Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Brend'Watkins on November 05, 2012, 11:15:26 AM

Title: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Brend'Watkins on November 05, 2012, 11:15:26 AM: I have vague memories of this. I think there were 2 games played on the night including an old stars game. Don't remember who we played.

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/Brendunne/CentenaryMatch-JoeBeresford1974.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/Brendunne/LetterwithCentenaryphoto.jpg)
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Dave Clark Five on November 05, 2012, 11:19:20 AM: We played Leeds in the Centenary match.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: PGW on November 05, 2012, 11:23:46 AM: They beat us 2 - 1
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Exeter 77 on November 05, 2012, 12:00:29 PM: Quote from: Dave Clark Five on November 05, 2012, 11:19:20 AM
We played Leeds in the Centenary match.
Was that Brian Clough's first game as manager of Leeds?
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: DeKuip on November 05, 2012, 01:01:45 PM: Not sure if Leeds had any friendlies before then but it was certainly at the start of Clough's brief spell there.
Norman Hunter tells a story how, en route to Villa Park, Clough stopped the coach on a dual carriageway and made the players sit on a rainswept grassy bank for a team talk. When they started getting up because the surface was sodden, Clough snapped: “I’ll tell you when you can stand up!” Billy Bremner promptly led his men back to the bus.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Flamingo Lane on November 05, 2012, 01:14:42 PM: Ray Graydon missed two penalties.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on November 05, 2012, 01:26:28 PM: I think the Leeds friendly was the first time I saw the Villa lose. There was a special programme inside the normal official matchday programme that night. I'll try and dig it out.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Brend'Watkins on November 05, 2012, 02:03:31 PM: Quote from: Rudy Lambert on November 05, 2012, 01:26:28 PM
I think the Leeds friendly was the first time I saw the Villa lose. There was a special programme inside the normal official matchday programme that night. I'll try and dig it out.

The first ever 'Villa News and Record' I think.

Yes, it was Leeds. Which might explain why there was a bit of trouble at it too.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: E I Adio on November 07, 2012, 04:55:25 PM: I love the way they've obliterated the previous manager's name on the letter with a row of XXX's.

Times were 'ard in them days.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: dave.woodhall on November 07, 2012, 05:04:41 PM: Quote from: Bren'd on November 05, 2012, 11:15:26 AM
I have vague memories of this. I think there were 2 games played on the night including an old stars game. Don't remember who we played.

Let me guess where you got that letter from.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: Dave Javu on November 12, 2012, 10:19:04 AM: I love that "MANAGER XXXXXXXXX Ron Saunders" bit.

I wonder who it was who was too tight to get the letterheads re-printed?
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: London Villan on November 12, 2012, 11:38:17 AM: Quote from: Dave Javu on November 12, 2012, 10:19:04 AM
I love that "MANAGER XXXXXXXXX Ron Saunders" bit.

I wonder who it was who was too tight to get the letterheads re-printed?

It could only be one person...
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: villan from luton on November 17, 2012, 10:20:37 AM: Dont give a toss if it was Clough's first game as Leeds manager, it was the first time I saw Sir Ron as manager of Aston Villa
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: martin o`who?? on November 18, 2012, 01:07:22 PM: We played Leeds united, who were the Bollox at the time, the Programme was a work of art with a replica of our first ever programme in it, if i remember rightly, it was voted programme of the season, and i seem to remember that the late great Don Revie called Villa Park "another Anfield" in his interview in it.
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on February 19, 2025, 11:01:54 AM: Bumping this. Did we release an all-time Villa 11 at the time, from our first 100 years, or just these games?
Title: Re: 1974 Centenary Match
Post by: dcdavecollett on February 20, 2025, 12:33:13 AM: That looks like Michael Wright, then only recently forced to retire with a knee injury, in the background.

Thanks for posting.