Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Legion on May 25, 2012, 08:04:12 PM
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Memories (http://astonvilla.blogfootball.com/Lions/2005/06/12#a2058)
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You're a day early, aren't you?
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30 years ago tomorrow. Scary.
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You're a day early, aren't you?
Yes, but who cares?
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Happy anniversary to the greatest club in the World
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What a fantastic day. I remember some of it like it was yesterday,weather was blazing hot then as well. From seeing Brian Little at the airport until the final whistle it was a day I'll never ever forget.
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Will never see the like again same as england winning the world cup.Thanks for the memories .These were the days we could hold our head up high .Still think the villa were bigger when in the third division.No club will ever come from the third division and win the eureopean cup within 10 years .Thats when we had playersthat wanted to play for us because of our history etc
Thank you Tony Barton And Ron Saunders
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You're a day early, aren't you?
Yes, but who cares?
Fair enough. Happy Aniversary and Merry Christmas.
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I remember watching the game at home - I was going into hospital the following day for an operation so I couldn't go.
When Peter Withe scored I jumped up so high I hit my head on the pendant light - nearly anaesthetised myself.
What a night!
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I started work on 7 May 1982 and I remember that I had no money to travel to Holland or holidays from work. Watched it on TV but I can't remember where. I sort of didn't appreciate the enormity of the win. I thought that we were going to win the League and Champions cup every other year if not every year. Little did I know that whilst I have been with the same employer all these 30 years almost my entire working lifetime I will not see the same level of glory. I doubt if many of us realised what we had achieved that night in Rotterdam!
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It was. simply, the best night of my life and I don't think anything else in the future will ever surpass it.
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I was nine when we won it so I don't really remember much of it at the time. I love watching that goal though gives me goosebumps every time I see along with Sir Dennis lifting the cup. It makes me sad as well because I know I'll never see Villa do it again.
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Get in !!!
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I was 11. Watched it with my Dad in the living room with occasional forays into the dining room to listen to the radio commentary. Tony Butler and his prayer mat if I remember correctly. My Dad tells me that I went outside after full-time to recreate the winning goal over and over again. That bit I do not recall.
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You're a day early, aren't you?
Better a day early than set fire to it.
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I wonder if Randy REALLY gets it?
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I wonder if Randy REALLY gets it?
So what? Can't we just take pride in our achievement? Is there really any need to bring the current stewardship into this?
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Exactly this time thirty years ago I was dancing on a table in a pub behind New Street Station, before catching a train to Folkestone.
"Rotterdam, Rotterdam; oh we're all pissed up and we're going to Rotterdam; Rotterdam, Rotterdam."
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I was 16 and en route home to Wales from a week's tenting in Blackpool with my older brother (a Liverpool fan) in his MkII Cortina (which had comically ejected both wiper blades in the rain on the way up there just north of Stafford, one to the left and one to the right! Hehe). We were listening on the radio and had pulled into Sandbach Services for a comfort break for him. I stayed with the car, he went for the break. When he came out he said, "You scored then?" and all I could say was "Peter Withe" over and over again before asking, "How did you know?" and he replied, "I heard you yelling all the way from the Gents!"
Thank you AVFC for an amazing memory that will stay with me until I die!
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I was living in the back room of a friend's house, had just started going out with my now wife and trashed our single bed when THAT goal went in...
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I could cry seeing that
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What could we have become if we had only built on that moment?
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I was amongst the lucky few thousand that have seen us become European Champions.
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Ye lucky feckers. I wasn't born and I'll likely never see such a feat.
Then again, if the 6th best team in England can do it maybe there is hopw.
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I was in a shared house in Ilford with 3 other female teachers (from various parts of the country).
They were watching who knows what, on TV. I was listening to the radio in the kitchen. When the final whistle came I did a lap of honour across the sofa and then rang my dad. They thought I was mad and they were right!
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I was only 12 so it was decided I was too young to go, although I was at all the home legs. My sister and dad went and she says one of her greatest memories of our dad was the expression of sheer happiness on his face when Withe scored.
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(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmpost/apr2010/6/6/dennis-mortimer-european-cup-439228237.jpg)
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I was in a shared house in Ilford with 3 other female teachers (from various parts of the country).
They were watching who knows what, on TV. I was listening to the radio in the kitchen. When the final whistle came I did a lap of honour across the sofa and then rang my dad. They thought I was mad and they were right!
there is no honour in lap dancing, regardless of location....
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I wonder if Randy REALLY gets it?
So what? Can't we just take pride in our achievement? Is there really any need to bring the current stewardship into this?
Take a fuckin chill pill!! Be nice to dream that one day soon Villa might be in a position to get there again.
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I wonder if Randy REALLY gets it?
So what? Can't we just take pride in our achievement? Is there really any need to bring the current stewardship into this?
Take a fuckin chill pill!! Be nice to dream that one day soon Villa might be in a position to get there again.
Please don't abuse Legion. Bad luck can be transferable.
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Thanks Mattjpa!
Just completely cracked up, here. superb comment.
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Wonderful day, wonderful night, wonderful memories.
I was lucky enough to be there and remember it all so clearly still – I hope my kids get to enjoy something that special too one day.
Never stop believing and dreaming.
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It's just gone 3 in the morning as I write. Exactly 30 years ago, I was half asleep on the train from New Street to Dover. Now, as a somewhat grizzled 49 year old, I don't think I've ever been as happy as I was on that sticky, sweaty, beery, fart riddled terrace section of "The Tub".
I was standing on the top of the central stairway, behind the goal when the most important moment in sporting history occurred. I can't be seen on the DVD footage, because a guy fell over when the goal went in, and ended up with about a dozen bodies on top of him (no crush barriers, and terraces with about an 8 inch riser!). I joined others in dragging people off the poor bugger, who was literally purple in the face by now! I remember shouting "for f***'s sake get off him!" Had he been down much longer, I don't think he would've made it, but he recovered quickly enough. I've tried to pick my arse out from the gap in the heads as the camera pans across our end, but no luck! (It's a damn sight bigger now, and I'd have no problem ;D)
I'm gigging tonight, with the band I play bass for (Bunter & The Vibes). I'll be wearing my "It must be..." T-shirt and raising a glass to our boys!
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I was 12 and watched the first half with my Dad in Ireland. He spent the second half walking around our front lawn as he couldn't watch it. TBH all I remember of the game is running out the front door crying when we scored and hugging my Dad in the front garden. Still brings a tear to my eye and when my Dad does pass away it'll be one of the 'moments' with him I'll remember most vividly.
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I was 17, and as I had AO Level exams in Human Biology and General Studies the next morning, I couldn't go. Watched it on TV with my Dad. Couldn't quite believe what we had seen - I expected the earth to be shaking or something, but it wasn't. Don't forget the "Well Done Villa" Davenports commercial on TV right after the game, following which I jumped on my bike, rode down to the off license in Somerset Rd and bought 2 bottles. The power of advertising. Looking back, watching the game itself was too stressful to really enjoy (although I'd take it again any day!). My favorite memories of the campaign are actually the big home night games at Villa Park.
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Spent that glorious night, stuck on HMS Antrim sat just off the Falklands, listening to the game on the World Service. I remember a Manc chef mate of mine brought into the mess at the final whistle a claret and blue cake with Champions of Europe iced on top.
There was suppose to be no drinking because of the situation, but this was one Brummie who went to his pit that night, pissed as a fart.
When I got back my sister wrote to the Mail and the Club and I was allowed to go down to the reception, taken to some room in the North Stand if memory serves me right , me and my brother in law and have pictures taken with the European Cup, still in my wallet to this day. Not there but still the proudest sporting moment of my life.
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Still cant believe its 30years !!
So many memories, the previous nights drink at the Swanpool Tavern, the game of footy outside the ground with the Germans, How hot it was, & that one moment, when it seemed to take forever for the ball to go in.
Memories that I want/hope my son gets to experience,
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Happy Birthday to us 8)
Things move in cycles, we will be there again I am convinced of it, after all "WE ARE ASTON VILLA".
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I'm on a train right now 30 years ago, from the Hoek to Amsterdam with the old man headed for the Rijks Museum & Anne Franks House before some lunch in Dam Square................
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Ah I was only 5 but I hope I get to see it again, fuck chelsea we did it when we were champions
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I was thinking when I woke up today that it is sad that all we can do now is celebrate the anniversaries of victories rather than look forward to new ones, but reading this thread has stirred my soul - and my memories.
I was at university and had an exam on the day of the final, which perturbed me somewhat. I told one of the professors I was determined to go to the final and he was a relatively keen Arsenal fan, so understood my predicament at least. He arranged for me to switch my exam to the Friday morning so I went off to Amsterdam on an official coach on the TUesday evening with a mate from uni who was from the Isle of Man and had seen very few live games. My real Villa mates went over with the Sutton supporters club, partly because it was a 3-4 day bender, but also because that is what we had done for the semi, and we were superstitious wee urchins.
Truth be told the Anderlecht trip was more fun for me, as we had a 3-4 day hoot and I was with my regular mates. The official coaches to Rotterdam were tame and full of older people ( older than a beery 19 year old anyway) and there was a fair amount of paranoia after the trouble in Brussels, so the only drinking before reaching Rotterdam was on the ferry.
When we got to Rotterdam we headed straight to the Double DIamond in town, the agreed meeting point for the hordes, but I never found my mates. There was great crack and the booze was ridiculously cheap. I remember the two of us buying a half crate of beer and local nippers coming round and taking the empties as they were reclaiming the deposit . They made a fortune that day. We bumped into a few Bayern fans who were really friendly, and distressingly confident - shame we never saw them after the game!
There was a massive 150 a side game in the grass park outside the Double Diamond which was very good natured. Things did turn a little ugly late afternoon when a mob of Bayern fans came over singing Argentina, and there was a large surge and a hail of bottles which sent them packing, but that was the only hint of trouble we saw all day. The police were on high alert with English fans reputation in the 80s, so they rounded us up and packed us on trains to the ground.
The game was the most amazing night of my life, and I have never, ever celebrated a goal with such unfettered joy. It will probably be the most joyous few moments I shall ever experience, though I would love to be proven wrong. Unfortunately my crappy portable camera never did the evening justice so I had no pictures to keep, but the memories are still strong. I would have loved a boozy celebration as we had done after Anderlecht but we were piled on to coaches and ferries home within an hour of the final whistle.
I feel so lucky to have been there on the greatest night in our history, and also grateful that it came at a time when I was at my most rabid and passionate as a fan.
I am now looking forward to the tenth anniversary of us winning the FA Cup....
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Happy anniversary to us.
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Great night, great memories. Watched it on TV with my brother.
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If I had my time again I would have defied my parents, emptied my Post Office savings account, missed an AO General Studies exam and be able to say "I was there". Watched it on TV and whilst never doubting we would win, celebrated Withey's goal with a leap and a punch that dented the ceiling!
I actually realise the magnitude of what we achieved that night far more in retrospect than I did at the time. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, it seemed that winning the European Cup was what the English Champions just did - which is probably part of the reason why the club and that group of players have never received the recognition on a national level that they deserve.
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I was 18 months old, so I have no memories of it. But whilst I am very sad that I may never experience what a lot of you have, I do love some of your tales of the day. Keep them coming, hopefully I'll have a similar story to tell in the future.
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The disappointing thing about this is that the Club have done nothing to celebrate the 30 years.
I was with Gary Shaw last night and he was upset that nothing was planned for today. The club were quick enough to 'market' them when they took over!! That said it was great being in the presence of royalty, last night, raising glass after glass to the 14!!
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Does anyone have the George Gavin commentary on BRMB, I just remember him going barmy when the goal was scored. If they have can they try to add it on to here.
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Someone mentioned the 'well done Villa' Davenports ad's after the game and that's what i remember most about it. I vaguely remember Spink making some good saves but other than that it's a bit of a blur, mind you i was only 9 at the time.
I've got Dennis lifting the trophy as my screensaver on my laptop and there's a chap standing behind him not looking at all impressed, maybe he was German or a Bayern director. In any case, i'll be raising a glass to them all a little later on today. Well done lads!
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Remember it well. Awesome achievement!
To all those who say we will never see it again, I say that not only will we see it again, but it is inevitable! We are Aston Villa! Founder members of the football league, the team that refused to give the Nazi salute, the team that won the league with fourteen players, the team that ten years before was in division three. Keep the faith! We have been great, we are great, and we will always be great!
UTV!
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I've got Dennis lifting the trophy as my screensaver on my laptop and there's a chap standing behind him not looking at all impressed, maybe he was German or a Bayern director.
Yes, I enjoy being a grumpy miserable old bastard with the best of them, but I don't think any of us can compete with Herr Bendall in that photo.
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Original 1982 match report by the Evening Mail's Leon Hickman
Aston Villa, champions of Europe.
Those five words say everything about five rounds of victories in this most prestigious of club competitions.
But they say little emotional intensity of 90 minutes that were decided by Peter Withe’s ricochet goal which was enough to defeat Bayern Munich on a glorious night in the Feyenoord Stadium, Rotterdam.
As the ball left the extrovert Liverpudlian’s foot after 67 minutes the celebrations began in this port at the mouth of the Rhine.
I swear I could hear them echoing across the North Sea, westwards to the West Midlands and from there back across Britain, Europe and those corners of the world where Aston Villa faithfuls were living in hope.
In the Falklands, too, the victory will bring many a warm glow to the hearts of those engaged in the cold and bloody tasks that lie ahead.
Aston Villa champions of Europe. Now truly a great club again. Still that GREAT.
If England or Scotland can gain a few yards by it in the World Cup, then toss back another glass of champagne, and savour the sixth successive British club conquest on the Continent.
British football breathes, lives and flourishes. It will mean far, far more than just an estimated £2 million extra to Villa’s bank balance. It means lasting fame.
Villa overcame the confidence-shaking that must have followed goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer’s great decision to leave the field in the tenth minute because of a ricked neck. Poor Jim.
Eight previous cup matches with but a single goal surrendered, and a thing like that should happen to such a professional.
And when Bayern for half-an-hour shredded the Villa defence with a thrilling symphony of attacking play, they overcame that, too.
Bayern, who for all their protestations felt that Villa were there for the taking, had themselves been taken. Twelve previous Cup Final victories of ome sort or another and to come unstuck at the 13th. Who says there is nothing in superstition?
There were, of course, heroes but none more so than Nigel Spink, a raw and lofty novice of First Division football and one previous full game to his credit.
Twenty-three-year-old Spink replaced Rimmer to make three startlingly good saves and also to ridicule the fact that his experience this season totals only 36 reserve Central League games.
And then there is Tony Barton, full manager for not quite two months, who stood for a second alone in the middle of the stadium while the chanting Villa fans greeted his 12 heroes, put his hands to his eyes and wept.
Those fans, ten thousand of them, out-shouted the Germans just when the team needed them.
For during that 30 minutes of Bayern supremacy they let their men know there was still glory beckoning.
And at the end the 11 who finished the game plus the doleful Rimmer saluted the supporters, a gambolling, hugging, excited mass of a team surrounded by photographers who made way for their near-delirious party to their victory round.
Then Dennis Mortimer, a thoughtful skipper who did so much to keep the Villa boat on an even keel after former manager Ron Saunders walked out in those unhappy days earlier this year, took hold of the high-shouldered silver European Cup and thrust it challengingly at the sky.
What a moment! And the fans sang ‘we love you, Villa. We love you’.
In the most handsome gesture that I saw, Barton then walked to Bayern manager Uli Hoeness, shook his hand and offered him a comforting word.
It is typical of this generous and sympathetic man that he should do such a thing.
His triumph has been expected and yet it could not go to a better man, whatever the sometimes baffling future of football may hold for him.
His name is written in history now and, unassuming as he is, he will nevertheless relish that.
And just for a moment a thought for former manager Ron Saunders. Whatever the current feeling about him at Villa Park, it would be churlish to deny that he created this team.
No one can tell whether they would have won this trophy for him, but the habits and discipline that were tested and proved last night were his.
The embellishments were Barton’s and assistant manager Roy MacLaren’s.
If this has been an unbelievable few months for Barton it has been even more incredible for chairman Ron Bendall and his son, Don.
They gambled in giving the manager a contract and the gamble has been wondrously successful. For that Birmingham owes them a lot.
They and every member of the club left within 90 minutes of the end for a celebration in an Amsterdam hotel.
They called it a family occasion and if they can create and maintain that kind of atmosphere in Villa Park then a much-needed job will have been completed.
Barton’s Army gave the team a magnificent reception as they ran out on a sweltering evening in a three-quarter full stadium.
In contrast to Anderlecht, where there had been so much trouble, I saw only one cushion thrown from the Villa end.
The fans in the ground behaved themselves admirably and it was noticeable that Villa stewards took up positions which would have evoked admiration from Field Marshal Montgomery.
If ever evidence was needed that the police of Brussels made a mess of their tactics a month ago then it was here.
Villa still have to pay the serious penalty for that disgrace and next season the supporters will be banned from the first home match of the European campaign.
As the teams lined up, a red sky-rocket lit up the Bayern end, crossed overhead while occasional crackers were set off in the stands.
Seconds after the start Gordon Cowans broke out of defence with a long run which Withe wasted with a back-heel.
Seconds later Evans’s header flew across the face of goal and Bayern wilted under the early pressure.
The Germans’ slow build-up was typical but when they burst to aggressive action Rummenigge shot weakly.
Gary Shaw was over-elaborate when Withe and Cowans opened a way through but Villa had settled down and beaten off any tendency to freeze up through nerves.
Durnberger hacked down Bremner as the lively Scot headed for left-wing space.
But in the sixth minute Villa produced the first decisive action of the night when Withe outjumped the defence for a resounding header which flew close to the bar.
Evans was concentrating on Rummenigge and brought the superstar down with a blood-vessel-bursting tackle in the middle of the field.
Rimmer had spent a quiet ten minutes when he suddenly began signalling the bench he wanted to come off.
A forlorn figure, he abandonded his goal to Spink, shaking his head in dejection.
It was Spink’s second game for the first team. His other two-and-a-half years ago against Nottingham Forest, on Boxing Day, when Forest themselves held the European Cup.
Storybooks make fortunes out of such tales. Here it was coming true in front of us.
However, it was Muller in the Bayern goal who showed signs of fallibility. He was too intense to hold Morley’s cross at the near post.
There was no panic among Villa players at Rimmer’s sudden disappearance, indeed they were so unaffected that Morley, already mosquito-bite dangerous on the left, had Bayern’s defence anxiously wondering how they were to stop him.
Evans was taking few risks - or prisoners - and sent the stately Breitner crashing to the turf. Neither Shaw nor Withe touches had so far carried conviction but when Withe finally turned, leaving Weiner stumbling, a right-foot shot spurted yards away from goal.
When Swain tripped Horsmann in the 21st minute, referee Konrath had given eight free kicks to Bayern against two to Villa.
Evans was powering his way through the middle and then Cowans reached Shaw for the young striker to wheel on the byline and centre only a couple of yards away from the aggressive Withe.
Bremner’s long shot after 28 minutes was poor reward for an imaginative build-up between Withe and Mortimer.
But at this stage the West Germans seemed bankrupt of attacking ideas. Then like that rocket overhead they flashed Withe with Durnberger menacing when he ran around Swain, for Bayern’s first on-target shot.
Spink clutched this at full length and saved just as crucially from Rumenigge on the half-hour after Breitner had dashed away.
Evans then threw himself in the way of Mathy’s shot as Villa reeled, they were fortunate to escape. Rummenigge showed why he has twice been voted European Player of the Year with a 15-yard overhead kick, decisive and spectacular, which ran in on the byline beside Spink’s post.
The snake had uncoiled but Villa survived.
Villa failed for the second time to pick up Breitner and it was only a desperate lunge by McNaught that prevented a deflating first goal.
Withe, acting in frustration and losing control, chopped down Kraus and was booked for the offence.
Villa had become tense after Rummenigge’s show of glittering skills but, even so, it was 42 minutes before Bayern’s first corner, arriving as the magnificent multitude of Villa fans behind their goal became silent.
Rummenigge, superb in so much that he did, ended the half with two late shots.
Urgency was still missing from Villa’s game afterwards when the match started with Bayern’s sophisticated pace rather than at Villa’s more hectic version.
Morley, quiet after his determined opening 15 minutes, was evident in a couple of moves but when Mathy wes replaced in midfield by Gutler, Bayern began a series of moves breathtaking in their quality.
Skipper Breitner’s ability to open out the Villa defence was underlined when he chased the rebound of his own free kick to leap acrobatically into a 20-yard volley.
Evans felt that Rummenigge was after the European actor of the year award as well when he made a dramatic fall to what looked like a good tackle.
Augenthaler, a one-man Light Brigade, dashed past Evans who fell as though shot in front of him. The centre back, however, badly misapplied his right-foot shot.
Augenthaler again pounded down the middle and Breitner swept the ball outside for the unchallenged Durnberger to drive low and bring a marvellous plunging save from Spink.
When Spink was eventually beaten by Augenthaler’s header, Swain headed coolly from the line. Villa were in a fearsome bother a moment later, too, and again Spink rescued them, this time at the near post from Hoeness.
Under strong pressure now, the central defence left Hoeness free, only for the Bayern top-scorer to miss completely from five yards out.
Twenty minutes into the second half Morley produced Villa’s first shot which went high over the bar. But the winger suddenly produced a moment of match-winning brilliance which had taken 66 minutes to arrive.
Shaw beat Dremmier on the right and Morley, taking the path with a disco-dancer’s hip wiggle, passed along Augenthaler, skidded the ball along the line to the six-yard area for Withe to prod in by way of goalkeeper Muller and the post to score.
Bayern were rarely to threaten again. They twice cut out through passes intended for Rummenigge before Cowans darted from the right to drive left-footed into Muller’s arms.
Hoeness’s ill-directed header was Bayern’s first response and then the German Cup winners were forced to raise the tempo. Spink was a little slow to move from his line and in the end just managed to grab the ball before racing to Rummenigge.
With 12 minutes to go Neidermayer replaced Kraus. There was, so far as Villa fans were concerned, every excuse for the time-wasting during the agonising last minutes.
But hearts stopped at the Villa end when Hoeness checked on to a through ball and shot with three minutes to go.
Linesman Joel Quinion earned the undying gratitude the people of Birmingham by raising for offside.
And then it was all over. Bayern sat dejected in the centre circle after 43 seconds of injury time which for the Villa contingent must have seemed like 43 years.
Aston Villa, champions of Europe.
In the end, the Villa flock sang ‘Rule Britannia’ lustily as the players left the stadium. It was the most emotional sound of this marvellous occasion.
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I was only 7 and I don't even remember it. I was too young tun understand it. Still, it makes me very proud hearing and seeing anything about it. I love hearing my uncles talks of his night in Rotterdam, Dutch Guilders, lots of beer, nearly missing the match and the most heroic performance of our time.
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I really hope I get to see something like this in my life time.
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(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmmail/may2012/9/0/dennis-mortimer-leads-the-villa-players-up-to-collect-the-trophy-inset-the-evening-mail-869403178.jpg)(http://assetstorage.friendsreunited.co.uk/AssetStorageService.svc/GetImage/721223363/700/700/0/0/1/80/ResizeBestFit/0/PressAssociation/F52E1C451595363D4E74A4531C574013)(http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/History/01/44/51/59/1445159_w2.jpg)
(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmmail/may2012/3/7/image-2-for-villa-kings-of-europe-gallery-781643864.jpg)(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02190/spink-rex_2190375b.jpg)
(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmmail/may2012/2/8/image-34-for-villa-kings-of-europe-gallery-816031032.jpg)
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Great pics.
I always thought it a bit of a shame that (a) we had to wear our away strip for the final and (b) that so many of the players swapped shirts with their Bayern counterparts and are dressed in red for a lot of the post-match pics with the trophy.
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Goosebumps! Hero's!
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Remember as a 12 year old lying right in front of the telly and not moving apart from the goal with my Dad by my side. He's a Wolves fan (took me and my sister loads when we were kids) but took me to a few Villa games when he realised I was "lost". Looking back I can see he did a good job managing my expectations and telling me to savour every moment as it won't happen very often. He celebrated as much as me - love him for that. I now take him to football matches - great memories.
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(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02190/spink-alamy_2190377a.jpg)(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmmail/may2012/0/6/image-20-for-villa-kings-of-europe-gallery-457126986.jpg)
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I was 16 when we WON but didn’t appreciate the significance of this until sometime later
The Champions League is just a money driven farce IMO where you can finish 6th in the league and still win the fookin thing
Happy Anniversary Villains be proud we won it when it meant something more than being on Sky Sports
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(http://www.virginmedia.com/images/villa-1982-gallery.jpg)
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Happy Rotterdam day folks.
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The Champions League is just a money driven farce IMO where you can finish 6th in the league and still win the fookin thing
Whilst I agree with your sentiments, we finished 11th the season we won it!
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Fininshing 11th is irrelevant. We were Champions in the seseon we won it.
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On the ferry back there was a monumentally pissed bloke just singing 'Put another log on the fire' endlessly. Have a vague recollection of a foreign camera crew being on the ferry journey out hoping to catch English hooligans in action. They didn't.
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Even now 30 years later and as a 45 year old miserable git the memories of that day still send shivers down my spine.
I will forever be in awe of that squad and what they achieved.
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The disappointing thing about this is that the Club have done nothing to celebrate the 30 years.
I was with Gary Shaw last night and he was upset that nothing was planned for today. The club were quick enough to 'market' them when they took over!! That said it was great being in the presence of royalty, last night, raising glass after glass to the 14!!
I think the general feeling was that the 25th anniversary celebrations were also a lot of wrongs being righted and a big fuss again five years later would be a bit too much, too soon.
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The disappointing thing about this is that the Club have done nothing to celebrate the 30 years.
I was with Gary Shaw last night and he was upset that nothing was planned for today. The club were quick enough to 'market' them when they took over!! That said it was great being in the presence of royalty, last night, raising glass after glass to the 14!!
I think the general feeling was that the 25th anniversary celebrations were also a lot of wrongs being righted and a big fuss again five years later would be a bit too much, too soon.
Out of interest, what are these 'wrongs being righted'?
Not to sound condescending; I'm just a younger fan who's curious.
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One of the best day's of my life I was only young but it will still stay with me forever.
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The disappointing thing about this is that the Club have done nothing to celebrate the 30 years.
I was with Gary Shaw last night and he was upset that nothing was planned for today. The club were quick enough to 'market' them when they took over!! That said it was great being in the presence of royalty, last night, raising glass after glass to the 14!!
I think the general feeling was that the 25th anniversary celebrations were also a lot of wrongs being righted and a big fuss again five years later would be a bit too much, too soon.
Out of interest, what are these 'wrongs being righted'?
Not to sound condescending; I'm just a younger fan who's curious.
They were basically ignored from the day Doug took over until the day he left. The way Tony Barton was treated is still the most shameful episode in the club's history.
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I was 14. Watched it at home on the telly. I couldn't help feeling that, had it have been Man United, it would have been on the back of the papers for weeks. Because it was Villa, we got a grudging "oh, and by the way, Aston Villa won a trophy!" Brilliant days to be a Villa fan, great the following year as well when we won the Super Cup by beating a really dirty Barcelona at VP. Magic times. Like I said yesterday, I really hope Randy understands what this means to the fans and hope he's wanting it all back again.
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I was eight and watching on TV but I remember the night very well. I retired to my bedroom and hid for the final 10 minutes, and my Dad shouted up to me when the offside goal went in. My late uncle was there, mind - a fantastic thing to see. Today is also my ninth wedding anniversary - it was a coincidence when we booked the wedding but once I knew the date was open, there was only option. My poor wife is reminded of the coincidence every year by my entire family. Basically, a great day for me all round!
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I couldn't help feeling that, had it have been Man United, it would have been on the back of the papers for weeks. Because it was Villa, we got a grudging "oh, and by the way, Aston Villa won a trophy!"
It could be argued that the Falklands conflict at the time took precedence over everything, although what has disappointed me ever since is that Spurs unremarkably won the FA Cup final replay the following night against QPR and that always seems to get more of a mention to this day, including also their 81 Cup win over our League Championship win.
I was nearly 10 so I'm glad I'm was old enough to clearly remember it, and also went to the home games against Valur, Dynamo Berlin, Kiev & Anderlecht. My dad recorded it on our Betamax video, it has been transferred over to disk since which includes Dickie Davies, Big Ron and Jimmy Greaves (with hair) in the TV studio.
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Fininshing 11th is irrelevant. We were Champions in the seseon we won it.
Yes, I'm with you, but I just keep seeing this "Chelsea finished 6th and won it" stuff, when in actual fact they qualified fairly and squarely by the competitions rules, and they will be in it next season as holders despite finishing 6th. So much like us really!
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For those that went to the game (I wasn't even born, sadly) how much were the tickets and were they easy to get hold of? Did things like Season Ticket Holders with X away games get priority etc?
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So it was thirty years ago today. Some memories from back then....
Drinking in the Queens Head the night before, where even a couple of Bluenoses grudgingly told us to 'bring it back'.
Gathering at that burger van at Snow Hill before heading to New Street for the overnight train.
Our mate Paul getting nicked for drunkenly attempting to borrow a Union Jack from the top of the Holiday Inn Reception, he still made it.
Waking up near Dover with commemorative Travel Club pennants on our laps.
A beautiful crossing on the ferry on a day with weather just like today, there had been rumours that the government were about to commandeer all cross channel ferries for use in the Falklands War.
Hordes of police and baying police dogs awaiting us at Ostend.
The afternoon football match with the Germans outside the stadium, it was here that a young lad was hit by a car after looking the wrong way crossing the road.
Singing 'God Save The Queen' as the teams came out.
Absolute mayhem when the goal went in. Like others, i was knocked to the floor and to see the ball nestling in the opposite corner of the net after going in off the post was pure joy.
Despite the ups and downs of following our club, and the general disregard of our achievement, i'm proud to say that i was there when it mattered, and i still proudly show off my fading i-d card to puzzled present day Sky Watchers.
Oh, and our mate Paul was later fined and lectured in court, may God have mercy on his soul.
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For those that went to the game (I wasn't even born, sadly) how much were the tickets and were they easy to get hold of? Did things like Season Ticket Holders with X away games get priority etc?
You had to be a Travellers Club member and go with them to officially get a ticket but apart from that they had no criteria. Tickets were about the equivalent of £7; if you went over unofficially they were easy enough to get hold of. The ground was about a quarter empty.
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For those that went to the game (I wasn't even born, sadly) how much were the tickets and were they easy to get hold of? Did things like Season Ticket Holders with X away games get priority etc?
I managed to get two tickets no problem but as far I remember I got them as part of the Villa travel package.
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/European_Cup_Final_Ticket,_Aston_Villa_V_Bayern_Munich,Feijenoord_Stadium_Rotterdam,_26th_May_1982.jpg/300px-European_Cup_Final_Ticket,_Aston_Villa_V_Bayern_Munich,Feijenoord_Stadium_Rotterdam,_26th_May_1982.jpg)(http://bigmatchfootballprogrammes.com/images/ecf1982u.JPG)
Kick off was 8.15pm local time. Thats 7.15pm in the UK.
With the goal being in the 67th minute, I suggest you raise a glass at about 8.40pm? to celebrate the goal.
Right now its a little over an hour to kick off, seen and enjoyed the mass kick around with the Bayern fans earlier, getting in the stadium and its starting to get busy... and I'm starting to feel nervous.
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8.32pm by my maths. Which are quite possibly (or even probably) wrong.
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8.32pm by my maths. Which are quite possibly (or even probably) wrong.
I was thinking a bit over 10 minutes for half time plus a slight stoppage with Rimmer coming off. Shall we all agree on 8.35pm?
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8.32pm by my maths. Which are quite possibly (or even probably) wrong.
I was thinking a bit over 10 minutes for half time plus a slight stoppage with Rimmer coming off. Shall we all agree on 8.35pm?
Agreed. Then again, I may just drink solidly for 10 minutes between 8.30pm and 8.40pm. Just to be on the safe side of course.
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And does anyone else who watched it on TV remember the Ansells advert that came on in the first commercial break after the final whistle? That ad has stayed in my mind ever since.
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For those that went to the game (I wasn't even born, sadly) how much were the tickets and were they easy to get hold of? Did things like Season Ticket Holders with X away games get priority etc?
You had to be a Travellers Club member and go with them to officially get a ticket but apart from that they had
no criteria. Tickets were about the equivalent of £7; if you went over unofficially they were easy enough to get hold of. The ground was about a quarter empty.
Wow. How times change. Really wish I'd been alive to see it.
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I was a month and two days old, at least I was alive. To be fair if it happens again there is a chance I'll be so excited I shit myself then burst into tears, which is apparently what I did when my dad cheered when we scored
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I was there, 21 years old. The all-in return travel, including the match ticket, cost me £32.
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I love May 26th time for a beer :)
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I was 7 and watching it on ITV with the family, we went apeshit when the goal went in!
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Spurs unremarkably won the FA Cup final replay the following night against QPR and that always seems to get more of a mention to this day
My mate and I went to the replay (my brother is a QPR supporter and got tickets)and when we picked up the tickets from Loftus Road went for a drink in the pub next door. As we stood at the bar, a couple of 'pwoper naughty geezers' came up to us and asked if we had been to Rotterdam, when they learned we had they bought us drinks and insisted we sit with them and their mates and have a few drinks and they would look after us and give us a lift to Wembley.
Thankfully we managed to give them the slip when we got to the stadium as we realised they were nutters, pissed nutters by this stage. Stood with the QPR supporters in a Villa shirt and it was amazing how many were congratulating us.
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What a wonderful thread this is, I'm loving the stories from those who were there. I'm so jealous of you. I was 6 at the time and had just been to my first two Villa games with my dad at the end of the 81/82 season. I went to see the reception up town after, and have my photo of me and my dad with the trophy, but am gutted that I missed seeing our greatest ever moment in person. If only I'd been born ten years earlier!
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i went to the semi in Anderlecht but couldnt afford the final itself,
if i'd have known then what i know now i might have made a greater effort,
i was 20 years old at the time with my hair cut like Gary Shaw, i watched it on the telly,
i felt on the night that we were under pressure for the whole game and had one shot which went in of the post, with Spinksy making fantastic save after save, he was a miracle man that night,
having re watched it many times i've since realised that we actually played a lot better than that, Bayern were the better side overall but then they were 1 nill down and chasing the game for most of the second half,
we created many chances and controlled the game for some periods, all the players were absolutely outstanding on the night, even Mcnaught who i always felt was a weak link at the back, he will always be a Villa hero, but i didnt think so at the time
i was living in Coventry 30 years ago, so it made it even more special to go into work the next day as Champions of Europe, something i was sure we would be winning on a regular basis from now on
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We went without tickets and got ours outside the ground from a gentleman of cockney lineage. We ended up in the German end much to our surprise. When Sir Peter scored with that thrilling volley off his shin we celebrated very quietly as the Bayern hoolies were to our right and didnt seem too pleased. For some reason I cant remember now I kept repeating "Dont tell him Pike!" throughout the second half each time Spinky made a save. God knows why!
We were staying on a houseboat in Amsterdam and each year since that wonderful night I go back and have a pint in the first bar we went in
after the match. I remember it tasted like nectar never ever did a pint taste so good.
We were in The Old Sailor in the red light district the following night when these five Liverpool supporters came in. I got talking to one at the bar and it appears they bought tickets early assuming they were going to get to the final...cheeky bar stewards!,. Anyway we all watched QPR V SPURS and slagged Glen Hoddle off together......Marvellous!
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Yesterday I was out with my new sister walking in the Peak District. We stopped for lunch at a pub and we got to talking about times past and I told her that exactly 30 years ago I was in Rotterdam to witness the greatest moment in football history.
Anyway we had an enjoyable day and set off back to Brum and on the Expressway she suddenly turned off and headed to Villa Park, she stopped the car and said she thought I would like to have a walk round the ground on this evening of all evenings. I got out of the car and walked round the outside of the ground with my memories of 30 years ago coming alive in my head.
By sheer coincidence we were at Villa Park about 8.30 - 8.45, although I didn't realise the significance of the time until I read this thread today. So last night I was walking round a deserted Villa Park in total silence just at the moment when 30 years ago to the minute Peter Withe's Shin became the most celebrated piece of human anatomy in history.
Thank you Sis for such an unexpected thoughtful act, I love you even though you are a Baggie. :-*
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Its as if it was written in the stars fir you to end up at VP at that time. Great.
By the way "your new sister"?
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Yesterday I was out with my new sister walking in the Peak District. We stopped for lunch at a pub and we got to talking about times past and I told her that exactly 30 years ago I was in Rotterdam to witness the greatest moment in football history.
Anyway we had an enjoyable day and set off back to Brum and on the Expressway she suddenly turned off and headed to Villa Park, she stopped the car and said she thought I would like to have a walk round the ground on this evening of all evenings. I got out of the car and walked round the outside of the ground with my memories of 30 years ago coming alive in my head.
By sheer coincidence we were at Villa Park about 8.30 - 8.45, although I didn't realise the significance of the time until I read this thread today. So last night I was walking round a deserted Villa Park in total silence just at the moment when 30 years ago to the minute Peter Withe's Shin became the most celebrated piece of human anatomy in history.
Thank you Sis for such an unexpected thoughtful act, I love you even though you are a Baggie. :-*
Nice one
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Yes, I'm with you, but I just keep seeing this "Chelsea finished 6th and won it" stuff, when in actual fact they qualified fairly and squarely by the competitions rules, and they will be in it next season as holders despite finishing 6th. So much like us really!
Not at all like us. We qualified as Champions of our country, they didn't. Never has a competition been as ridiculously renamed as 'The Champions League'. As you say, not Chelsea's fault though.
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I went with my brother Mike, as you can imagine, we often baff on about it teary eyed - amazing night!
I'd left England a few weeks before the final to go to the south of France to work but had been to every home game before I left so I had enough vouchers to get a ticket.
I travelled back up north a couple of days early and had a great time in the Dam the night before the game with hoards of others with the same idea (unexpectedly bumped into a few mates too ... great night) - on the day of the match I travelled to Belgium to meet my brother off the ferry, he'd driven over and brought my ticket with him, before we both headed to Rotterdam.
We found a bar full of Villa by the ground and had a proper pre-match warm-up.
It was so tense, unbelievable, they were a bloody good team, basically the German national team - they carved out some very good chances and I remember thinking that Rummenigge's overhead kick was in before it whistled past the post.
Then the goal ... shear ecstasy - followed by the longest 20 odd minutes of my life. It was too much for one bloke just along from us, when they scored before we realised it was disallowed - he spewed!
After the game it was back to the bar and party time.
Beyond that we didn't have a plan, past sharing the long drive down to the bottom of France where Mike was going to have a week of so's holiday - so for some reason, probably because I was used to drinking more than him and too excited to sleep, I decided to make a start on the long drive south.
Must have been about 2-3am, we was well in to Belgium, Mike was out for the count and I decided to pull over and have a kip myself. I came off the motorway and ended up in a small town square deserted and completely shut down for the night except for one small bar where the lights were on and there seemed to be life.
I pulled up in a quiet side-street and after failing to rouse him headed for a nightcap still sporting my Villa top. I walked into the bar to be met by a huge cheer - they'd all been in there watching the game and were obviously wrapped that we'd beaten the Germans.
They were as excited about our win as anyone, they fed me beer and food and wouldn't hear of taking any money.
Need less to say it was Mike that did the driving the next morning!
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Brilliant story George E,
Every Dutch person I met before the game was supporting us too. Didn't realise the Belgians would be on our side as well after Anderlecht away.
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My old man was in Belgium in 1944, from what he told us they'd been suffered big time - really suffering.
What happened in Anderlecht was simply boys being boys.
Don't know if it's the same nowadays but back then, for good reason, they hated the Germans.
Isn't it good to have all that shit a dim fading memory ... not that we should ever forget.
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My mates and I were drinking with Anderlecht fans in a Brussels bar after the semi and they were lovely and very phlegmatic about the trouble, telling us it was partly of their own making. I always thought it was overplayed anyway, as from where we were stood it didn't look that bad.
It was as football trips should be - singing, beer, banter with opposing fans and a Villa win....