British Football's Early Adventures in European Club Competitions

Journey into the Unknown explores the early years and development of pan-European football competition alongside changing British attitudes to overseas teams. It charts how European club competition became an exciting spectacle as away matches across the continent opened the football community’s eyes to just what was possible.

Journey into the Unknown explores the early years and development of pan-European football competition alongside changing British attitudes to overseas teams.

There was once a belief in Britain that England and Scotland were among the leaders in the development of football and therefore de facto champions of the game. But when UEFA introduced a competition for Europe’s top clubs, the Brits got a rude shock. It soon became clear that sides like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Benfica possessed more technically gifted players, and that Football League clubs had much to learn.

This fascinating book:

• Examines the development of pan-European football competitions, from the Mitropa Cup and Latin Cup to the introduction of the European Cup in 1955
• Explores the reluctance of England to get involved, from the stand-off with FIFA to the Football League denying Chelsea the chance to enter the first European Cup
• Covers Scotland’s early adventures, with Hibernian the first club to play in European competition and Rangers making early strides
• Looks at Manchester United’s early years in Europe, ending with the Munich tragedy in 1958, including Sir Matt Busby’s role in encouraging British involvement
• Includes how Europe influenced clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, the first English trophy in 1963, Celtic’s success in 1967 and Manchester United winning the European Cup in 1968, Cup Winners’ Cup successes and Liverpool’s domination of Europe
• Turns the spotlight on British xenophobia and the threat of playing abroad, with violence on and off the pitch and suggestions of cheating

Discover how European club competition became an exciting spectacle that opened the football community’s eyes to just what was possible. Scotland and England gained a foothold in Europe, but things took a disastrous turn with the Heysel Stadium tragedy in 1985.