Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: boboonthecorner on July 20, 2015, 05:07:19 PM

Title: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: boboonthecorner on July 20, 2015, 05:07:19 PM
http://bit.ly/1KgDDwS

It now seems that The Coventry Evening Telegraph are writing articles having a dig at us. Maybe I'm being paranoid but I'm sure the Cov Official FB page have showed a total lack of class after our loss in the FA Cup final. It's really cringeworthy to read, what is their problem?
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Risso on July 20, 2015, 05:10:59 PM
Sorry, who? Coventry you say? Nope, still none the wiser.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 20, 2015, 05:11:02 PM
Have they still got a team over there?  In all honesty, their bitterness towards us should be treated as a compliment; it's clear they're rather jealous so let's enjoy it.  Shit place, shit mentality. 
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: pauliewalnuts on July 20, 2015, 05:16:13 PM
Sorry, who? Coventry you say? Nope, still none the wiser.

It's in the south eastern part of Greater Birmingham.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: cdbearsfan on July 20, 2015, 05:18:08 PM
I always forget Coventry has a team! I thought they were all London Wasps fans these days?
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: oswald funkletrumpet on July 20, 2015, 05:18:40 PM
but they really needed that 30000 seat stadium that they get no matchday income from
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: boboonthecorner on July 20, 2015, 05:19:50 PM
https://www.facebook.com/TheSkyBlues Its laughable on here, utterly obsessed.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: PeterWithesShin on July 20, 2015, 05:25:19 PM
As relevant to us these days as other small lower league clubs like Bury or Wrexham are.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on July 20, 2015, 05:25:39 PM
I only came on here to find out who the hell CCFC were.

Coventry, eh? Now there's a blast from the past. Mick Ferguson and that sign saying "We'll be back". That's about it.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Legion on July 20, 2015, 05:26:10 PM
I can't stand Coventry City or their fans.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: pauliewalnuts on July 20, 2015, 05:26:37 PM
https://www.facebook.com/TheSkyBlues Its laughable on here, utterly obsessed.

First post on there is "Who remembers this?" with a link to a video of them beating us 4-1.

I am so tempted to reply with "Who remembers this?"

Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: OCD on July 20, 2015, 05:27:54 PM
An article that twice uses "we reckon" isn't exactly a good sign, is it.

They also call us 'perennial strugglers' with no hint of irony either.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Legion on July 20, 2015, 05:29:14 PM
Done just that.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: LukeJames on July 20, 2015, 05:37:54 PM
He's now been linked with a Dublin-esque switch to rivals Aston Villa via a stunning 23-goal promotion season with AFC Bournemouth.

 ::)
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Steve kirk on July 20, 2015, 07:20:58 PM
Born in Acocks Green but through my Dad taking up a Job in Cov we moved there when I was 4 in 1960, I started going to the Villa in 66/67 we were on the way down as they were on the way up, the way they feel about us didnt become apparent until we returned to the top flight in 75 and proceeded to stay unbeaten against them for about 15 years, believe me those fuckers hate us just as much as Small Heath and the Stripey Filth maybe even more, extremely spiteful insignicant fans/club, left there in 88 and never looked back.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Ian. on July 20, 2015, 07:23:59 PM
I only came on here to find out who the hell CCFC were.

Coventry, eh? Now there's a blast from the past. Mick Ferguson and that sign saying "We'll be back". That's about it.

Ha ha, me too!
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Legion on July 20, 2015, 07:25:17 PM
(https://sentfromcoventry.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/we-be-back1.jpg)
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 20, 2015, 07:26:40 PM
Someone please post that on their Facebook page
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Risso on July 20, 2015, 07:26:52 PM
One of my favourite days, relegating them.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Legion on July 20, 2015, 07:28:54 PM
Someone please post that on their Facebook page

If you insist...
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 20, 2015, 07:33:51 PM
Someone please post that on their Facebook page

If you insist...

I do. Let's see how they like them apples.

Good work Leeg
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: The Man With A Stick on July 20, 2015, 07:43:07 PM
If our future hinges on signing an ex-Cov player, we might as well all give up now.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Chris Jameson on July 20, 2015, 07:44:05 PM
Shouldn't they be investigating when exactly they plan on being back?
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Billy Walker on July 20, 2015, 07:47:01 PM
Wasn't Daniel Crowley a Coventry fan?  I got the impression he took a certain pleasure in leaving Villa.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: john e on July 20, 2015, 07:53:39 PM
I lived in Coventry from 1978-1983,
can you imagine what it was like living there during those years

Brilliant

saw the Jam and the specials while I was there as well
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: villaxl on July 20, 2015, 08:37:10 PM
Think the Cov Telegraph a sister paper of the evening mail printed at the Fort in Erdington, speaks for itself then
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: cdbearsfan on July 20, 2015, 09:39:46 PM
In fairness, the Twitter page linked has one of their (exceedingly rare) victories against us but also links to lots of videos of wins against other teams. It doesn't seem particularly anti-Villa to me.

I read an article by one of their fans a while back and it said they haven't finished in the top six, in ANY division, since 1970.

Surely there can't be many teams in World football who can match that?
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: dave.woodhall on July 20, 2015, 09:42:07 PM
Most of them on there seem to be saying that they're not in our league anymore and have more important things to worry about.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: cdbearsfan on July 20, 2015, 09:46:23 PM
Like London Irish and Bath, their city's new sporting rivals.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: olaftab on July 20, 2015, 09:53:13 PM
Sorry, who? Coventry you say? Nope, still none the wiser.

It's in the south eastern part of Greater Birmingham.
No it's not and I would hate it to be associated with us in anyway. It's a dreadful dreary old ramshackle of a town that should have been demolished a long time ago.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Tony Erdington on July 20, 2015, 09:54:09 PM
Coventry, isn't that , that city close to London, well if you've been to the wonderful city of Coventry you'll think it could be, as the accents are well practised.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: peter w on July 20, 2015, 10:01:15 PM
I quite like them.

I find that winds them up even more.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: pauliewalnuts on July 20, 2015, 11:26:36 PM
Sorry, who? Coventry you say? Nope, still none the wiser.

It's in the south eastern part of Greater Birmingham.
No it's not and I would hate it to be associated with us in anyway. It's a dreadful dreary old ramshackle of a town that should have been demolished a long time ago.

It will be soon, what with us needing lebensraum.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 20, 2015, 11:35:12 PM
Any place whose residents call a cob a batch should be classified third world.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: warleyboy on July 20, 2015, 11:38:10 PM
I've worked in cov/Leicester for the past 10 years, and there is definitely a hate mentality for the villa from those cov supporters.
I've been to see cov play at the Ricoh a few years ago, and was not impressed with the stadium, it really has no atmosphere, in fact the worst red hot chilli gig I've ever seen was also there.
It is a shame though, I do miss all our local rivals not being in the prem.
It would be a great day if we could get cov, blues, wolves, Forest, Derby into the prem, Derby days are the best.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 20, 2015, 11:41:36 PM
...if we win
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: cdbearsfan on July 21, 2015, 12:12:15 AM
Sorry, who? Coventry you say? Nope, still none the wiser.

It's in the south eastern part of Greater Birmingham.
No it's not and I would hate it to be associated with us in anyway. It's a dreadful dreary old ramshackle of a town that should have been demolished a long time ago.

The Germans tried their best.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: pbavfckuwait on July 21, 2015, 05:48:02 AM
Coventry, is that not the place where the pissed up knuckle draggers from Small Heath who miss their stop on the number 60 bus go and they are to thick to make their way back.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: thegreatdane on July 21, 2015, 07:23:16 AM
I live in Coventry and the amount of hatred still within there supporters is ridiculous.

Does not help the matter that they are absolutely woeful, have no ground and a club shop based in Tesco nextdoor
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: robbo1874 on July 21, 2015, 07:29:48 AM
Bitter, small time outfit, obsessed with Villa to a level Albion and blues could only dream of.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Exeter 77 on July 21, 2015, 08:18:43 AM
Must admit that my first thought when I saw the thread title was 'Chester City have reformed, why were they obsessed with Villa?'
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on July 21, 2015, 08:50:23 AM
I was thinking, Cardiff aren't obsessed with us. Oh yes, Coventry.

Easy to forget about them.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Ads on July 21, 2015, 08:52:28 AM
Coventry, Coventry, Coventry... Coventry. Hmmm. I think I recall them, they're shit and play in blue and white don't they? Ergh, that's no good, so many other no mark teams round these parts play in blue and white, are shit and define themselves by hating the Villa.

No, sorry, I can't recall them.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Risso on July 21, 2015, 08:57:24 AM
Any place whose residents call a cob a batch should be classified third world.

Cob's not much better to be fair...
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Lucky Eddie on July 21, 2015, 09:02:32 AM
'That' Boxing Day though 😰😰😰😰
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Percy McCarthy on July 21, 2015, 09:14:31 AM
I was thinking, Cardiff aren't obsessed with us. Oh yes, Coventry.

Easy to forget about them.

Cardiff used to really hate us back in the day.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: pauliewalnuts on July 21, 2015, 09:50:05 AM
Coventry don't really arouse any hatred in me, to be honest. I do find their hatred of us quite funny, though.

Reminds me of when angry, petulant teenagers lose their rag and scream "I HATE YOU!" at their parents.

In fact, if anything, what they're been through with those fucking dreadful Sisu people the last few years has reached down to that point in my psyche where the common bond as football supporters kicks in and drowns out any tribal antipathy.

However, when I think of them, I think back to trips to Highfield Road, which were never really very pleasant. In particular, two. One was where it had recently been snowing and we amused ourselves by throwing snow balls at Steve Ogrizovic. After the match they closed off the road leading from the away end, stuck coppers at the end with horses, and dragged us on that horrific walk through all the subways back to the station. Aggressive coppers screaming at you if you so much as stepped off the pavement. About as far from modern day football as you can get.

The other was when we got back to New Street and the Zulus were waiting for us. Travelling across town wasn't a great deal of fun that day (think this day has been discussed previously on here).
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: thick_mike on July 21, 2015, 10:08:46 AM
I remember nearly getting tramped by a charging police horse as the copper chased someone down the pavement between shops and parked cars...lunacy!
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: rob_bridge on July 21, 2015, 10:13:32 AM
I'd forgotten all about them. An irrelevance.

Like the Ikea there though.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Rupert on July 21, 2015, 10:32:57 AM
ha ha coventry,they have claret and blue buses don,t they.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Dr Butler on July 21, 2015, 10:51:46 AM
1986 Garry Thompson(diving header ?)....what a terrible walk back to the car...spat on several times(no colours on either) and seriously the only time I had ever been scared at a game.

when I was a kid I was put on the coach at Cambridge to go to Brum to see my Nan etc and being told by the coach driver we are stopping at Cov bus station and not to get off as it is (his words) a scarey fucking dump of a place.

UTV
The Doc
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: jon collett on July 21, 2015, 11:15:38 AM
One of my favourite ever games.

Completely outplayed all game. One Villa chance and we scored with an offside goal. Sitting amongst the Cov fans with thousands of Villa and them getting more and more irate. Billy McNeill's finest moment.

Being at school at Coventry in 1987 has scarred me for life. I detest them with a passion.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Richard E on July 21, 2015, 11:31:37 AM
Off at a tangent, I saw a Newcastle fan on Twitter the other night accusing us of being obsessed with them! Which is presumably why whenever anything vaguely non-positive happens at Villa Park the #avfc hashtag is full of Newcastle supporters gloating that this time we really are doomed to relegation.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: dave shelley on July 21, 2015, 11:51:34 AM
I saw us play on many occasions at Highfield Road and happy to say, never saw us lose.  That includes the League Cup replay against Palace.  Strangely enough, I always managed to avoid trouble.  The only bother I encountered was that match where it pissed rain incessantly and I got drenched.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 21, 2015, 01:25:13 PM
I saw us play on many occasions at Highfield Road and happy to say, never saw us lose.  That includes the League Cup replay against Palace.  Strangely enough, I always managed to avoid trouble.  The only bother I encountered was that match where it pissed rain incessantly and I got drenched.

What a day.  The one when Ndlovu scored?  I've only just dried out.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Tokyo Sexwhale on July 21, 2015, 03:34:54 PM
Other than that 1-4 (which was one of my Top 5 most miserable Villa Park experiences), Coventry haven't really beaten us enough to call themselves our "rivals".

They should probably aim their ire towards Small Heath, who are a similar-sized club, with a similar level of achievement.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: passport1 on July 21, 2015, 03:44:43 PM
Perhaps they have never forgiven us for signing Denis Mortimer.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: steamer on July 21, 2015, 04:05:41 PM
Born in Acocks Green but through my Dad taking up a Job in Cov we moved there when I was 4 in 1960, I started going to the Villa in 66/67 we were on the way down as they were on the way up, the way they feel about us didnt become apparent until we returned to the top flight in 75 and proceeded to stay unbeaten against them for about 15 years, believe me those fuckers hate us just as much as Small Heath and the Stripey Filth maybe even more, extremely spiteful insignicant fans/club, left there in 88 and never looked back.
we would have been there at the same time although I moved there in 64 but also started going to Villa around 66/67
We lived not far from Highfield road and I had to put up with the wankers along with Jimmy Hill as we were rushing in the opposite direction.
Revenge was great going back as we took over town and whacked them on the pitch (mostly)
I even came with a bunch of the deluded fuckers for Charlie Aitkins testemonial..
About 50 of them were convinced they were going to take the Holte end.
Cue exit left for me and a mate as they did not get out of the concourse on the Trinity side, before scrambling back over the turnstiles, He, He, He
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Tokyo Sexwhale on July 21, 2015, 04:34:36 PM
Perhaps they have never forgiven us for signing Denis Mortimer.

Or Dublin.  Or Boateng.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Dr Butler on July 21, 2015, 04:41:33 PM
Perhaps they have never forgiven us for signing Denis Mortimer.

and giving them Kevin Richardson and Steve Froggatt  :)

UTV
The Doc
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Handsworth Wood Villa on July 21, 2015, 07:12:53 PM
Always hope for Cov away in the FA Cup or League Cup.

Would be a great cup-tie.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Matt C on July 21, 2015, 07:25:51 PM
Genuinely, I'd forgotten they even existed. I thought this thread was about a weird Chester City obsession with us.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: peter w on July 21, 2015, 08:03:11 PM
Any place whose residents call a cob a batch should be classified third world.

Cob's not much better to be fair...

You'll never, ever, be one of us Risso. Ever.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: peter w on July 21, 2015, 08:03:55 PM
I was thinking, Cardiff aren't obsessed with us. Oh yes, Coventry.

Easy to forget about them.

Cardiff used to really hate us back in the day.

Really? Why?
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: pauliewalnuts on July 21, 2015, 08:36:24 PM
Any place whose residents call a cob a batch should be classified third world.

Cob's not much better to be fair...

You'll never, ever, be one of us Risso. Ever.

I don't know how anyone can struggle with the cob thing.

That's the word one uses to describe a crusty roll. Preferably one with a bit of burning on the topmost bit.

In fact, just thinking about them, I've made a mental note to go down Sainsburys (they specialise in burnt ones) and pick up a couple for my lunch tomorrow.

I've no idea what outsiders mean by "batch" when speaking of bread-based products, though, and quite frankly, I'm not sure I want to know.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Tony Erdington on July 21, 2015, 08:37:46 PM
Coventry, why,

ive worked in Coventry, I found them to be pretentious, and backward and most to be racist and homophobic

But until this thread id forgotten about the place.

Thanks
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: peter w on July 21, 2015, 08:37:48 PM
That's also why I love Tiger loaves. Those burnt bits at the top. Oh yes.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Legion on July 21, 2015, 08:38:13 PM
Crusty roll = Cob.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Percy McCarthy on July 21, 2015, 09:23:44 PM
I was thinking, Cardiff aren't obsessed with us. Oh yes, Coventry.

Easy to forget about them.

Cardiff used to really hate us back in the day.

Really? Why?

Not sure. I know we had a lot of support in South Wales years ago so it might have been something to do with that.

Didn't we buy Gerry Hitchens off them?

There was even a pretty good poem about them that referred to 'the hated Aston Villa'. I've looked for it but no luck on Google.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Mortimer's Bear on July 22, 2015, 08:13:19 AM
I spend a lot of time in Coventry (not through choice) and am always amused a the level of 'banter' I receive from them. There are many reasons to dislike them, but the 2 biggest reasons for my feeling towards them is the way they talk about the 1987 FA Cup win as if they're the only team ever to have won such a prize, and Richard Keys.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: castlefields_villan on July 22, 2015, 09:45:18 AM
Genuinely, I'd forgotten they even existed. I thought this thread was about a weird Chester City obsession with us.

I'd totally forgotten about Coventry as well, and clicked merely to see what it was all about - yes I seem to remember since I started going (1966-67 - we were on the way down - they were on the way up and for many years weren't they the only club not be relegated from the old First Division ?) it was a mini Noses' mentality.  Am I right in thinking WE relegated them in 2001 ?
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: dave shelley on July 22, 2015, 09:55:05 AM
Arsenal and Everton have never been relegated from the top division of English football as far as I know.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Des Little on July 22, 2015, 10:06:04 AM
Crusty roll = Cob.

Case closed.  Batch my arse.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: castlefields_villan on July 22, 2015, 10:06:37 AM
Arsenal and Everton have never been relegated from the top division of English football as far as I know.

Not 100% sure without checking Dave, but I believe Arsenal are the only club to have played every season in the top division since the 2nd World War.

Obviously from when they came up (1968?) until they went down - 2001 ? they could claim never to have been relegated from the top division.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: castlefields_villan on July 22, 2015, 10:07:44 AM
They = Coventry
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: dave shelley on July 22, 2015, 10:10:49 AM
That's a strange claim from strange supporters.

Everton have not been relegated since WW11 ended either, believe me.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: castlefields_villan on July 22, 2015, 10:18:58 AM



That's a strange claim from strange supporters.

Everton have not been relegated since WW11 ended either, believe me.

From "toffee-web site"  - Wikipedia !!! for what it's worth also back it up[quote

THE SLIM DECADES

The years after the war, at the end of the forties and the start of the fifties, are the worst times in the history of Everton.

Everton were relegated after the 1950-51 season for only the second time (and the last!) to the Second Division. This time it wasn't an accident, and it took more time to get back than in 1930-31. It took three seasons before the team got back to the top-flight in 1954 as the runners-up. Promotion was not decided until the last match of the season, when the Toffees beat Oldham away 4-0.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: luke95 on July 22, 2015, 10:21:36 AM
Everton were relegated in the early 1950s.

Arsenal have only finished in the relegation places once but were never actually relegated for some reason which I cant recall
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Lastfootstamper on July 22, 2015, 10:26:35 AM
Arsenal and Everton have never been relegated from the top division of English football as far as I know.

They have. A while back, mind. Not sure about Everton exactly (pretty sure they've got a relegation post-WW2, but I wouldn't put too much money on it), but Arsenal definitely went down before WW1, then whinged to get back in in1919, I think, and I'd put a bit more on that!
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: dave shelley on July 22, 2015, 10:26:43 AM



That's a strange claim from strange supporters.

Everton have not been relegated since WW11 ended either, believe me.

From "toffee-web site"  - Wikipedia !!! for what it's worth also back it up[quote

THE SLIM DECADES

The years after the war, at the end of the forties and the start of the fifties, are the worst times in the history of Everton.

Everton were relegated after the 1950-51 season for only the second time (and the last!) to the Second Division. This time it wasn't an accident, and it took more time to get back than in 1930-31. It took three seasons before the team got back to the top-flight in 1954 as the runners-up. Promotion was not decided until the last match of the season, when the Toffees beat Oldham away 4-0.


That's what you get for not checking.  :-[. I was convinced I'd read somewhere that Everton were top-flight ever presents.  That'll teach me.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: luke95 on July 22, 2015, 10:35:26 AM



That's a strange claim from strange supporters.

Everton have not been relegated since WW11 ended either, believe me.

From "toffee-web site"  - Wikipedia !!! for what it's worth also back it up[quote

THE SLIM DECADES

The years after the war, at the end of the forties and the start of the fifties, are the worst times in the history of Everton.

Everton were relegated after the 1950-51 season for only the second time (and the last!) to the Second Division. This time it wasn't an accident, and it took more time to get back than in 1930-31. It took three seasons before the team got back to the top-flight in 1954 as the runners-up. Promotion was not decided until the last match of the season, when the Toffees beat Oldham away 4-0.


That's what you get for not checking.  :-[. I was convinced I'd read somewhere that Everton were top-flight ever presents.  That'll teach me.

Think Everton have spent the most
 seasons in the top flight & Arsenal the most consecutive
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Villa in Denmark on July 22, 2015, 10:41:21 PM
Everton were relegated in the early 1950s.

Arsenal have only finished in the relegation places once but were never actually relegated for some reason which I cant recall

Quote from: AISA Arsenal History Society
One of the many myths of Arsenal’s history is that the club has never been relegated. Unfortunately, this is not so. Even worse is that when they were relegated it was with one of the worst records ever.

The fateful day when Arsenal were relegated was 12 April 1913. Prior to this date they had been hanging on by the skin of their teeth, mainly because Chelsea were having a pretty poor season as well. That morning the bottom of the First Division table looked like this:

                               Pld   W   D   L   F   A   Pts   GA
17   Tottenham Hotspur   35   12   5   18   43   67   29   0.64
18   Chelsea                   35   8   6   21   42   71   22   0.59
19   Notts County           35   6   8   21   24   50   20   0.48
20   Arsenal                   35   3   10   22   23   70   16   0.33

Taken from AISA Arsenal History Society: preserving Arsenal's heritage (http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/5891)

Which apparently coincided with them moving to Highbury

It's their return to the top division after WWI that's controversial.

Quote from: ESPN
Four months after Armistice Day brought a halt to battle on the Western Front in November 1918, the authorities sought to revitalise football and the First Division was to be resurrected and expanded to 22 clubs from 20. Tradition dictated the bottom two clubs from the previous season - Chelsea and Tottenham - would be handed a reprieve, and that the top two clubs in the Second Division - Derby and Preston - would be promoted.

Certainly Chelsea were in a strong position, as the club had only fallen into the relegation zone in 1914-15 due to a notorious match-fixing scandal involving Manchester United and Liverpool. As events transpired, they retained their place without a vote being taken by the Football League at the crucial meeting because, as reports at the time stated, "the manner in which they lost their position before war interfered with the game is generally regarded as unsatisfactory".


Tottenham were fully expected to join Chelsea in the top flight, but then Arsenal, led by Norris, made an audacious move. Based partially on their longer service in the Football League (Arsenal were the first southern side to join in 1893), Norris argued that the Gunners were more deserving of a place than Tottenham, let along Barnsley and Wolves, who had both finished above them in the final Second Division season before the war. Following Arsenal's lead, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham and Hull all submitted their own applications and, with the promoted Derby and Preston ushered into the top flight, a seven-way tussle was underway for the final place in the expanded 22-team division.

The Daily Express recorded the anticipation felt ahead of the meeting in Manchester on March 10, 1919: "London was never more intimately concerned with Football League deliberations than on this occasion... There is an understanding that Chelsea will be voted into the First Division, and when the present scheme was first mooted it was regarded as a matter of course that they would be accompanied by Tottenham Hotspur, but The Arsenal considered that they had a superior claim and issued an appeal to the clubs to vote for them in preference to the Spurs ... there is a strong body of opinion that considers Tottenham Hotspur ought to remain in the First Division."

It was almost certain that the place would go to a side from the capital - after all, an unnamed northern official told the Daily Mirror, "our boys like a visit to London once or twice a year ... they get a show at the theatres and see something of the great city. The directors also enjoy a visit to the big smoke" - but momentum swung decisively in Arsenal's favour when League chairman and Liverpool owner John McKenna, a close friend of Norris, urged clubs to vote in favour of the Gunners as they had joined the League some 15 years before Tottenham.

When the votes were counted, Arsenal had won the support of 18 clubs, Tottenham 8, Barnsley 5, Wolves 5, Forest 3, Birmingham 2 and Hull 1. Despite finishing fifth in the Second Division in the final season before the Football League was suspended, it was Arsenal who would occupy a place in the top flight, and not their neighbours Tottenham.

Link to full article (http://www.espnfc.com/story/843199/rewind-to-1919-audacious-arsenal-supplant-spurs)

Particulalrly the 1919 story is very partisan with all manner of accusations lobbed in Arsenal's direction from some Spurs articles and some rather testy defences in some Arsenal articles, which is why I've ended up using the ESPN article, as roughly consistent with most of the various versions I've heard / read down the years without teading towards some of the more contentious theories as to how the decision came to be.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Meanwood Villa on July 22, 2015, 11:04:10 PM
Currently Bournemouth are the only club never to have been relegated from the top flight.

Edit- apart from all the teams who've never been in the top flight of course
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on July 22, 2015, 11:55:58 PM
One of my favourite days, relegating them.

Especially the way we went about it with them creaming themselves at halftime thinking they were staying up.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Drummond on July 23, 2015, 12:30:34 AM
Our obsession with CCFC's obsession with Villa.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: N'Zimidy on July 23, 2015, 01:05:20 AM
Honestly had no idea who CCFC were until I opened the thread and I go to the Ricoh's casino every month.
Title: Re: CCFC's obsession with Villa?
Post by: Pat McMahon on July 23, 2015, 01:56:05 PM
I've never been bothered by Coventry. When I was a kid we always beat them, took thousands to games at Highfield Rd and I never had the slightest bit of bother there (because of our numbers). They are just the 5th nearest team to us (I think).

I recall watching MOTD on the night of the 1975 league cup final and Coventry were featured at home. Thier fans were singing Villa / Norwich in that old Rangers / Celtic way.
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