Bournemouth go start dia first-ever European campaign on Thursday when dem face Real Sociedad. Dat one leave Brentford as di only current Premier League club wey never play for any continental competition. For di other 18 clubs, dia first adventure for Europe don produce different kind stories.
Arsenal begin dia hunt for Champions League title for 1972. Dat mean di current crop still dey try end 55 years of hurt. Before dat, Gunners get better luck for Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, di competition wey come before UEFA Cup. Dia first campaign for 1963/64 end for second round, but for dia second attempt dem win am, beating Anderlecht for di 1970 final.
Aston Villa get European Cup win for dia name after Peter Withe goal seal di trophy for 1982. But dia first continental action no sweet at all. Victory for 1975 League Cup Final carry Villa enter di next season UEFA Cup, but Royal Antwerp crush dem 5-1 on aggregate for first hurdle.
Brighton na one of England recent European entrants. Dem secure Thursday night spot after sixth-place finish for 2022/23 Premier League. Seagulls top Europa League group wey include Ajax and Marseille, but Roma stop dem for Round of 16. First-leg 4-0 defeat for Stadio Olimpico too much to overturn back for south coast.
Chelsea for don be first English side to play for continent after dia maiden First Division title for 1955 qualify dem for inaugural European Cup. But powers-that-be for England decide say di new club competition no go amount to much. Stamford Bridge faithful wait small years more to see foreign opposition for dia turf, and Blues reach quarter-finals of Inter-Cities Fairs Cup for 1959.
Coventry 3-2 win over Tottenham for 1987 FA Cup Final for normally send Sky Blues enter now-defunct Cup Winners Cup. But five-year ban on English clubs for European competition after Heysel Stadium disaster mean dia Fairs Cup run for 1970/71 season remain di club only continental campaign.
Bournemouth go hope to copy Crystal Palace by winning tournament for end of dia first-ever European adventure. Eagles follow dia big win over Manchester City for 2025 FA Cup Final with victory for last season Conference League. Dem drop from Europa after multi-club ownership rules stop dem from competing for same competition as Lyon.
For 1962/63 season, Everton top First Division under legendary boss Harry Catterick. But like true Toffees, small misery follow. Catterick men fall for first hurdle for dia continental debut. Dunfermline knock dem out of Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Next season bring more heartbreak as dia reward for winning league na toughest start for European Cup: first-round tie with eventual winners Inter Milan.
2001/02 season see Fulham return to top flight first time in over 30 years, and Cottagers make dia European bow for dia second Premier League campaign. Intertoto glory give dem entry into UEFA Cup. Craven Cottage faithful witness Croatian decimation with wins over Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb before Hertha Berlin beat dem for third round.
Hull City still unbeaten this season. Could Tigers do unthinkable and finish high enough for European spot? Tigers only experience continental competition once before after reaching 2014 FA Cup Final. Despite losing to Arsenal, Champions League already beckon for Gunners, so Steve Bruce men find themselves for Europa qualifying round. Away goal loss to Belgian side Lokeren end dia journey before end of August. These days, finishing as runner-up for FA Cup no dey give you such foray.
Alf Ramsey go forever be known as man wey lead England to World Cup glory, but e also mastermind Ipswich Town only title win for 1962. E make am more remarkable because na Tractor Boys first ever season for top flight. Dia second campaign come with added challenge of European Cup debut. Comfortable start against Maltese champions Floriana, who dem see off 14-1 on aggregate, follow by visit of eventual winners AC Milan. Italian giants end Ramsey dream of another miracle.
Leeds United fans old enough to witness club on cusp of European Cup glory after reaching 1975 final still dey adamant say referee cheat dem out of becoming second English side to win competition. Dia maiden continental campaign come decade earlier, and dia run to semis of Inter-Cities Fairs Cup soon follow by two wins for competition, for 1968 and 1970.
Liverpool na England most successful club for continent. Dia love affair with European Cup begin for 1965. Reds look set to make final for first attempt after beating reigning champions Inter Milan 3-1 for Anfield for first leg of semis. But Italian side turn tie around for San Siro with three answered goals, knock Bill Shankly men out.
Most of Manchester City continental adventures come after 2008 takeover, but Cityzens get some experience abroad before Mansour money transform club. After witnessing club second ever top-flight title for 1968, Maine Road crowd get European Cup football to look forward to for first time. But experience brief, with immediate exit to Turkish champions Fenerbahce.
Manchester United na first English club to play for Europe. Red Devils defy country governing bodies by choosing to play for European Cup, one year after Chelsea were denied spot. Dia position as trail blazers come with heavy price. Football League big wigs, still vex at club decision to play for continent, refuse to allow league champions any extra time to return back to England, force team to travel by air to fulfil First Division fixtures. Tragedy for Munich strike and Busby Babes were denied chance to improve on semi-final spot dem achieve for dia maiden voyage previous season.
Newcastle United taste European success for first attempt, and you go think say good times dey ahead, right? But no be like 1969 Fairs Cup win go follow by half a century of trophyless seasons, full of agonising near-misses.
Nottingham Forest na only club with more European Cup wins than league titles. Dia back-to-back triumphs for 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough remain one of most remarkable feats for competition history. E far cry from dia continental debut decade earlier when FC Zurich knock Forest out for second round of Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
One of biggest shocks for FA Cup history see Division Two side Sunderland defeat Leeds United team wey dey middle of dia golden era, with Jimmy Montgomery famously have game of him life to keep clean sheet. 1-0 win for North East club mean European football go hold for Roker Park for first time, all while Sunderland remain for second tier. Hungarian side Vasas dem see off for first round of Cup Winners Cup, but Sporting Lisbon knock dem out for next stage.
Only Sevilla don lift UEFA Cup/Europa League more often than three-time winners Tottenham Hotspur, but dia continental debut come for European Cup for 1962 after Spurs become first English club to win domestic double for 20th century. Impressive run to last four, wey include superb 3-1 win over Feyenoord for Rotterdam, end by eventual champions Benfica.
