Chester 2 v 2 Villa League Cup 74/75

[b23]

Chester v Villa

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pictures-rare-images-chester-fcs-8538531

This was played on the car radio, for all Villa fans going to the game.

[castlefields_villan]

I think pictures 11 and 12 are against West Ham ?

I remember both games well - tremendously exciting - this was right at the start of that tremendous surge to promotion and the league cup as well as a decent FA Cup run in the second half of that famous 1974-75 season.  Didn't we play Sheffield United (then a top 6 First Division side and for whom a quality player once scored a quality goal) the following Saturday in the 4th Round of the FA Cup ?

[lennythekad]

Special was diverted and got there about 15 mins before ko, iirc. 5-600 of us running through the streets trying to make the start. Paid 50p for a 10p programme, off a bloke in the crowd!.

[class-of-82]

remember going there by coach everyone pestering the driver to pull in at Hilton services where there was few other coaches stopping for the gents then realising there was about 4 coaches of manyoo fans on there way over to Norwich for the other semi on the other side of the motorway
to put it mildly all hell broke loose
 

[dave shelley]

For those of you who are too young to remember that 1975 League Cup win over Norwich, take the time to have a look at the final below.  The players you have only heard about from us old 'uns are there for you to see just how good they were.  Remember, at the time of this match, we were still a second division team.  Have a look at how good Graydon and Little were.  See also the defensive qualities of Chris Nicholl and Ian Ross, the non-stop running and work ethic of Frank Carrodus.  These boys were a taste of things to come.  Every man that day was superb.  What a centre forward Keith Leonard could have been but for injury.

We as a crowd, did what we do best, we got behind the team and throughout the footage all you can here is: Villa, Villa.  What's left of my hair still stands up when I think of it.  At the end as the Norwich team leaves the field, you can hear: Norwich, Norwich, that was us as well as what was left of the Norwich support.  A tremendous day.

I managed to get my old man a ticket for that game, the only time he ever got to Wembley, he was a sick man then and died three years later but, he died having seen his team win at Wembley.

[wittonwarrior]

Didn't go  to either leg but was on the national coach from Victoria  to Digburth  for Sheff  Utd

As Wolves would say those  were the days my friends.

[Godfrey Brian]

For those of you who are too young to remember that 1975 League Cup win over Norwich, take the time to have a look at the final below.  The players you have only heard about from us old 'uns are there for you to see just how good they were.  Remember, at the time of this match, we were still a second division team.  Have a look at how good Graydon and Little were.  See also the defensive qualities of Chris Nicholl and Ian Ross, the non-stop running and work ethic of Frank Carrodus.  These boys were a taste of things to come.  Every man that day was superb.  What a centre forward Keith Leonard could have been but for injury.

We as a crowd, did what we do best, we got behind the team and throughout the footage all you can here is: Villa, Villa.  What's left of my hair still stands up when I think of it.  At the end as the Norwich team leaves the field, you can hear: Norwich, Norwich, that was us as well as what was left of the Norwich support.  A tremendous day.

I managed to get my old man a ticket for that game, the only time he ever got to Wembley, he was a sick man then and died three years later but, he died having seen his team win at Wembley.

Great link Dave. That was a special day- the first winning trip to Wembley for teenagers of the time. It'seems remembered as a dour sort of final but some of our second half play shows how relentlessly we attacked. Frank Carrodus -how many miles did he cover for the team?

I was just by the white tunnel behind the goal and still remember the age it seemed to take for Ray Gaydon to control that rebound before scoring.

The day afterwards there was a civic reception at a rain lashed Victoria Square - not as crowded as expected as it clashed with the highlights being shown on TV. But then they took the cup back to Villa Park for a further reception which, in the gloom of a rainy late afternoon ,  was a lovely bringing together of fans and club. As you say - that was just the foundation of an incredible period of time for Villa supporters.

[usav]

Were Norwich 1st or 2nd division at the time?

[castlefields_villan]

Were Norwich 1st or 2nd division at the time?

Norwich were in the 2nd division with us at the time - it was and still remains the only major cup final to be played between two non top division sides.   Norwich were promoted in 3rd place behind Man Utd and ourselves - however we spoilt their last game promotion party by winning 4-1 at Carrow Road and their celebrations were muted to say the least !

[castlefields_villan]

For those of you who are too young to remember that 1975 League Cup win over Norwich, take the time to have a look at the final below.  The players you have only heard about from us old 'uns are there for you to see just how good they were.  Remember, at the time of this match, we were still a second division team.  Have a look at how good Graydon and Little were.  See also the defensive qualities of Chris Nicholl and Ian Ross, the non-stop running and work ethic of Frank Carrodus.  These boys were a taste of things to come.  Every man that day was superb.  What a centre forward Keith Leonard could have been but for injury.

We as a crowd, did what we do best, we got behind the team and throughout the footage all you can here is: Villa, Villa.  What's left of my hair still stands up when I think of it.  At the end as the Norwich team leaves the field, you can hear: Norwich, Norwich, that was us as well as what was left of the Norwich support.  A tremendous day.

I managed to get my old man a ticket for that game, the only time he ever got to Wembley, he was a sick man then and died three years later but, he died having seen his team win at Wembley.

Great link Dave. That was a special day- the first winning trip to Wembley for teenagers of the time. It'seems remembered as a dour sort of final but some of our second half play shows how relentlessly we attacked. Frank Carrodus -how many miles did he cover for the team?

I was just by the white tunnel behind the goal and still remember the age it seemed to take for Ray Gaydon to control that rebound before scoring.

The day afterwards there was a civic reception at a rain lashed Victoria Square - not as crowded as expected as it clashed with the highlights being shown on TV. But then they took the cup back to Villa Park for a further reception which, in the gloom of a rainy late afternoon ,  was a lovely bringing together of fans and club. As you say - that was just the foundation of an incredible period of time for Villa supporters.

Superbly put guys - I was 17 at the time and as you say for anyone under about 25 at the time it was the first Wembley win.

[wittonwarrior]

I remember John bond making some daft comments which made look silly afterwards. Mind you I always thought of him as being daft. Cannery killer Aston villa

[West Derby Villan]

Great day out, my first Wembley visit. John Bond didn't like many managers as I recall, but Ron Saunders had managed Norwich a couple of years previous so there was a bit of an edge to the final. " A much relieved Ray Graydon was there to slot it home"

[The Left Side]

Michael Owen's Dad scored for Chester.

[steamer]

Bond was a media luverly
On the Sunday match review Bond waffled about mock rivalry and all in good spirit
Ron just stared at him.

[Flamingo Lane]

I think pictures 11 and 12 are against West Ham ?

I remember both games well - tremendously exciting - this was right at the start of that tremendous surge to promotion and the league cup as well as a decent FA Cup run in the second half of that famous 1974-75 season.  Didn't we play Sheffield United (then a top 6 First Division side and for whom a quality player once scored a quality goal) the following Saturday in the 4th Round of the FA Cup ?

Yes, we played a very good Sheffield United side in the FA Cup and thumped them 4-1.  This game doesn't get written about that much, but our performance that day was as good if not better than any other in that magnificent season.  In his programme notes for the last game of the season, Ron Saunders wrote this:

"We have taken each game as it has come, climbed each mountain as it has appeared.  And it has helped so much to know that you have willed us on so magnificently.  I remember vividly the standing ovation you gave the lads at half time in the FA Cup tie with Sheffield United; it was a warm and solid wall of approval, not just a noise.."