Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Whiney MacWhineface on May 22, 2012, 10:54:28 AM
-
If you had one return time machine ticket and one season ticket, which season would you choose to re-live - not necessarily in your lifetime?
Tempting as it would be to experience one of the very early seasons in the 19th Century or to re-live 1980-81, I'd buy a ticket for 1976-77.
I can remember coming up from London for one of the early games and being utterly astonished. 75-76 had been pretty dour, establishing ourselves in the 1st Division ending up in 16th place, so my expectations were fairly low. What I saw was a Villa side transformed into a one and two-touch pass-and-move team that was simply electric. I had never seen us play football like that before, and I don't believe we've played at that level since.
I came up for as many games as I could, but nowhere near enough. We scored 55 goals at home that season (we were the highest scorers in the league that season), and of course there were momentous thrashings handed out - 5 past Arsenal, Ipswich and Liverpool and several games where we scored 4. And we only let in 17 at home that season.
Sadly our away form was pish so we finished 4th, but then there was that epic League Cup win to cap it off.
Gray, Little, Cropley, Mortimer, Graydon and Gidman et al. in their pomp and the early days for Cowans and Deehan. I suspect even Frank Carrodus didn't get as much stick (always unjustly in my opinion) as normal. For me, this was the best Villa side I have ever seen, and I wish that I'd been able to get to more home games.
As a bonus, 76-77 saw the birth and high point of punk so musically it was a revolution too.
-
1962-63 for me, my very first season taken to the game by my late father. My first match Villa v West Ham. I was seven and didn't fully appreciate it all! The chance to experience those days again in the company of the old fella would be marvelous. Also, I could check the pools results for that week.............
-
1957 wembley busby babes
I could tell all the villa fans to enjoy it as much as possible as it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
-
The 1976/77 season, if only to witness the 5-1 victory against Liverpool which was a mid week game and I wasn't allowed to go (was 10 years old), no cameras at the game to capture what could possibly be one of the greatest first halves of football played at Villa Park. Saw many of the games that season, but missed this legendary game.
-
If you had one return time machine ticket and one season ticket, which season would you choose to re-live - not necessarily in your lifetime?
Tempting as it would be to experience one of the very early seasons in the 19th Century or to re-live 1980-81, I'd buy a ticket for 1976-77.
I can remember coming up from London for one of the early games and being utterly astonished. 75-76 had been pretty dour, establishing ourselves in the 1st Division ending up in 16th place, so my expectations were fairly low. What I saw was a Villa side transformed into a one and two-touch pass-and-move team that was simply electric. I had never seen us play football like that before, and I don't believe we've played at that level since.
I came up for as many games as I could, but nowhere near enough. We scored 55 goals at home that season (we were the highest scorers in the league that season), and of course there were momentous thrashings handed out - 5 past Arsenal, Ipswich and Liverpool and several games where we scored 4. And we only let in 17 at home that season.
Sadly our away form was pish so we finished 4th, but then there was that epic League Cup win to cap it off.
Gray, Little, Cropley, Mortimer, Graydon and Gidman et al. in their pomp and the early days for Cowans and Deehan. I suspect even Frank Carrodus didn't get as much stick (always unjustly in my opinion) as normal. For me, this was the best Villa side I have ever seen, and I wish that I'd been able to get to more home games.
As a bonus, 76-77 saw the birth and high point of punk so musically it was a revolution too.
76-77 everytime - still on the up and up after being promoted through the divisions with big crowds. Definitely the most entertaining and arguably the best Villa team in my lifetime which ran out of steam due to a massive number of games.
Possibly still got the old season ticket book somehwere - all I need now is the time machine.
-
1899-1900 would be quite good fun - think we needed a draw at home against Thieverpool to win the league on the last day of the season and we were 5-0 up at half-time.
Pretty sure it was that season anyway.
-
Probably a bit unimaginative, but I'd go to 92/93. It was my first season going regularly and we played great football under a great manager.
I don't suppose I'm allowed to cheat and set Fergie's, sorry........the ref's, watch forward a few minutes for a certain Man Utd v Sheffield Wednesday game, am I?
-
If you had one return time machine ticket and one season ticket, which season would you choose to re-live - not necessarily in your lifetime?
Just to be pedantic...your not re-living it if you choose one not in your lifetime.
If it was a season that I did go to, then without a doubt 1971-72. I could include Plymouth away in the league, and Palace away in the 3rd round of the league cup as these were the only two games I missed that season.
But I think with a time machine it really would have to be 1896-97. See the likes of Devey, Athersmith and Spencer sweeping aside all opposition as the Villa did the double.
Would I be staying there for the whole season ? Imagine being able to observe Birmingham and its people as the century and the Victorian era was coming to an end. I want enough money and social standing to live reasonably though - as fascinating as it would be, and despite the best efforts of the present government, the majority of people had shit lives, shit life expectancy, shit jobs with no rights and lived in shit housing compared with what most of us have these days.
-
With a time machine I'd also go back to 1896-97, not only because we did the double but I'd also be able to see us play at the old Perry Barr ground (and pick up a few souvenirs from there) and also be at the first Villa Park games.
If the choice is limited to one I'd re-live then I'd probably go for 76-77 as well - great football, just left school, still playing football myself, just started drinking etc etc. Happy days.
-
Time machine I'd go back to 1930-31 when we were the league's leading scorers. Pongo, Walker, Houghton and all that.
One I saw would be 95-96, still my favourite year. (I started going in 1987)
-
Mine would be 1980-81 just to be there every game to see us win the league.
-
One of the things I also took from 76-77 was that just because things had been so didn't mean they'd always be that way. Saunders' football had always been pretty effective rather than stylish and exhilarating, as it had rather suddenly become*. I think it was this that gave me the hope that just because McLeish's football had been dour at Birmingham it wouldn't necessarily be that way for us.
* though this transition may have been less dramatic for season ticket holders at the time - I was by no means a regular by that stage.
-
1971-72. To have the whole Football League looking at us with amazement and to have towns where our team playing there was the biggest news for years.
-
A third vote for 71-72. Probably the last year that supporting Villa was really fun. Also do we have to come back. Can we just relive our lives from the chosen season, and hopefully correct all our mistakes. 71-72 would be a good place to start for that.
-
Got to be 1982, I was only a month old when we won, so while it was technically in my lifetime, it would be great to have seen it and understood what an achievement it was
-
got to agree with a pervoius post 76/77 liverpool at home been one game that season that never forget
-
The inaugral Football League season in 1888 - 1889 must have been an exciting time, so that would have been worth seeing. I was born in 1980, so missed out on the Championship winning season and the European Cup winning season. My Dad has often told me the story of the emotional rollercoaster Villa fans went through that afternoon stood on the Clock End at Highbury in 1981 and of course the magic of that night in Rotterdam.
-
I think I would choose 1974/75, a league cup win and promotion in the same season. Didnt we win something like 13 of our last 17 games to seal promotion. It must have been fantastic after all those years out of the top flight, to finally get back where we belonged. That final game against Sunderland in front of 57000 and the mass pitch invasion must have been amazing to be a a part of. It was the start of a great 7 or 8 years for us and I would love to re live those days. I think I would choose my season ticket on the witton bank so I could "welcome" any away fans! The music was great in those days, just a shame for me I was born 3 years later!
-
All the seasons where we won something would be good. I was too young for the Third and Second Division promotions in 1971/1972 and 1974/1975 so would love to see those.
Of the seasons when we didn't win anything 1989/1990 would be the one I would like to repeat.
-
Tough call.
I was there for the 74/75, 76/77 and 80/81 and they were all brilliant seasons, 76/77 being the outstanding amongst them. I'd have to go for the 71/72 just to witness what all you old farts keep banging on about.
I'd probably buy a few shares in a start-up called Starbucks whilst I was there.
-
2005-06.
-
For Cahill's overhead kick?
-
All the seasons where we won something would be good. I was too young for the Third and Second Division promotions in 1971/1972 and 1974/1975 so would love to see those.
Of the seasons when we didn't win anything 1989/1990 would be the one I would like to repeat.
Yeah, and if I could go to back to a specific part of that season it would be when we beat Man Utd and Arsenal at home in the space of a few days over the Christmas period.
-
Tough one to call, 1980-1981 to see us become champions. I don't think it would mean as much to me though because the build up to winning the league was unreal from 68 onwards
Just hoping in my lifetime I get to see history like many of you did
-
Last season, and sell it on, so as I wouldn't have wasted the f***** money I did!
On a serious note, I'd quite like to relive the 95/96 season. Sir Brian and his 3-5-2 formation. Some fantastic games, and a trip to Wembley to see us smash Leeds.
-
For Cahill's overhead kick?
Nope. For the great, successful football we played under a popular manager.
-
For Cahill's overhead kick?
Nope. For the great, successful football we played under a popular manager.
Have you got your years mixed up? Or have I just totally ruined a sarcastic joke?
-
Another vote for 76-77 I'm afraid - my neighbour said the same without prompting as well.
It just embodied what we had been waiting for I think - a powerful team that scored goals and had tremendous heart led by a flinty-eyed but deeply emotional manager. We won stuff and we beat "top" teams. I walked up Trinity Road every Saturday knowing we had a chance of beating anyone - teams feared us at Villa Park.
Oh to experience that again...
-
Another vote for 76-77 I'm afraid - my neighbour said the same without prompting as well.
It just embodied what we had been waiting for I think - a powerful team that scored goals and had tremendous heart led by a flinty-eyed but deeply emotional manager. We won stuff and we beat "top" teams. I walked up Trinity Road every Saturday knowing we had a chance of beating anyone - teams feared us at Villa Park.
Oh to experience that again...
Definately this season. I went to a few games but was too young to truly appreciate how well we played that season. It was the season that my hero Sir Brian and Andy Gray caused havoc against teams.
-
Another vote for 76-77 I'm afraid - my neighbour said the same without prompting as well.
It just embodied what we had been waiting for I think - a powerful team that scored goals and had tremendous heart led by a flinty-eyed but deeply emotional manager. We won stuff and we beat "top" teams. I walked up Trinity Road every Saturday knowing we had a chance of beating anyone - teams feared us at Villa Park.
We used to walk up Witton Lane predicting how many we'd score; three, four or five. We were that good.
-
I want to go back to the months prior to the inaugural league season of 1888-89.
Just to be able to look over William McGregor's shoulder as he sat at his desk formulating his ideas for League Football.
For a season it has to be 76-77. Oh what fun we had!!
-
All the seasons where we won something would be good. I was too young for the Third and Second Division promotions in 1971/1972 and 1974/1975 so would love to see those.
Of the seasons when we didn't win anything 1989/1990 would be the one I would like to repeat.
Yeah, and if I could go to back to a specific part of that season it would be when we beat Man Utd and Arsenal at home in the space of a few days over the Christmas period.
Great season - remember Spurs away in February - won 2-0, and I still think of it as one of the finest away performances I've ever seen from us.....shame we followed it up by losing 0-3 to Wimbledon....
-
For visiting an era I never saw, though technically not a proper season, I would love to go back to 1874 and to hang around on Heathfield Rd and keep an eye out for a few fellows from a cricket club having a chat about a winter sport. I would give a lot to join in those discussions.
For a season that delivered the only title in the past century I would have to go back to 1980-81. Such a good season produced many a happy Saturday night and it all came right in the end. For pure fun, and exploring the new joys of watching exhilarating football and boisterous crowds in the top flight then 1976-77 would be my choice.
-
For a season that delivered the only title in the past century I would have to go back to 1980-81.
1899-1900 and 1909-10.
-
quote author=Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air link=topic=47113.msg2067237#msg2067237 date=1338401306]
For a season that delivered the only title in the past century I would have to go back to 1980-81.
1899-1900 and 1909-10.
[/quote]
Andy, I meant in the past 100 years - from 1912 to 2012.
Either way, far too effing long!
-
Mine would be 1980-81 just to be there every game to see us win the league.
Same, if nothing else to experience the roof coming off when withe got the late late winner v WBA following the Batson error