Page 5 - Microsoft Word - BOOK 1 edition 2 pdf bis.docx

Having received a bye in the preliminary round, Burnley learned that

their first opponents in the European Cup in the 1960/61 season would

be French Champions Stade de Reims, one of the favourites to win the
competition.

Real Madrid had been the only winners to date, but in this season it was

thought it could be a more open competition as Burnley became just the

third English club, following on from Manchester United and Wolves, to
play in Europe's premier cup competition.

Some big established clubs had been forced to play in that opening

round as the Clarets sat things out. They included Benfica, Ajax and
Juventus as well as Reims who had been drawn against Luxembourg

champions La Jeunesse D'Esch and had beaten them 11-1 on

aggregate.

For Ajax and Juventus it hadn't been quite so good a start as they went
out to Fredrikstad of Norway and Bulgarians CDNA Sofia respectively.

No dates had been set. Both Burnley and Reims had submitted dates to

the organisers but the two clubs hadn't agreed and therefore

negotiations were taking place. Dates in November were considered the
most likely.

The French Champions were fourth in the league when the two clubs

were paired, and were without their two great stars through injury -
Raymond Kopa and Juste Fontaine. They believed both would be fully

fit and ready for Burnley.