1955/56 - 1967/68
1955/56 - 1967/68
The European Cup
The first European club competition had been
held as far back as 1897 between teams from the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
later tournaments included the Mitropa Cup (1927-1939), the Coupe des Nations
(held in 1930) and the Copa Latina (1949-1957). In 1955, a competition
to be contested by the champions of each European league was suggested
by French journalist Gabriel Hanot following claims in the British press
that Wolverhampton Wanderers were the "Champions of the World" after a
run of victories in friendly matches. The following season, "The European
Champion Clubs' Cup" was contested by 16 teams entering on a 2 leg knock-out
basis, leading to a single match final. The tournament was deemed a success
and the format continued throughout the 1955-1968 period, with the addition
of a Preliminary Round to accommodate further national representatives
(including England) from 1956/57. A Second Round was introduced in 1966/67
which meant the First Round now involved 32 teams.
The European Cup-Winners Cup
The European Cup-Winners Cup was introduced as
an experiment in season 1960/61 to be contested by clubs who had most recently
won their domestic cup competition, only 10 teams entered (including FA
Cup holders Wolverhampton Wanderers) but by the end of the decade there
were as many teams taking part as there were in the European Cup*. The
format was the same, a series of two-leg knock-out rounds leading to a
final to be played at a pre-selected venue**. Although domestic cup competitions
in mainland Europe were not as eagerly contested as their British counterparts,
the Cup-Winners Cup proved to be a popular tournament and was considered
to be a more worthy honour than the Fairs Cup***.
*Tottenham Hotpsur won the domestic
League title and FA Cup double in 1961, this resulted in Tottenham entering
the European Cup whilst beaten FA Cup finalists Leicester City were allowed
to enter the Cup-Winners Cup.
**The first Cup-Winners Cup final
in 1961 was a 2 leg home and away affair.
***Domestic cup winners who's final
league position could have secured them a place in the Fairs Cup would
always enter the Cup-Winners Cup instead.
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Glancing at the record books, the Fairs Cup appears
to have been a somewhat bizarrely conceived competition initially contested
by representative XI's from a selection of major European cities. In fact,
it had simply evolved from the friendly matches that had been played during
Europe's trade fairs.
England entered two teams into the first tournament
which began in 1955, 'Birmingham' and 'London', with the players being
chosen from their respective local league clubs. The fixtures were all
scheduled to co-incide with the trade fairs, hence the tournament's name
and the three years it originally took to complete. Four groups of 3 or
4 teams competed for a place in a two-leg semi-final and ultimately a two-leg
final (two teams withdrew along the way). London reached the final but
lost to Barcelona.
The next Fairs Cup tournament settled down into
a more familiar looking two-leg knock-out format* this time contested by
genuine league clubs, but it still took two season's to complete and only
those based in trade fair cities took part. The competition then became
an annual event from 1960/61 with clubs soon to be loosely entering on
the basis of finishing among the runners-up in their domestic league campaigns,
but a one club per city rule persisted until 1976.
*The 1963/64 and 1964/65 finals were single match affairs, all other finals were decided over two legs.
This page only deals with the European finals,
ITV coverage of earlier rounds is dealt with in the relevant club's ITV
regional page, see home page here.
ITV finals are in white, BBC or non-televised
finals are in grey.
1955/56
European Cup Final
Wed 13th June Real Madrid 4
(Di Stéfano, Rial 2, Marquitos) Stade de Reims 3 (Leblond, Templin,
Hidalgo)
Venue: Paris
BBC
*BBC television had coverage
from 9:30-10:15pm, probably live 2nd half. Madrid - Di Stéfano
14, Rial 30, 79, Marquitos 67, Reims - Leblond
6, Templin 10, Hidalgo 62. Many spectators returning home from
the game were involved in a train crash near Reims which killed 11 and
injured 150.
1956/57
European Cup Final
Thu 30th May Real Madrid 2
(Di Stéfano, Gento) Fiorentina 0
Madrid
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
Di Stéfano 70, Gento 76
1957/58
Fairs Cup Final
1st Leg
Wed 5th Mar London XI 2 (Greaves,
Langley(pen)) Barcelona 2 (Martínez, Tejada)
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
London - Greaves 10, Langley(pen) 88, Barcelona - Martínez 7, Tejada
35
2nd Leg
Thu 1st May Barcelona 6 (Suárez
2, Martínez, Evaristo 2, Vergés) London XI 0
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
Suárez 6, 8, Martínez 42, Evaristo 52, 75, Vergés
63.
European Cup Final
Wed 28th May Real Madrid 3
(Di Stéfano, Rial, Gento) AC Milan 2 (Schiaffino, Grillo)
Brussels
BBC LIVE
*Live coverage on the BBC from
6.00-7.45pm. Madrid - Di Stéfano 74, Rial 79, Gento
107, Milan - Schiaffino 59, Grillo 78.
1958/59
European Cup Final
Wed 3rd June Real Madrid 2
(Mateos, Di Stéfano) Stade de Rheims 0
Stuttgart
REDIFFUSION & GRANADA
*Rediffusion & Granada had
coverage at 6.40 and 7.00pm, the game was due to end around 6:45pm British
time, so perhaps the intention was to show the last 5 minutes or so and
the lifting of the trophy. BBC showed highlights between 9:00-10:00pm (with
Ken Wolstenholme commentating) along with Boxing. Mateos 2, Di Stéfano
47.
1959/60
Fairs Cup Final
1st Leg
Tue 29th Mar Birmingham City
0 Barcelona 0
BBC LIVE 2nd Half
*BBC 8:10-9:00pm. The match
kicked-off at 7:15pm.
2nd Leg
Wed 4th May Barcelona 4 (Martínez,
Czibor 2, Coll) Birmingham City 1 (Hooper)
*No British TV coverage scheduled
(no football was billed in the Radio Times for "Sportsview" at 8:25-9:00pm).
Martínez 3, Czibor 6, 48, Coll 78, Hooper 82. Barcelona win 4-1
on agg.
European Cup Final
Wed 18th May Real Madrid 7
(Di Stéfano 3, Puskás 4(1pen)) Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (Kress,
Stein 2)
Hampden Park
SCOTTISH TV LIVE
*Scottish TV (and possibly Grampian)
showed this final live from 7.25-9.30pm. BBC also showed it live from 7:25-9:15pm
(Ken Wolstenholme). Madrid - Di Stéfano 27, 30, 73, Puskás
46, 56(pen), 60, 71, Frankfurt - Kress 18, Stein
72, 75.
1960/61
Cup-Winners Cup Final
1st Leg
Wed 17th May Rangers 0 Fiorentina
2 (Milan 2)
BBC LIVE 2nd Half
*BBC had live coverage between
8:15-9:15pm (arranged at short notice, not in Radio Times). Luigi Milan
12, 88.
2nd Leg
Sat 27th May Fiorentina 2 (Milan,
Hamrin) Rangers 1 (Scott)
*Possibly SCOTTISH TV highligths
on "Scotsport Special" the following night at 10:10-10:40pm. Luigi
Milan 12, Alex Scott 60, Kurt Hamrin 86.
European Cup Final
Wed 31st May Benfica 3 (Águas,
Ramallets(og), Coluna) Barcelona 2 (Kocsis, Czibor)
Berne
BBC LIVE
Ken Wolstenholme
*Live on the BBC from 6:51-
8:45pm. Benfica - Águas 30, Ramallets(og) 32, Coluna
55, Barcelona - Kocsis 20, Czibor 75).
Fairs Cup Final
1st Leg
Wed 27th Sep Birmingham City
2 (Hellawell, Orritt) AS Roma 2 (Manfredini 2)
*No British TV coverage scheduled
(though there was a "Sportsview" on the BBC at 8:25-9:00pm). Manfredini
30, 56, Hellawell 78, Orritt 85.
2nd Leg
Wed 11th Oct AS Roma 2 (Farmer(og),
Pestrin) Birmingham City 0
*No British TV coverage. ("Sportsview"
was on the BBC at 8:15-8:45pm but did not bill football). Farmer(og) 56,
Pestrin 90. Roma win 4-2 on agg.
1961/62
European Cup Final
Wed 2nd May Benfica 5 (Águas,
Cavém, Coluna, Eusébio 2) Real Madrid 3 (Puskás 3)
Amsterdam
BBC Highlights
Ken Wolstenholme
*BBCtv "Sportsview Special"
10:05-10:35pm. Benfica - Águas 25, Cavém 34,
Coluna 51, Eusébio 65, 68, Madrid - Puskás
17, 23, 38.
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Wed 10th May Atlético
Madrid 1 (Peiró) Fiorentina 1 (Hamrin)
Glasgow
BBC LIVE 2nd Half
Ken Wolstenholme
*BBC 7:55-8:45pm. Peiró
11, Hamrin 27.
Replay
Wed 5th Sep Atlético
Madrid 3 (Jones, Mendonça, Peiró)) Fiorentina 0
Stuttgart
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
Jones 8, Mendonça 27, Peiró 59.
1962/63
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Wed 15th May Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Greaves 2, White,
Dyson 2) Atlético Madrid 1 (Collar(pen))
Rotterdam
ITV Highlights
*ITV showed highlights in two parts at 10:35-11:05pm
& then 11:15-11:35pm (except ATV Midlands who opted out), BBC also
had highlights with Ken Wolstenholme commentating from 10:40-11:10pm. Spurs
- Greaves 16, 80, White 35, Dyson 67, 85, Madrid - Collar(pen) 47.
European Cup Final
Wed 22nd May AC Milan 2 (Altafini
2) Benfica 1 (Eusébio)
Wembley
BBC LIVE
Ken Wolstenholme
*A midweek afternoon kick-off
time live on BBC1 from 2:45-5:00pm, highlights were possibly included on
"Sportsview" later that evening at 8:45-9:15pm. Milan - Altafini 58, 66,
Benfica - Eusébio 18.
1963/64
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Wed 13th May Sporting Lisbon
3 (Mascarenhas, Figueiredo 2) MTK Budapest 3 (Sandor 2, Kuti)
Brussels
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
Lisbon - Mascarenhas 40, Figueiredo 48, 80, Budapest - Sandor 19, 75, Kuti
73.
Replay
Fri 15th May Sporting Lisbon
1 (Morais) MTK Budapest 0
Antwerp
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
João Morais 19.
European Cup Final
Wed 27th May Inter Milan 3
(Mazzola 2, Milani) Real Madrid 1 (Felo)
Vienna
BBC LIVE 2nd Half
Ken Wolstenholme
*Live 2nd half coverage on "Sportsview"
BBC1 8:20-9:15pm (except in Scotland). Milan - Mazzola 43, 76, Milani 61,
Madrid - Felo 70.
1964/65
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Wed 19th May West Ham United
2 (Sealey 2) TSV 1860 München 0
Wembley
BBC LIVE
*BBC showed the whole match
live from 7:25-9:15pm. Alan Sealey 70, 72.
European Cup Final
Thu 27th May Inter Milan 1
(Jair) Benfica 0
Milan
BBC Highlights
*BBC1 10:35-11:20pm. Jair 42.
1965/66
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Thu 5th May Borussia Dortmund
2 (Held, Libuda) Liverpool 1 (Hunt) [AET]
Hampden
SCOTTISH & GRANADA LIVE
*The Scottish & Granada
regions showed this final live from 7:25pm, BBC1 also showed it live -
starting at the same time of 7:25pm - with Ken Wolstenholme commentating.
Held 62, Hunt 68, Held 62, Libuda 109.
European Cup Final
Wed 11th May Real Madrid 2
(Amaro, Serena) Partizan Belgrade 1 (Vasovic)
Brussels
*Surprisingly no British TV
coverage, BBC1 were only scheduled to show highlights of Leeds' Fairs Cup
SF v Real Zaragoza at 10:30-11:00pm. Madrid - Amaro 70, Serena
76, Partizan -Vasovic 55.
1966/67
European Cup Final
Thu 25th May Celtic 2 (Gemmell,
Chalmers) Inter Milan 1 (Mazzola(pen))
Lisbon
SCOTTISH & GRAMPIAN LIVE
*Scottish & Grampian showed
the match live from 5:25-7:10pm (with a break for the news). The game was
not shown by other ITV regions but viewers could watch it live on BBC1
from 5:20-7:30pm (also with a break for the news). Milan - Mazzola
7(pen), Gemmell 62, Chalmers 85.
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Wed 31st May Bayern Munich
1 (Roth) Rangers 0 [AET]
Nuremburg
SCOTTISH & GRAMPIAN LIVE
*Live coverage in the Scottish
& Grampian ITV regions began at 7:30pm, BBC1 also showed it live from
7:25pm with Ken Wolstenholme commentating. Roth 108.
Fairs Cup Final
1st Leg
Wed 30th Aug Dinamo Zagreb
2 (Cercek, Rora) Leeds United 0
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
Cercek 39, Rora 59
2nd Leg
Wed 6th Sep Leeds United 0 Dinamo
Zagreb 0
BBC Highlights
*BBC1 10:45-11:20pm.
1967/68
Cup-Winners Cup Final
Thu 23rd May AC Milan 2 (Hamrin
2) Hamburger SV 0
Rotterdam
*No British TV coverage scheduled.
Kurt Hamrin 3, 19.
European Cup Final
Wed 29th May Manchester United
4 (Charlton 2, Best, Kidd) Benfica 1 (Graça) [AET]
Wembley
ITV LIVE
Hugh Johns & Ron Greenwood
*Live coverage on ITV began
at 7:25pm, BBC1 also showed it live from 7:06pm with Ken Wolstenholme commentating.
United - Charlton 53, 99, Best 93, Kidd 94, Benfica -
Graça 75.
Fairs Cup Final
1st Leg
Wed 7th Aug Leeds United 1
(Jones) Ferencváros 0
BBC LIVE
David Coleman
*BBC1 7:30-9:10pm. Mick Jones
41
2nd Leg
Wed 11th Sep Ferencváros 0
Leeds United 0
BBC Highlights
David Coleman
*BBC1 10:50-11:25pm. Leeds win
1-0 on agg.
Others
04/Sep/1960 Real Madrid 5 Peñarol
de Montevideo 1 [Intercontinental Cup L2]
LIVE BBC
Ken Wolstenholme
*5-1 on agg, Sunday 9:00-9:15
& 9:25-10:15pm
1968/69
- 1982/83 European Finals >>>>>
Links
A history
of European club competitions
Email
upthemaggies@hotmail.com
Page last updated November 2009
