bring fans a lot of joy.
Written by Dave Burin (@GoldenVision90)