`Those European Nights`: Dunfermline Athletic versus KB Copenhagen and Olympiakos Piraeus

Two further paintings from the skilled brush of renowned football artist, Paul Town.

-- KB Copenhagen (Denmark) 3/11/65 and 17/11/65
-- Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece) 13/11/68 and 27/11/68

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European Series: Olympiakos and Boldklub

Manager Willie Cunningham kept faith with a winning team in domestic competition for the first leg in Dunfermline of this Fairs Cup tie.

This meant no places for regulars Alex Edwards and Willie Callaghan. However it proved to be a sound strategy as Dunfermline ran out five-nil winners against Boldklubben 1903 of Copenhagen. Particularly prominent were wingers Wilson and Robertson. Bert Paton scored two, with other goals from Fleming, Robertson and Tom Callaghan.

The President of the Danish Football Association commented: ”There is little doubt that Dunfermline are much too good for us.”

The return leg in Copenhagen went smoothly despite sub-zero temperatures and a rock-hard pitch. Alex Edwards and Willie Callaghan were back in the team and the Pars won 4-2.
Falling behind to a John Lunn own goal, Dunfermline moved into the lead with goals from Edwards and Paton.

The second half saw a fine equalizer from Andersen for the Danes but further goals from Fleming and Ferguson saw Dunfermline home comfortably.

Three years later, Dunfermline Athletic were playing Olympiakos Piraeus.
The first leg was at East End Park, and the Scottish Daily Mail described the Greek side as both competent and ruthless.

Certainly the goalless first half seemed to indicate problems for the Fife team who spent the half attacking. The second half was a different matter however. The Greeks opened up an attacking side to their game, but this allowed Dunfermline more space. This they capitalised on with four second half goals.

The return match in Athens was a thoroughly feisty affair. Alex Cameron of the Daily Record described the Pars being subject to hacking, kicking, punching, spitting and wrestling, with a weak referee unable to control the match. Barry Mitchell was ordered off for retaliation late in the game.

The Greeks scored three goals in the first half. This forced a grim defensive display at the heart of which were Roy Barry, Willie Callaghan and Jim Fraser. Despite being sorely provoked, Dunfermline Athletic held out and progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

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European Series: Olympiakos and Boldklub