1970/71 European Cup

The 1970/71 European Cup campaign was a strange one in a number of ways for Everton. The team reached the quarter-finals and should have at least reached the last four, despite poor domestic form. They contested the competition’s first-ever penalty shoot-out and after winning home and away in the first round, drew all of their other matches.

The first-round draw pitched Harry Catterick’s men against the Icelandic champions Keflavik who, although not expected to offer much resistance, gave the Blues an early scare at Goodison in the first leg.

Everton’s title defence had started poorly and just two wins from the opening eight fixtures left the team in 14th place in the table ahead of the Keflavik visit – doubtless a contributing factor to an attendance of 28,444. The part-timers then stunned the home crowd by taking the lead after just 11 minutes when Gordon West put through his own goal.

However, composure was restored and an Alan Ball hat-trick, one from Howard Kendall and a couple from Joe Royle gave Everton a 6-2 victory that rendered the return leg a virtual formality.

Everton won their two league games before the return at the Laugardalsvollur Stadium and duly wrapped up a 3-0 win with another brace from Joe Royle (one from a rebound after he’d missed his penalty) and one from Alan Whittle.

The 9-2 aggregate victory was a timely confidence booster for Catterick's side but it was never going to be replicated against the next opponents, Borussia Moenchengladbach, who had overwhelmed Cypriot outfit EPA Larnaca 16-0 over two legs in the opening round.