Went to both games. I think we had a good 7k following down there. A very crisp bright day and we were winning 2-1 thanks to a Brian Godfrey free kick. I always liked going to The Dell, a funny looking ground all round. The replay was something else, I can still see little Dave Rudge running down the right wing and crossing for Lionel Martin to score. I think there's some TV footage around but I may be mistaken.
The rolled-over waistband and the wooden thighs were about to reach the Villa man and McGrath’s wicked eyes were trained on the ball and Rudge’s legs. The Saint bore down on the Villa winger side-on and launched himself forwards, propelling boots, studs and tree-stump legs, like battering rams at a mediaeval door. At the point of impact however, Rudge, probably having sensed the attack, or death, nudged the ball on and sprang over the lunging McGrath’s committal, skipping clear. Gasps were audible as McGrath slid over the touchline like a Baseball batter struggling to make fourth base and the unsightly Saint crashed off the pitch and slid towards the surrounding wall in a sorry heap.
I was at that match too and was also at the 2-2 draw at the Dell. Absolutely tremendous atmosphere, one of those nights when you really got to know what Villa Park is all about.I remember McGrath, acreal meat merchant if ever there was one, no football in him whatsoever. I recall him scything down Ridge at one point in the game and wondering if There would ever walk again let alone carry on in that match.IIRC, Blues had a replay against the Arse I think it was the night before and they won. I went to that too with my old man. In the crush and shuffle on the way out some Nose roared out: ' there's fifty thousand here tonight, let's see the fucking Villa beat that!'. He wasn't all wrong, they did have a near 50k crowd but, as Lew says, we had what I think was 59k. Obsessed with us even back then.
Quote from: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on January 29, 2019, 09:56:16 PMWent to both games. I think we had a good 7k following down there. A very crisp bright day and we were winning 2-1 thanks to a Brian Godfrey free kick. I always liked going to The Dell, a funny looking ground all round. The replay was something else, I can still see little Dave Rudge running down the right wing and crossing for Lionel Martin to score. I think there's some TV footage around but I may be mistaken.You are right ALITA. I remember my mom and dad waking me up to watch the highlights on Sportsnight. We were on tv so rarely in those days that it was a big event, all the more so as we won. I had a few mates at school whose mom and dad did the same for midweek games. Bed at 7-8 (I was only 6) and woken up at kick off on the highlights. Somebody mentioned this to a teacher and they had us show our hands if we had watched the game- she was amazed at the numbers after a midweek England game I recall.