Miller (a name synonymous with the Dons Euro history it would appear) was the unfortunate Dundee United defender who turned the ball into his own net in the 1966/67 Scottish Cup semi-final at Dens Park. Although the Dons lost out in the final to Celtic, it was that 4th minute 'strike' that was enough to clinch the Dons' first European adventure as Scotland's representatives in the Cup Winners Cup. If the qualification had been low key, then the build up to the match and the game itself were completely different.
Aberdeen 10 - 0 KR Reykjavik
HT Score: Aberdeen 4 - 0 KR Reykjavik
European Cup Winners Cup First Round First Leg
Aberdeen scorers: Munro 19, Storrie 21, Smith 32, McMillan 44, Taylor 49, Munro 53, Storrie 56, Munro 62, Petersen 72, Smith 78.06/09/1967 | KO: 19:30
Only One Tommy Miller
Europe has provided some high moments in the history of this great club, but where did this Euro adventure start? To answer that particular question, we need to turn the clock back to 3.04pm on the 1st April 1967. Step forward Tommy Miller, the man who provided the key to unlock the European door, although it's doubtful whether poor Tommy would want to be reminded of that fact.
The Dons were drawn to face Icelandic outfit KR Reykjavik with the first leg scheduled to be played at Pittodrie on the 6th September. The Dons had prepared for the tie with a tough League Cup qualifying section that included both the Old Firm and Dundee United. Having started with a respectable 1-1 draw at Pittodrie against Rangers the Dons then suffered three straight defeats on the road, including a humiliating 5-0 drubbing at Tannadice. After earning a second point at Pittodrie with a draw against United, the Dons were out of the competition by the time Celtic visited the city the Saturday before the European debut.
23,000 fans witnessed the Dons make the perfect start when Jimmy Smith headed home in the 7th minute. The game quickly deteriorated into farce however when referee J.R.P. Gordon awarded Celtic a soft penalty when Lennox stumbled inside the box after losing out in a race with Dons keeper Bobby Clark. After two bookings for protests, Gemmell stepped up to take the spot kick and Clark made a fine save. To the consternation of the Dons fans Mr. Gordon was unhappy with the first effort and ordered a retake. Gemmell made no mistake the second time and beat Clark to draw Celtic level.
A rather irate fan ill-advisedly tried to attack Mr. Gordon, as did a dog. The fan received a life ban, but records don?t record the fate of his canine accomplice. Aberdeen then crumbled and Celtic ran out 5-1 winners in a game marred by crowd disturbances. So it was under this cloud of heavy defeats and media calls for ground closure that the Dons headed in to the uncharted territory of European football.
Knattspyrnufelag Reykjavik (lets call them KR from now on) were an amateur outfit, like all Icelandic teams of the time. The players had to pay £4 to join the club and they were also required to provide their own kit. Despite this KR had won their championship 19 times and their domestic cup six times out of the seven competitions. So apart from the match programme's references to local bonding with Icelandic trawlermen, very little was known about the opponents.
Nevertheless 14,000 fans turned up to see Aberdeen make their European debut and a cautious opening it was as the Dons eased their way into this Euro lark. It became blatantly obvious after a short while that Aberdeen were a different class to KR and once the players realised this, they settled into their stride and created a record win that no subsequent Dons team has bettered. Francis Munro claimed the first European goal for Aberdeen in the 19th minute with Storrie, Smith and McMillan adding to his opener for a 4-0 half time lead. By the end of the evening, Munro had grabbed a hat trick, the Dons had hit the net ten times and Bobby Clark was forced to make only one save in the closing minutes.
The adventure had started with a new Scottish scoring record of 10-0. The Dons completed the job two weeks later with a 4-1 win in Reykjavik. It had been all too easy, but it wouldn't be too long before the Dons came up against tougher opposition, and it was to take Aberdeen another 14 years before they progressed beyond the second round of a European competition.
Aberdeen Teamsheet
Clark, Whyte, Shewan, Petersen, McMillan, Buchan, Wilson, Munro, Storrie, Smith, Taylor.
Clark, Whyte, Shewan, Petersen, McMillan, Buchan, Wilson, Munro, Storrie, Smith, Taylor.
KR Reykjavik Teamsheet
Petursson, K.Jonsson, B.Felixson, P.Jonsson, Schram, Kjartansson, Markan, G.Felixson, Baldvinsson, Hafsteinsson, Jacobsson.
Petursson, K.Jonsson, B.Felixson, P.Jonsson, Schram, Kjartansson, Markan, G.Felixson, Baldvinsson, Hafsteinsson, Jacobsson.
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Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH