Bournemouth are set to make history as they prepare for their inaugural European match against Real Sociedad on Thursday. Following their debut, Brentford will be the last current Premier League side yet to have featured in European tournaments.
Not all English clubs have enjoyed a smooth start to their European adventures. Aston Villa's debut in the UEFA Cup during the 1975/76 season saw them crash out at the hands of Antwerp with a staggering aggregate score of 5-1. Similarly, Manchester City faced elimination in their first-ever European Cup in 1968, losing to Fenerbahce in the opening round.
Everton also faltered in their European debut during the 1962/63 season, as Dunfermline knocked them out of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Nottingham Forest fared slightly better years later, reaching the second round before succumbing to Zurich.
In contrast, several future European giants hit the ground running. Liverpool reached the semi-finals in their first European Cup campaign in 1965, where Bill Shankly's side managed to defeat the reigning champions Inter at Anfield 3-1, although they lost the return leg 0-3.
Tottenham also made it to the semi-finals of the European Cup on their first attempt, falling to the eventual winners Benfica in 1962. Leeds made their European debut by reaching the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and later clinched the trophy twice.
Manchester United became the first English club to compete in the European Cup, reaching the semi-finals in 1956, where they were eliminated by Real Madrid.
Arsenal participated in the Fairs Cup for the first time in the 1963/64 season but bowed out in the second round. However, they bounced back in their next attempt, securing the trophy by defeating Anderlecht in the 1970 final.
Chelsea could have begun their European journey even earlier. Their 1955 league title entitled them to join the inaugural European Cup, but they declined under pressure from the English football hierarchy. Their actual debut came several years later in the Fairs Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Newcastle achieved a remarkable feat by winning a European trophy on their very first attempt in 1969, lifting the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. More recently, Crystal Palace etched their name into history by winning the EFL Cup, qualifying for Europe for the first time and triumphing in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Brighton entered European football for the first time after finishing sixth in the Premier League during the 2022/23 season, winning their Europa League group against Ajax and Marseille, but they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by AS Roma.
Fulham started their European journey via the Intertoto Cup, making it to the third round of the UEFA Cup, while Hull City made their debut in the Europa League qualifiers in 2014 but fell to Lokeren due to the away goals rule.
Ipswich made their first European Cup appearance after sensationally winning the title in 1962, dispatching Floriana 14-1 on aggregate before succumbing to future champions AC Milan. Sunderland debuted in the Cup Winners' Cup following their famous FA Cup victory in 1973 but were halted by Sporting Lisbon in the second round.
Coventry City’s European tale is a solitary one, playing in just the Fairs Cup in 1970/71. Although they won the FA Cup in 1987, they were denied a return to Europe due to the five-year ban on English clubs following the Heysel disaster.
Now, Bournemouth get ready to chart their course in European football, leaving Brentford as the last remaining current Premier League club yet to experience the thrill of European competition.
