A Photographic History Of Scottish Football

[Myles Offside]

3 hours ago, Ken Fitlike said:

I thought Hibs got put forward as Easter Road had floodlights….

From Wiki;

The participating clubs in the first five seasons of the European Cup were selected by French football magazine L'Equipe on the basis that they were representative and prestigious clubs in Europe. In 1955/56, English champions Chelsea initially agreed to compete and were drawn against Swedish side Djurgården; however, under pressure from the Football League, who saw the tournament as a distraction to domestic football, they later withdrew from the competition, and were replaced by Gwardia Warszawa of Poland. Scottish champions Aberdeen withdrew under similar circumstances.

Presumably Hibernian came under similar pressure and chose to ignore it.

[hague]

13 minutes ago, Myles Offside said:

From Wiki;

The participating clubs in the first five seasons of the European Cup were selected by French football magazine L'Equipe on the basis that they were representative and prestigious clubs in Europe. In 1955/56, English champions Chelsea initially agreed to compete and were drawn against Swedish side Djurgården; however, under pressure from the Football League, who saw the tournament as a distraction to domestic football, they later withdrew from the competition, and were replaced by Gwardia Warszawa of Poland. Scottish champions Aberdeen withdrew under similar circumstances.

Presumably Hibernian came under similar pressure and chose to ignore it.

Sorry but that is total nonsense Aberdeen wanted to compete in the European cup but the sfa insisted that Hibernian take part because their chairman suggested Scottish clubs take part in the competition.

[A96]

19 minutes ago, Myles Offside said:

From Wiki;

The participating clubs in the first five seasons of the European Cup were selected by French football magazine L'Equipe on the basis that they were representative and prestigious clubs in Europe. In 1955/56, English champions Chelsea initially agreed to compete and were drawn against Swedish side Djurgården; however, under pressure from the Football League, who saw the tournament as a distraction to domestic football, they later withdrew from the competition, and were replaced by Gwardia Warszawa of Poland. Scottish champions Aberdeen withdrew under similar circumstances.

Presumably Hibernian came under similar pressure and chose to ignore it.

Yes , yes , that’s all well and good......but it doesn’t fit in with my agenda that the Dons have always been shafted by the central belt football establishment.

So I’m choosing to ignore it.

Anyone got a problem with that ?

Edited December 31, 2021 by A96

[A96]

2 minutes ago, hague said:

Sorry but that is total nonsense Aberdeen wanted to compete in the European cup but the sfa insisted that Hibernian take part because their chairman suggested Scottish clubs take part in the competition.

That’s more like it !

[Myles Offside]

15 minutes ago, hague said:

Sorry but that is total nonsense Aberdeen wanted to compete in the European cup but the sfa insisted that Hibernian take part because their chairman suggested Scottish clubs take part in the competition.

I haven't said anywhere that Aberdeen didn't want to complete.

[hague]

1 minute ago, Myles Offside said:

I haven't said anywhere that Aberdeen didn't want to complete.

The article you posted clearly says Aberdeen withdrew which is incorrect.

[HibeeJibee]

Hibs were invited by the organisers.

Recent record, pedigree of touring, hosting foreign opposition and floodlights presumably helped.

This was Friday 22nd April (incidentally after Aberdeen won):

[hague]

5 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

Hibs were invited by the organisers.

Recent record, pedigree of touring, hosting foreign opposition and floodlights presumably helped.

This was Friday 22nd April (incidentally after Aberdeen won):

Yeah they were invited by L’Equipe because that’s who the SFA put forward to them as Scotland’s representatives.

[HibeeJibee]

When you consider the nature of that inaugural tournament - invited entrants plus R1 draw decided by committee - it's not so surprising. Proposals for the 'European Cup' sprang from Wolves epic friendlies against European opponents, but as well as logistical considerations there was a desire to include some big names and attractive clubs. Several countries sent their 'best' instead of their actual champion, to contest what was afterall an entirely new concept. In parallel a new Fairs Cup was started to which many - including London - entered city selects, not clubs at all.

Hibs had gone on post-season tours every year since the war bar 1949. Norway... Belgium... Austria & West Germany... France... West Germany again... Brazil... East Germany & Czechoslovakia. Star names like Sparta Prague, Frem Copenhagen, Rapid Vienna and Vasco da Gama had visited Easter Road. They had even played a special exhibition game against Austria Vienna in Brussels in 1953. They'd won the Scottish League on 3 occasions since the war. They had been among the earliest major clubs to install floodlights - indeed as well as entering European Cup in 1955-56, they helped establish an Anglo-Scottish Floodlight League alongside Man City, Newcastle, Spurs, Partick and Hearts (who incidentally played their home games at ER). Edinburgh was host to the new festivals and a popular holiday centre home to a new international airport.

Aberdeen had visited Norway in 1951. Nobody from outside UK had visited Pittodrie. They had never won the Scottish League. They didn't install floodlights until autumn of 1959. Don't know to what extent the airport was even operating at in mid-1950s. This was long before the oil industry, or even a decent A90 - indeed to get to Aberdeen you had to take 2 boat journeys, at Queensferry and Newport, or else go the long way round via the Kincardine Bridge and Perth.

In continental eyes Hibs were among the cosmopolitan elite of European football... from a tourist city on the front of a burgeoning cultural scene. Aberdeen were provincials nobody had heard of... from somewhere past the back of beyond.

Edited December 31, 2021 by HibeeJibee

[Jacksgranda]

5 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

In continental eyes Hibs were among the cosmopolitan elite of European football... from a tourist city on the front of a burgeoning cultural scene. Aberdeen were provincials nobody had heard of... from somewhere past the back of beyond.

Some things never change

[hague]

40 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

When you consider the nature of that inaugural tournament - invited entrants plus R1 draw decided by committee - it's not so surprising. Proposals for the 'European Cup' sprang from Wolves epic friendlies against European opponents, but as well as logistical considerations there was a desire to include some big names and attractive clubs. Several countries sent their 'best' instead of their actual champion, to contest what was afterall an entirely new concept. In parallel a new Fairs Cup was started to which many - including London - entered city selects, not clubs at all.

Hibs had gone on post-season tours every year since the war bar 1949. Norway... Belgium... Austria & West Germany... France... West Germany again... Brazil... East Germany & Czechoslovakia. Star names like Sparta Prague, Frem Copenhagen, Rapid Vienna and Vasco da Gama had visited Easter Road. They had even played a special exhibition game against Austria Vienna in Brussels in 1953. They'd won the Scottish League on 3 occasions since the war. They had been among the earliest major clubs to install floodlights - indeed as well as entering European Cup in 1955-56, they helped establish an Anglo-Scottish Floodlight League alongside Man City, Newcastle, Spurs, Partick and Hearts (who incidentally played their home games at ER). Edinburgh was host to the new festivals and a popular holiday centre home to a new international airport.

Aberdeen had visited Norway in 1951. Nobody from outside UK had visited Pittodrie. They had never won the Scottish League. They didn't install floodlights until autumn of 1959. Don't know to what extent the airport was even operating at in mid-1950s. This was long before the oil industry, or even a decent A90 - indeed to get to Aberdeen you had to take 2 boat journeys, at Queensferry and Newport, or else go the long way round via the Kincardine Bridge and Perth.

In continental eyes Hibs were among the cosmopolitan elite of European football... from a tourist city on the front of a burgeoning cultural scene. Aberdeen were provincials nobody had heard of... from somewhere past the back of beyond.

Sorry but again that’s totally incorrect Aberdeen were Scottish champions that’s the point of the discussion they had also toured Bohemia Moravia Galicia czechoslovakia Hungary South Africa twice Eire Sweden and Norway three times.as for no club from outside the uk at home they had played sides from Canada Romania Austria and Eire I think that shows Aberdeen were well known beyond Britain.

[HibeeJibee]

1 minute ago, hague said:

Sorry but again that’s totally incorrect Aberdeen were Scottish champions that’s the point of the discussion they had also toured Bohemia Moravia Galicia czechoslovakia Hungary South Africa twice Eire Sweden and Norway three times.as for no club from outside the uk at home they had played sides from Canada Romania Austria and Eire I think that shows Aberdeen were well known beyond Britain.

That was all before the war.

Plus they only secured the title days before the entry and draw was announced.

Hibs had visited the continent every year, had important foreign clubs visit, played big floodlight games (even hosted representative & B internationals) and lifted 3 recent league titles.

Aberdeen hadn't any previous titles, hadn't been playing foreign opponents, didn't even have lighting for evening ties and were out in the sticks.

In context of mid-1950s inviting Hibs isn't so surprising.

Much the same story with inaugural Cup Winners' Cup in 1960-61. Despite its name several nations with cups didn't enter at all and others sent league runners-up/submitted invitees/etc.

[hague]

Sorry again you are wrong they toured abroad and played foreign clubs at home in the early fifties. You really need to stop such factually incorrect posts 

[Jacksgranda]

14 minutes ago, hague said:

Sorry again you are wrong they toured abroad and played foreign clubs at home in the early fifties. You really need to stop such factually incorrect posts 

Well if they did tour abroad they haven't the results on the AFC Heritage Site

[hague]

5 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said:

Well if they did tour abroad they haven't the results on the AFC Heritage Site

Try Aberdeen a complete record 1903-1987 they toured Norway in may/June 1951

[Jacksgranda]

2 minutes ago, hague said:

Try Aberdeen a complete record 1903-1987 they toured Norway in may/June 1951

That one is on AFC Heritage for 1950/51. I was checking for pre season rather than post season tours. That's the only tour, there are matches against English and Irish teams right enough

[HibeeJibee]

1 hour ago, HibeeJibee said:

Aberdeen had visited Norway in 1951.

 

24 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said:

Well if they did tour abroad they haven't the results on the AFC Heritage Site

They toured Norway as noted in 1951. I see had 1 game in Dublin in 1955.

Having now checked I don't see others in book, history pages* or AFCH site until tour Canada (1956) and host likes of Bahia+Bangu (1960).

*https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/06/09/1929-1951-summer-tours-scandinavia-to-sa/     https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/06/11/1956-1974-summer-tours-north-america-explored/


EDIT: Interestingly their club website history pages claim that when they flew to an important tie at QotS in 1954-55 it was their first-ever flight outside of Orkneys!

Edited December 31, 2021 by HibeeJibee

[hague]

1 minute ago, Jacksgranda said:

That one is on AFC Heritage for 1950/51. I was checking for pre season rather than post season tours. That's the only tour, there are matches against English and Irish teams right enough

Lost 2-1 at home to admira Vienna on 15-4-54. And beat home farm 4-3 on 6-5-55 not a huge amount of games but still home games against foreign opponents.

[hague]

1 minute ago, HibeeJibee said:

 

They toured Norway as noted in 1951. I see had 1 game in Dublin in 1955.

Having now checked I don't see others in book, history pages* or AFCH site until tour Canada (1956) and host likes of Bahia+Bangu (1960).

*https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/06/09/1929-1951-summer-tours-scandinavia-to-sa/     https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/06/11/1956-1974-summer-tours-north-america-explored/

Sorry my last reply was a bit rude didn’t mean it to be.

[Jacksgranda]

4 minutes ago, hague said:

Lost 2-1 at home to admira Vienna on 15-4-54. And beat home farm 4-3 on 6-5-55 not a huge amount of games but still home games against foreign opponents.

Can't see that one listed, have you the right date, we played East Fife on 14th April 1954?