Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Meanwood Villa on December 09, 2017, 11:29:16 AM
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31st October 1987 for me. Realised I did nothing to mark my 30th anniversary this year.
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No idea of the date, but I was 4, so somtime in 1971.
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17th November 1984, 2=2 against Southampton.
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No idea of the date, but I was 4, so somtime in 1971.
Do you know who it was against?
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12 September 1959 Ipswich Town, we won 3-1. I remember the teams, score and our scorers but had to look up the date.
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16 November 1991 - Villa 1 Notts County 0; Yorke with the goal.
The one and only time I've sat in the Witton Lane stand.
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February 6th 1988. Villa 2 Leicester 1
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February 12th 1994 against Swindon Town. Won 5-0 Dean Saunders hat-trick.
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Tue May 9 1995 Villa Park Birmingham City W 2-0 Scimeca, Yorke Att 12014 Paul McGrath Testimonial.
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Apr 26, 1986 vs Chelsea. 3-1 win.
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No idea of the date, but I was 4, so somtime in 1971.
Do you know who it was against?
No idea, I was more interested in sliding down the dirt bank at the back of the Witton End. I couldn’t see the pitch anyway from the terrace :)
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Some time towards the back end of the 62-63 season. A Central League game against Sheffield Wednesday reserves. Standing on the Witton Lane. We lost. No idea who played on either side.
I do remember the vividness of the Claret And Blue shirts and the amazingly green pitch. I was 10. Hooked.
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1961. I used to go by myself sometimes aged 7. Amazing thought.
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21/02/72 - Santos
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August 1988 Millwall 2-2
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April 1948 Liverpool 2:1 Age 11
Stood at the Holte End, always remember standing behind the red barriers half way up the terraces
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First team game was November 1972 v Blackpool. Nil, nil.
Saw a reserve game against Swansea in 1971
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Jan 1st 1972, Villa 1 Halifax 0
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No idea of who it was or when, either 1974 or 1975 when I was 4 or 5.
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13 October 1979 against our stripey neighbours.
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Sometime in 1954, no idea who the opposition were or the score as I had no interest. What I do recall was looking down from what I now know was the Holte End into the playground in Aston Park and wishing I was in there. I would have been five.
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Don't know the date but my Dad took me to VP when I was about 2 years old which would make it 1949. I do have one tiny memory of it.
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Wow, so many on here have been going to see Villa for so many years, very impressive.
My first game was on April 12th 1975 when I first saw the King of Villa Park score a hatrick in a 5-0 win over Oldham. After that I was sold forever.
See that this was on the run the last time we won 8 on the tro. I feel really honoured :)
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2 2 draw with Forest on Boxing Day 1972 - aged 7
I'll have to find out who scored some time !
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September 8th 1979. Villa 0 Manchester United 3.
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My first trip to Villa Park was when my dad took me to see Blackpool play when I was just about five years old. He felt he had to because I had an uncle who had previously taken me to The Hawthorns and he was concerned that I might end up a Baggies fan. I think it must have been in 1951 because I know we won and that Stanley Mathews was in the Blackpool team. We were standing on the Witton Lane terracing and they pushed me to the front, which was a bit silly since the front of the terracing was a couple of feet below pitch level, meaning that my eyes were pretty much at the same level as the pitch. I can even now vividly recall Mathews coming within touching distance when he came to collect a ball for a throw in. Apparently I shouted "come on Stanley" and was roundly shouted down by the crowd. (those that weren't laughing)
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My first trip was 1974 or 1975 midweek against Sheff Weds Reserves. Would like to know the exact date!
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My first trip was 1974 or 1975 midweek against Sheff Weds Reserves. Would like to know the exact date!
Yes and do you remember mine?
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Was it Ipswich. 1981? You had my ticket as I was ill.
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8th October 1966. We beat Leeds 3-0.
We sat 6 rows back in the Witton Lane about 20 yards from the half way towards the Witton terrace.
The only things I remember were Jack Charlton, the smell of Bovril and Nicotine under the stand, and Dad asking me as we walked back across the Serpentine car park if I wanted to go again. "Yes, lets go every week" - so we did.
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Boxing Day 1977 - Aston Villa 1 - 1 Coventry City - i was only 5 and I just remember bricking it as was high up in the North Stand and was scared of heights.
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1971/72 season. Can’t remeber the exact game. I remember coming up the top of the stairs in the Witton and seeing the green pitch and the Holte. Got me then. It was before the Santos game as I remember going to that one and the queues.
My mum knitted me a scarf that season which my lad wore to the game yesterday ...
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29th September 1979 against Preston reserves, finished 0-0
A very unstated start!!!
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18th October 1980 beat spurs 3-0
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For a match it was March 1979, 1-1 against Ipswich, Tony Morley scored a fine volley. I had been before to do a tour of the ground in the school holidays in 1978 which I always remember as, for some strange reason, there was just me and a group of Forest fans. The guy doing the tour realised that the Forest fans were not that bothered and told me to sit in the Trinity Stand while he got rid of them and then came back and got me some great photos etc. Met Gary Shelton in the old club shop and remember buying a photo of him (so he could sign it for me) rather than the Brian Little one that I really wanted!
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16th April, 1966, Villa 2 Burnley 1, after going 1-0 down after 3 minutes. Hateley and Woosnam the scorers.
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Had to look up the date from here: http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78AstonVilla.html
10 Sep '77 (two days before the death of Stephen Biko, irrelevant fact fans). H Arsenal 1-0. I was 8, and hadn't quite really got into football at that point and don't remember any of the other games from that season except for all the noise around the Barca tie. It was a pretty dull 0-0, up to the point where we left with a couple of minutes to go. As we were walking away from the ground (we had sat in the North Stand Upper) a big roar went up, it turned out that Dennis M had won it for us at the death...
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August 1988 Millwall 2-2
Remember that one, it was just before I went away to Uni. Didn't they go 2-0 up quite quickly which we brought back to 2-2 before H/T. Nothing much happened in the second half IIRC.
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My first trip was 1974 or 1975 midweek against Sheff Weds Reserves. Would like to know the exact date!
Monday 17/03/1975 2-0 Alun Evans & Deehan scored
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4.1.69
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Was it Ipswich. 1981? You had my ticket as I was ill.
You got it!
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17th February 1968 a 0-1 defeat against Rotherham in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Spent the game peering through the railings at the front of the Holte End and jumping up to try and see the back of the Holte (failed). Probably a mundane game but the day left such a vivid impression that that was the spot I started my own kids first games at.
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as we are based in Cambridge we only visited family at Xmas/Easter etc and my 1st game was Cardiff at a snowy Villa Park 26th December 1968 Barrie Hole and Brian Tiler in a 2-0 win
after the game I was a very, very impressed 6 year old :)
UTV
The Doc
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August 1960 v Chelsea. I remember we won 3-2 and we sat in Trinity Rd upper. It was many years before I was treated to a seat again. I had to google match details, our first game back in top division after promotion and Hitchens, Mcparland and Thompson scored. I would have been 8.
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23 December 1970 League cup semi final was the first paid entry into Villa Park. Was queuing outside by the Trinity Road Enclosure turnstiles straight after school. Prior to that it was sneak views, get in 10 from end when they open gates, crawl under the turnstile with the help of nice man etc etc
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Some time in season 1965/66 v Everton. Won 3-2 after being 3-0 up
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31 Oct 1959 we beat Plymouth Argyle 2 - 0 goals from Jimmy MacEwan and Peter Mac. Unfortunately my dad did not take me to the take home game, which was Villa 11 Charlton 1.
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dunno exactly, but born in '71, and I can recall seeing Charlie George for Arsenal, and Malcolm Mcdonald for NUFC, so '74-'75 ish. and my old man reliably informs me I have seen Ian Ross, Jim Coombes and Charlie Aitken and one of the Riochs.
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No Idea who my first game was against.
My Dad always tells me that he took me to see Pele went we played Santos and a number of games after that but I have no recollection of any of them.
The first game I have recollection of was Villa v Antwerp so 1 October 1975.
I remember crying cuz Jim Cumbes was dropped for Jake Findlay
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My first trip to Villa Park was when my dad took me to see Blackpool play when I was just about five years old. He felt he had to because I had an uncle who had previously taken me to The Hawthorns and he was concerned that I might end up a Baggies fan. I think it must have been in 1951 because I know we won and that Stanley Mathews was in the Blackpool team. We were standing on the Witton Lane terracing and they pushed me to the front, which was a bit silly since the front of the terracing was a couple of feet below pitch level, meaning that my eyes were pretty much at the same level as the pitch. I can even now vividly recall Mathews coming within touching distance when he came to collect a ball for a throw in. Apparently I shouted "come on Stanley" and was roundly shouted down by the crowd. (those that weren't laughing)
It must have been 1952, as according to my AV The Complete Record by Rob Bishop, the present Villa historian, that was the first time we beat Blackpool at home since the war. If you're interested it was on January 19th and we won 4 nil scorers Thompson 2, Dixon and Walsh. Well done on nearly 66 years of supporting Villa.
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February 1967 - aged 9, a 3-2 home win against Blackpool the season us and them were both relegated from the old First Division.
As was mentioned in an earlier reply the depth of the claret and blue shirts really struck me - I was in the Upper Trinity with Mum and Dad (RIP both) and my brother.
My first sighting of the vast old Holte End is something I've never forgot.
My second visit was just over a year later, last home game of the following season when we lost 2-1 to QPR (for whom I think winning meant promotion). I was at the very front of the old standing Trinity Enclosure and again the depth of the colours really struck me.
Almost everybody else's first visit to VP mentioned on here since then, are games I can recall very easily.
Where oh where have the last 50 years gone ?
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My first trip was 1974 or 1975 midweek against Sheff Weds Reserves. Would like to know the exact date!
Monday 17/03/1975 2-0 Alun Evans & Deehan scored
Thanks for that. Had a look but couldn't find the date. I remember not getting why they were called Sheffield Wednesday. Saying that I still don't know why and I'm now 46😯
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Was it Ipswich. 1981? You had my ticket as I was ill.
You got it!
The things you would do to get a ticket for the Villa. Poisoned by my younger brother.
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3rd March 1979. Aston Villa 1 Birmingham City 0. Sid scored the goal.
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Torquay April 1972. We won 5-1 and I think it was Brian Little’s debut. Not that I would have known that then, I can remember going with Dad and Grandad and standing on the Witton Lane terrace not being able to see much. Div 3 of course, a good first 10 years that was... we are the spoilt generation.
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Torquay April 1972. We won 5-1 and I think it was Brian Little’s debut. Not that I would have known that then, I can remember going with Dad and Grandad and standing on the Witton Lane terrace not being able to see much. Div 3 of course, a good first 10 years that was... we are the spoilt generation.
I remember it well. Sir Brian was directing play! I think he was only 17.
No, he was eighteen. I was seventeen.
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Sept 20th 1980
Villa 2 Wolves 1
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I actually stumbled upon Villa. No connection with the WM apart from the fact my dad knew Danny Blanchflower.
We were actually travelling up to the lakes for our summer holiday, stuck in traffic for ages partly due to an excessive number of cars and coaches travelling northwards on the M6. My dad had enough and through his scouting had connections with Preston North End. We landed there much to my approval and my mum's disgust (she is 93 now and still hates the word Villa). I was in love with the Villa as soon as I saw them.
As any kid of my age I budgered my dad to take me to Villa Park - didn't take too long. He was working part time for Orient assessing school players and a month later we ventured to Villa Park. Actually met someone who we stood by at Preston. It was September 1973 and we drew against the mighty O's 2 -2.
I had by this time been to most of the London grounds none of which were a patch on Villa Park in terms of size. What I remember was how steep the Holte was, the chippy on Witton Lane and the four distintive stands. Other than that I remember a rolly polly playing for the Villa who a lot of neutral fans would have recongised Trevor Hockey.
40 odd years on, despite all the crapness I am as in love with the Villa as I was then. Certainly beat selling programmes at Ilford FC.
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February 6th 1988. Villa 2 Leicester 1
Snap. Evans (pen) and Lillis with the goals I think.
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May 7th 1977, Villa 2 Leeds 1
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First team game was November 1972 v Blackpool. Nil, nil.
That was my first game too - I seem to recall Blackpool had 2 goals disallowed. It looks from this thread Blackpool were the opposition for quite a few.
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My first trip to Villa Park was when my dad took me to see Blackpool play when I was just about five years old. He felt he had to because I had an uncle who had previously taken me to The Hawthorns and he was concerned that I might end up a Baggies fan. I think it must have been in 1951 because I know we won and that Stanley Mathews was in the Blackpool team. We were standing on the Witton Lane terracing and they pushed me to the front, which was a bit silly since the front of the terracing was a couple of feet below pitch level, meaning that my eyes were pretty much at the same level as the pitch. I can even now vividly recall Mathews coming within touching distance when he came to collect a ball for a throw in. Apparently I shouted "come on Stanley" and was roundly shouted down by the crowd. (those that weren't laughing)
It must have been 1952, as according to my AV The Complete Record by Rob Bishop, the present Villa historian, that was the first time we beat Blackpool at home since the war. If you're interested it was on January 19th and we won 4 nil scorers Thompson 2, Dixon and Walsh. Well done on nearly 66 years of supporting Villa.
Many thanks for that Villa Lew. Good to know that the man who was to be captain of the last Villa team to win the FA Cup scored that day. It's about bloody time we put that statistic right.
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February 6th 1988. Villa 2 Leicester 1
Snap. Evans (pen) and Lillis with the goals I think.
Correct. Think Newell scored for them but he also had a penalty saved by Spink.
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3rd March 1979. Aston Villa 1 Birmingham City 0. Sid scored the goal.
Was that the one where Jimmy plucked the ball from a corner, rolled it straight out and we went right up the other end immediately and scored?
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15th May1982. We got beat 1-2 by Everton. It was a glorious sunny day. I made my way to Mecca with my Dad and older Bro across Aston Hall grounds. I sat in the Trinity Lower. The Holte was packed. I loved it.
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20th april 1968 v Bolton wanderers
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My first trip was 1974 or 1975 midweek against Sheff Weds Reserves. Would like to know the exact date!
Monday 17/03/1975 2-0 Alun Evans & Deehan scored
Thanks for that. Had a look but couldn't find the date. I remember not getting why they were called Sheffield Wednesday. Saying that I still don't know why and I'm now 46😯
Because they're from Sheffield.
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My first trip was 1974 or 1975 midweek against Sheff Weds Reserves. Would like to know the exact date!
Monday 17/03/1975 2-0 Alun Evans & Deehan scored
Thanks for that. Had a look but couldn't find the date. I remember not getting why they were called Sheffield Wednesday. Saying that I still don't know why and I'm now 46😯
Because they're from Sheffield.
They don't like Monday's and someone called 'Shrove' had already taken the name Tuesday.
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The club was initially a cricket team. Six local tradesmen formed The Wednesday Cricket Club in 1820, so named because that was their day off, and therefore the only day they could play.
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First visit: 13 June 1996: Switzerland v Netherlands - Euro 96
First Villa match: 15 March 1997 (0-0 v West Ham)
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World Cup in ‘66. West Germany v Argentina 0-0. First Villa game was v Blackpool in ‘67.
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Opening day, August 1986, 0-3 against Spurs. Clive Allen got a hat-trick. I'd just turned eight and stood behind the goals on the right side of the Holte with my dad and my brother.
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World Cup in ‘66. West Germany v Argentina 0-0.
Here's the entire game for you.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40zcbz
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World Cup in ‘66. West Germany v Argentina 0-0. First Villa game was v Blackpool in ‘67.
Apologies if I've already it, but this was also my first Villa game as well Lenny - was in the old Upper Trinity.
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27th December 1966 against Sunderland. We won 2-1 after going behind, with goals from a Lew Chatterley penalty and right back Keith Bradley. I went with my Dad and we stood in the Lower Trinity.
We had played them the day before at Roker Park as was the custom at Christmas back then.
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27th December 1966 against Sunderland. We won 2-1 after going behind, with goals from a Lew Chatterley penalty and right back Keith Bradley. I went with my Dad and we stood in the Lower Trinity.
We had played them the day before at Roker Park as was the custom at Christmas back then.
That's cool. I used to work with Lew Chatterleys nephew and Keith Bradley's grandson.
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March 1997.
0-0 v West Ham.
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16th April, 1966, Villa 2 Burnley 1, after going 1-0 down after 3 minutes. Hateley and Woosnam the scorers.
Was my first full game too,watched a few reserve games prior to that,wow,i was 11 years of age then,the same age my eldest grandson is now,though he beat me to a game at Villa Park by a couple of years,he's a good lad.
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First visit for a game was 21st January 1996 (I had visited the ground the summer before when we were in birmingham), Villa v Spurs.
McGrath and Yorke for villa, Ruel Fox for them. The game was moved to a Sunday after we had booked our flights, so after the game we had a seriously scramble to make the airport on time, only for our flight to be delayed for around 4 hours. Group of us kids ended up kicking a ball around a practically deserted Birmingham international to pass the time.
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First visit for a game was 21st January 1996 (I had visited the ground the summer before when we were in birmingham), Villa v Spurs.
McGrath and Yorke for villa, Ruel Fox for them. The game was moved to a Sunday after we had booked our flights, so after the game we had a seriously scramble to make the airport on time, only for our flight to be delayed for around 4 hours. Group of us kids ended up kicking a ball around a practically deserted Birmingham international to pass the time.
That was a great game. Yorke's winner was superb. I always remember Martin Tyler commenting in the second half on the volume of the home support which "reminded us what a truly big club Aston Villa are." Always remember McGrath's delight at scoring - his first in years - and Savo missing a couple. Great match.
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Against QPR on 14th August 1993, just before my 11th birthday. Was a cracker.
Won 4-1, Dalian with a double, Saunders and Staunton scored for us. I think Ferdinand for them. I remember being so sad that we had conceded a goal when they scored.
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Friday, August 19th 1988 for a double-header for Allan Evans' testimonial.
1982 European Cup Winning Team beat another Villa Old Stars Team 1-0 and then the current Villa side beat Walsall 4-2. Both had been promoted the previous season.
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Can't remember my first ever visit to Villa Park, all i know it was 61/61 season and i think the game may have been Forest, in those does i was reliant
on my mates dad taking us but would do about half the home games for next 2 or 3 seasons becoming a real regular week in week out from 67/68 bought my first standing season ticket
around 71/72 then my first seat ST for the opening of the North Stand, basically had a ST since 71/72, and can probably count home games missed over that time on 2 hands, until 2 years ago it would have
been one hand but as age takes its toll they become a little more frequent unfortunately.
I now sit in Lower Witton (Doug's) having moved from upper due to inability to climb stairs.
I wouldn't change a thing about my time watching our fantastic club, would have liked an FA Cup win, i was alive in 57 but don't remember any of it. The trials and tribulations over the last few years
are just that and we have to fight to overcome them, and we will. I have been all over Europe watching Villa which in terms of Europe now have to resort to pre-season tours seeing places i probably wouldn't get opportunity, my walking stick and i have had some great trips of late Duisburg (Dusseldorf) and St Nazaire were great trips as was Peace Cup.
Have managed to bring three sons into the Villa family and am now working on two grandsons....i won't fail.
Anyone on here who feels their support is wavering...then think again.....you ain't got a clue as in Aston Villa FC you have the greatest club that has ever been it gets emotional
following our club and the road gets very bumpy. In terms of on the pitch i'm loving the Championship it has got me motivated once again, away games are now the norm, missed Wolves(Wedding) Burton (car broke down) and recently Middlesbrough (bad planning, my grandsons bDay).
Yes we need to get back to PL i accept that and i hope it's this season, then i will retire myself from away games i think in last 3 years went to one, baggies which don't really count.
Repeat wonderful,wonderful times had over the many years and i hope for a few more yet.
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Finally got my answer, had to contact my mate's Dad from way back who used to take us to the match from Polesworth.
He reckons it was against Bristol City in 1973, the first time I professed to be a Villa fan rather than (forgive me for the folly of youth) a West Brom fan (look, my Dad is a Baggie, I became a Villa fan due to peer pressure, the fact that I would actually be able to go to games with my mate and partially to annoy my Dad).
So a quick internet search shows it to be:
Sat 20th Oct 1973 Aston Villa 2-2 Bristol City
My first ever live football match was Tamworth v Shepshed Dynamo in 1971
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27 January 1968 I think - lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham in the cup. My dad put me on his shoulders and got me in for free in the Trinity Road enclosure as was the way n those days. I wan't sure if it was a 1-0 home win v Middlesbrough but it appears that was November 1968. This was notable as my first win, having seen us lose to Bristol City and QPR at the end of the previous season.
I have a vague, perhaps fake, memory of being in the Trinity upper for a 6-2 home defeat by Chelsea in 1966. My dad died years ago so no way of checking if that is genuine or not. I wold only have been 3 so assume it is not real.
My mom used to go until she was 7 months pregnant carrying me so I would have been at a few games in the 1962-63 season for free!
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First Cardiff City December 1959 as a nine year old taken there by a Welsh Supporting Villa Fan and neighbor Billy Hodges. I remember it being cold and fogey and Gerry Hitchens scoring. Was on the Witton End ,and if Memory serves me well the 2 goals were scored at the holte end. I have only been to one game this season Hull City at home moved to Australia in August hope to get back to Villa Park in the future ,it's been a roller coaster ride ,when we get it right the pleasure it brings is immense UTV
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27 January 1968 I think - lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham in the cup. My dad put me on his shoulders and got me in for free in the Trinity Road enclosure as was the way n those days.
You got me searching the records Pat. As mentioned earlier in the thread this was my first game also and I have little recollection of the football but loads about the ground and crowd! Anyway the date was 17th Feb 1968 .It was the 4th round of the FA Cup. Tommy Doc was their manager at the time (something else I had never linked before) so I guess Brian Tyler was playing for them. We lost to a goal five minutes from time scored at the Holte End by Jim Storrie. I stood at the front of the Holte in line with the goal post so must have had a close up view of my first live Villa disappointment! By contrast nearly a quarter of a century later I took my eldest son to his first ever game, stood in exactly the same spot and Cyrille Regis scored for us at the Holte End within a minute- my lad thought it was always going to be like that!
Crikey just realised -it's 50 years up in a few weeks!!!!
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Friday, August 19th 1988 for a double-header for Allan Evans' testimonial.
1982 European Cup Winning Team beat another Villa Old Stars Team 1-0 and then the current Villa side beat Walsall 4-2. Both had been promoted the previous season.
I was at that game but had forgotten about it until your post. Didn't Spink have his testimonial around the same time? I know I met him at his testimonial Q&A forum (I think it was Sutton Coldfield town hall with Tom Ross and George Gavin hosting). Terry Weir kindly sent me some photos he took that night of myself and Nev with the likes of Spink, Allan Evans, Andy Gray, Garry Pendrey, and SGT. We also briefly met a very frail Eric Houghton, but he wasn't really up to meet and greets or pictures by then sadly. That was in Jan or Feb 1988 if I remember right.
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I think I may have been at a Spink testimonial but not as early as that. Maybe he had two?
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December 18th 1982
Villa 2 Liverpool 4
https://youtu.be/EhluyS8ptHc
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27 January 1968 I think - lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham in the cup. My dad put me on his shoulders and got me in for free in the Trinity Road enclosure as was the way n those days.
You got me searching the records Pat. As mentioned earlier in the thread this was my first game also and I have little recollection of the football but loads about the ground and crowd! Anyway the date was 17th Feb 1968 .It was the 4th round of the FA Cup. Tommy Doc was their manager at the time (something else I had never linked before) so I guess Brian Tyler was playing for them. We lost to a goal five minutes from time scored at the Holte End by Jim Storrie. I stood at the front of the Holte in line with the goal post so must have had a close up view of my first live Villa disappointment! By contrast nearly a quarter of a century later I took my eldest son to his first ever game, stood in exactly the same spot and Cyrille Regis scored for us at the Holte End within a minute- my lad thought it was always going to be like that!
Crikey just realised -it's 50 years up in a few weeks!!!!
Cheers GB., I didn't know the date. Like you I don't recall the football but being on my dad's shoulders at the back under the roof, the noise and the smells. I also recall a really friendly copper asking if i was enjoying it.
I have been a Holte Ender since the mid 70s but adored that walk into the Trinity Road car park and under the main staircase as a nipper, even when they put seats in the enclosure. It was like entering Santa's grotto. Knocking the old Holte down was very sad but the day the Trinity was destroyed was the day that the real Villa Park disappeared for me. The Holte was the largest end in England and fantastic on its day, but the Trinity was unique in its beauty.
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I think I may have been at a Spink testimonial but not as early as that. Maybe he had two?
He definitely had one around 88/89. I remember the programme had Spink and, for some reason, Jimmy Greaves in Villa kits on the front cover.
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First Cardiff City December 1959 as a nine year old taken there by a Welsh Supporting Villa Fan and neighbor Billy Hodges. I remember it being cold and fogey and Gerry Hitchens scoring. Was on the Witton End ,and if Memory serves me well the 2 goals were scored at the holte end. I have only been to one game this season Hull City at home moved to Australia in August hope to get back to Villa Park in the future ,it's been a roller coaster ride ,when we get it right the pleasure it brings is immense UTV
SNAP - same match - I was 10 - was taken by my Dad - who wasn't ? - and he told me to go down the front and peer through the railings at the Witton End. The things you remember - stepping back from the railings when a player came to collect the ball - they were giants in my eyes.
And now we are half a world away from each other....LOL
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March 1997.
0-0 v West Ham.
Snap! Jon Penlington (of the old mailing list) arranged for a welcome to be read for me at half time.
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Good stuff Pat and GB, I was also at that Rotherham FACup tie in February 1968.
It was my first real disappointment being a Villa fan.
My first game at VP had been earlier that 67/68 season against Carlisle United (4/11/67) as a nine year old with my Dad and brother.
Tommy Mitchinson got the only goal that day in the second half.
Apart from the Saturday morning matinee at the local cinema there wasn't a lot to get excited about back then.
Being in the crowd on the Holte and those brilliant claret and blue shirts under the floodlights got me hooked.
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AV 5 Ipswich Town 2 on 4th Sept. 1976 - Andy Gray hat-trick. Finally at the age of 10 after asking my Dad for years, he got a friend of his (Len RIP) to take me. Sat in the Trinity Road enclosure and was totally hooked. Len took me to most home games over the next few years, great memories and a great season ( Fortunately we sat upstairs in the Trinity for the Glasgow Rangers game )!
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AV 5 Ipswich Town 2 on 4th Sept. 1976 - Andy Gray hat-trick. Finally at the age of 10 after asking my Dad for years, he got a friend of his (Len RIP) to take me. Sat in the Trinity Road enclosure and was totally hooked. Len took me to most home games over the next few years, great memories and a great season ( Fortunately we sat upstairs in the Trinity for the Glasgow Rangers game )!
This was my first game too. A great way to start.
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AV 5 Ipswich Town 2 on 4th Sept. 1976 - Andy Gray hat-trick. Finally at the age of 10 after asking my Dad for years, he got a friend of his (Len RIP) to take me. Sat in the Trinity Road enclosure and was totally hooked. Len took me to most home games over the next few years, great memories and a great season ( Fortunately we sat upstairs in the Trinity for the Glasgow Rangers game )!
This was my first game too. A great way to start.
One of our best performances that season and an all-round wonderful game. We went top that day I think for the first time in decades.
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12 Apr 1971 Barnsley 0-0. Obviously I was hooked after that.
Next one Santos February 21, 1972. Marginally better.
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v Everton , won 3-2. 11 December 1965. I remembered the opposition, score and year, had to google the date -https://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-everton-11-december-1965-78607/
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22nd of April 1967. Villa 0 Burnley 1
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8 Sept 1990 v Coventry City - won 2-1 with goals from Platt and Cascarino.
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8 Sept 1990 v Coventry City - won 2-1 with goals from Platt and Cascarino.
I remember that. I was nineteen and in an apartment in Lanzarote on my first proper holiday with a girl with my first proper girlfriend in my first proper 'grown up' relationship.
It wasn't nearly as much fun as my previous holiday in Paignton in my old mans caravanette with four mates.
Although admittedly the sex was better. ;D
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8 Sept 1990 v Coventry City - won 2-1 with goals from Platt and Cascarino.
I remember that. I was nineteen and in an apartment in Lanzarote on my first proper holiday with a girl with my first proper girlfriend in my first proper 'grown up' relationship.
It wasn't nearly as much fun as my previous holiday in Paignton in my old mans caravanette with four mates.
Although admittedly the sex was better. ;D
Each to their own.
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I've been looking through the old results but can't really be sure about my first match. I specifically remember at the age of ten watching Villa beat Coventry in the FA Cup third round. It was pouring down and it's my only spoiled programme as it was so wet.
I wish I could remember my first game. I used to watch the reserved at lot as a youngster.
Aston Villa v Coventry City, 09 January 1965
Score 3-0 to Aston Villa
Competition FA Cup 3rd round
Venue Villa Park
Attendance 47,656
Aston Villa 3 Coventry City 0
Goals:
Tony Hateley G
Tony Hateley G
Johnny MacLeod G
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8 Sept 1990 v Coventry City - won 2-1 with goals from Platt and Cascarino.
thought I had seen this on youtube
UTV
The Doc
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Boxing Day 1977 with my dad and my new boyfriend (who I married in 1984). I remember it was a draw but have just looked it up & discovered it was Coventry City.
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Boxing Day 1977 with my dad and my new boyfriend (who I married in 1984). I remember it was a draw but have just looked it up & discovered it was Coventry City.
I stayed at home with Mom and played with my dolls!
My first match was 1999 - I'm sure Top Cat can tell me who we played. I think it was 0-0.
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Boxing Day 1977 - Aston Villa 1 - 1 Coventry City - i was only 5 and I just remember bricking it as was high up in the North Stand and was scared of heights.
Snap!
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Boxing Day 1977 with my dad and my new boyfriend (who I married in 1984). I remember it was a draw but have just looked it up & discovered it was Coventry City.
I stayed at home with Mom and played with my dolls!
My first match was 1999 - I'm sure Top Cat can tell me who we played. I think it was 0-0.
It was 6/11/99 & we lost 0-1 to Southampton. We were hooked though weren’t we and bought season tickets after we got enough points to get restricted view seats for the cup final in 2000.
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7th January 1957 Monday. FA Cup replay Villa 2 Luton 0, no floodlights so kick off was 2 p.m. It was school holiday, my Dad was the driver of a coach that ran a trip to the game and took me along. I had imagined that Villa Park was like the local park. We climbed the stairs to the top of the old, open Holte and when I came out onto the stand and saw the ground stretched out below me I fell in love and it has never wavered although sorely tested at times. Much as I love my family they all know that life revolves around the Villa. The last match I missed home or away was in February 2004 when Carlos Bocanegra of Fulham tried to remodel Mark Delaney’s leg. My son had surgery that day.
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8 Sept 1990 v Coventry City - won 2-1 with goals from Platt and Cascarino.
thought I had seen this on youtube
UTV
The Doc
I was at that game. Coventry's kit was awful.
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8 Sept 1990 v Coventry City - won 2-1 with goals from Platt and Cascarino.
thought I had seen this on youtube
UTV
The Doc
I was at that game. Coventry's kit was awful.
At least it wasn't brown. It also didn't have a big T for Talbot in it's design that had to be blanked out for TV games. The powers that be seemed to fail to notice that a blg T blanked out still looks like a big T!
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Boxing Day 1977 - Aston Villa 1 - 1 Coventry City - i was only 5 and I just remember bricking it as was high up in the North Stand and was scared of heights.
Snap!
We struggled at home against them in that period. The season before was the Sun Poster game with both sets of fans doing a walk on with the giant posters over there heads - think that was 1-1 as well.
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27 January 1968 I think - lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham in the cup. My dad put me on his shoulders and got me in for free in the Trinity Road enclosure as was the way n those days.
You got me searching the records Pat. As mentioned earlier in the thread this was my first game also and I have little recollection of the football but loads about the ground and crowd! Anyway the date was 17th Feb 1968 .It was the 4th round of the FA Cup. Tommy Doc was their manager at the time (something else I had never linked before) so I guess Brian Tyler was playing for them. We lost to a goal five minutes from time scored at the Holte End by Jim Storrie. I stood at the front of the Holte in line with the goal post so must have had a close up view of my first live Villa disappointment! By contrast nearly a quarter of a century later I took my eldest son to his first ever game, stood in exactly the same spot and Cyrille Regis scored for us at the Holte End within a minute- my lad thought it was always going to be like that!
Crikey just realised -it's 50 years up in a few weeks!!!!
Cheers GB., I didn't know the date. Like you I don't recall the football but being on my dad's shoulders at the back under the roof, the noise and the smells. I also recall a really friendly copper asking if i was enjoying it.
I have been a Holte Ender since the mid 70s but adored that walk into the Trinity Road car park and under the main staircase as a nipper, even when they put seats in the enclosure. It was like entering Santa's grotto. Knocking the old Holte down was very sad but the day the Trinity was destroyed was the day that the real Villa Park disappeared for me. The Holte was the largest end in England and fantastic on its day, but the Trinity was unique in its beauty.
Happy 50th Anniversary to Pat and me today!!! We've never actually met but I bet we've been in the same place experiencing the same ridiculous highs and lows on innumerable occasions since 68! A win at Fulham today would be a nice way to top it off and move into the next half-century.
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I've been looking through the old results but can't really be sure about my first match. I specifically remember at the age of ten watching Villa beat Coventry in the FA Cup third round. It was pouring down and it's my only spoiled programme as it was so wet.
I wish I could remember my first game. I used to watch the reserved at lot as a youngster.
Aston Villa v Coventry City, 09 January 1965
Score 3-0 to Aston Villa
Competition FA Cup 3rd round
Venue Villa Park
Attendance 47,656
Aston Villa 3 Coventry City 0
Goals:
Tony Hateley G
Tony Hateley G
Johnny MacLeod G
I don’t think I’ve ever been so wet. I still have the programme somewhere, but it’s like a solid chunk of papier-mâché!
I was particularly struck at the time by the stirring rendition from the City fans of the Eton Boating Song 😳
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30 August 1995 Bolton Wanderers
1-0 win
31,770 attendance
Yorke 75'
Sat in the Holte end think it was a night game, not a classic but I can still remember the walk up the steps and seeing the pitch and staudium for the first time, proper hairs on your arms moment - don’t care how corny or sad that sounds.
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27 January 1968 I think - lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham in the cup. My dad put me on his shoulders and got me in for free in the Trinity Road enclosure as was the way n those days.
You got me searching the records Pat. As mentioned earlier in the thread this was my first game also and I have little recollection of the football but loads about the ground and crowd! Anyway the date was 17th Feb 1968 .It was the 4th round of the FA Cup. Tommy Doc was their manager at the time (something else I had never linked before) so I guess Brian Tyler was playing for them. We lost to a goal five minutes from time scored at the Holte End by Jim Storrie. I stood at the front of the Holte in line with the goal post so must have had a close up view of my first live Villa disappointment! By contrast nearly a quarter of a century later I took my eldest son to his first ever game, stood in exactly the same spot and Cyrille Regis scored for us at the Holte End within a minute- my lad thought it was always going to be like that!
Crikey just realised -it's 50 years up in a few weeks!!!!
Cheers GB., I didn't know the date. Like you I don't recall the football but being on my dad's shoulders at the back under the roof, the noise and the smells. I also recall a really friendly copper asking if i was enjoying it.
I have been a Holte Ender since the mid 70s but adored that walk into the Trinity Road car park and under the main staircase as a nipper, even when they put seats in the enclosure. It was like entering Santa's grotto. Knocking the old Holte down was very sad but the day the Trinity was destroyed was the day that the real Villa Park disappeared for me. The Holte was the largest end in England and fantastic on its day, but the Trinity was unique in its beauty.
Happy 50th Anniversary to Pat and me today!!! We've never actually met but I bet we've been in the same place experiencing the same ridiculous highs and lows on innumerable occasions since 68! A win at Fulham today would be a nice way to top it off and move into the next half-century.
Cheers Mr Godfrey!
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Boxing Day 1977 - Aston Villa 1 - 1 Coventry City - i was only 5 and I just remember bricking it as was high up in the North Stand and was scared of heights.
Snap!
We struggled at home against them in that period. The season before was the Sun Poster game with both sets of fans doing a walk on with the giant posters over there heads - think that was 1-1 as well.
The season before ended 2-2 (Gray and Gidman). That was my first game. I can't remember any Sun poster thing but I was only six. What was all that about?
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16th October 1982. A 3-0 win versus Watford.