Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Holte132 on December 31, 2015, 06:26:48 PM

Title: 1978 -79 season
Post by: Holte132 on December 31, 2015, 06:26:48 PM
Meant to post this yesterday - my 37th wedding anniversary! I remember that our match on December 30th 1978 was postponed but can't remember who we were supposed to be playing that day.  Does anyone have a programme from early in that season that would have all the fixtures in it?

I have a feeling it was Liverpool we should have played.  I married a Liverpool supporter ( !! ) so if it was them, then it's probably a good job it was postponed.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: Legion on December 31, 2015, 06:45:28 PM
I've had a brief scout around but cannot find anything. Sorry.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: cdbearsfan on December 31, 2015, 07:15:06 PM
It wasn't any of the following as they all played that day:

Arsenal
Blues
Bristol City
Chelsea
Coventry
Everton
Ipswich
Leeds
Man City
Man Utd
QPR
Tottenham
Albion
West Ham

Blues and Albion were away so we'd have been home.

So it would've been one of the following:

Bolton
Derby
Liverpool
Middlesbrough
Norwich
Forest
Southampton

We had already hosted Middlesbrough, Forest, Norwich and Southampton so not any of them.

That leaves Bolton, Derby or Liverpool. So one of them!

Everton were at home on the day of the original fixtures so Liverpool would've been scheduled to play away so good chance you're correct.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: West Derby Villan on December 31, 2015, 07:26:21 PM
I think it was Liverpool and it was a very late decision
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: dave.woodhall on December 31, 2015, 07:29:08 PM
That was the season we didn't play at home from Boxing Day until March 2nd. We played Liverpool on Easter Monday so it wouldn't have been that match that was called off.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: Legion on December 31, 2015, 07:31:48 PM
Might help in narrowing it down even further (http://www.11v11.com/teams/aston-villa/tab/matches/season/1979)
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: cdbearsfan on December 31, 2015, 07:33:54 PM
It wasn't Liverpool, although our match at Anfield was postponed.

http://www.footballprogrammecentre.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=49603
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: cdbearsfan on December 31, 2015, 07:34:11 PM
So Bolton or Derby I think.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: dave.woodhall on December 31, 2015, 07:34:31 PM
Anyone we played midweek from March onwards.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: four fornicholl on December 31, 2015, 07:38:17 PM
somebody needs to get in the loft and get their old programmes out
I cant im pissed
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: wittonwarrior on December 31, 2015, 07:39:23 PM
We played Leeds Boxing day drew if I remember at Villa Park and the Bolton game was  on the Saturday postponed.

A number of games were postponed  that season the one's  I remember Everton away which was due to take place a week after we lost 4-1 in the cup.  I got as far as Stafford on the train from London.

Tottenham was also called  off and one later on in the season which I simply cannot remember which recall which game  other than  it being  a Saturday  one.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: four fornicholl on December 31, 2015, 07:48:15 PM
it may of been the weather obviously but come on you budding sherlocks
why was it postponed?
its somrthing to do
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: dave.woodhall on December 31, 2015, 07:49:36 PM
it may of been the weather obviously but come on you budding sherlocks
why was it postponed?
its somrthing to do

Because it was the worst winter for decades. As I said earlier, we were unable to play a home game from Boxing Day until March.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: TopDeck113 on December 31, 2015, 07:51:36 PM
The "Winter of Discontent"...
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: Richard E on December 31, 2015, 07:52:20 PM
it may of been the weather obviously but come on you budding sherlocks
why was it postponed?
its somrthing to do

Because it was the worst winter for decades. As I said earlier, we were unable to play a home game from Boxing Day until March.

No, it was all just a nefarious conspiracy to stop the Albion winning the League.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: four fornicholl on December 31, 2015, 07:53:49 PM
it may of been the weather obviously but come on you budding sherlocks
why was it postponed?
its somrthing to do

Because it was the worst winter for decades. As I said earlier, we were unable to play a home game from Boxing Day until March.
youre good dave
ill give you that
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: four fornicholl on December 31, 2015, 07:57:28 PM
we were way behind in the underground heating revolution I remember
was there a reason?
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: dave.woodhall on December 31, 2015, 07:59:29 PM
we were way behind in the underground heating revolution I remember
was there a reason?

The pitch wasn't good enough.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: usav on December 31, 2015, 08:14:58 PM
we were way behind in the underground heating revolution I remember
was there a reason?

The pitch wasn't good enough.
hmmm, so we decided not to try and improve it's chances and just accept it was shit?
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: wittonwarrior on December 31, 2015, 08:15:35 PM
Bolton postponed  because of an iced.

The whole season really was a let down crowds dropped off, Gray and Gidman threw  their dummies out. 

We went out 3rd  round in cup  (and the next season as well away at Forest). 

I  remember playing Wolves on a  Friday start of season "pass the ball  back Wanderers" I think that was 0-0.  We lost early on to Southampton who had bought our Chris Nichol and we had signed Ken McNaught who started terribly.  Also signed Gordon Smith who again did not race off the blocks.

The one bright spark was the signing of Jimmy  Rimmer the best keeper I can remember at the Villa.  It took Saunders another 12 months to get the spark back but he rebuilt us for the 2nd time.

The Tottenham  postponed game  a Saturday one we were inspecting the pitch, myself and Alan Cox from the London  Lions when Steve Stride came out and spoke to us. 

Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: peter w on December 31, 2015, 08:23:42 PM
I think we drew 0-0 with Derby in a game me and my dad went to. May have been that season. Bolton was 3-1 that season or maybe the season after. If it was the 78-79 season ( now thinking about it I think it was 79-80)it would have been Bolton that was originally called off. (Although I think it was Derby...)
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: wittonwarrior on December 31, 2015, 08:27:57 PM
Didnt we start the season away at Bolton (a draw), remember the Villa being marched across Manchester Victoria- Piccadilly afterwards.

Cant think who did  we lose to in the league cup?  I remember playing Luton was  this before the Palace games or the round after?

Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: peter w on December 31, 2015, 08:30:25 PM
After wasn't it. We lost 2-0 v Luton. And I was in the directors seats.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: wittonwarrior on December 31, 2015, 08:35:11 PM
Didnt go the match but we drew away at Coventry and Villa Park was not happy with our support.  Also  took a general dislike to the Witton Warriors "we do not want them back in the Holte End".

A  lot of these lads had longer associations with the Villa  than  the idiots writing the articles - top villains such as George from Kingstanding.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: dave.woodhall on December 31, 2015, 08:36:18 PM
we were way behind in the underground heating revolution I remember
was there a reason?

The pitch wasn't good enough.
hmmm, so we decided not to try and improve it's chances and just accept it was shit?

We'd had it relaid the previous summer so it couldn't be messed with, or something like that. We always had a bad pitch, for decades.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: four fornicholl on December 31, 2015, 08:43:54 PM
we were way behind in the underground heating revolution I remember
was there a reason?

The pitch wasn't good enough.
hmmm, so we decided not to try and improve it's chances and just accept it was shit?

We'd had it relaid the previous summer so it couldn't be messed with, or something like that. We always had a bad pitch, for decades.
when did we finally get uh though
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: Villatillidie1982 on January 25, 2016, 07:27:59 PM
Meant to post this yesterday - my 37th wedding anniversary! I remember that our match on December 30th 1978 was postponed but can't remember who we were supposed to be playing that day.  Does anyone have a programme from early in that season that would have all the fixtures in it?

I have a feeling it was Liverpool we should have played.  I married a Liverpool supporter ( !! ) so if it was them, then it's probably a good job it was postponed.
Villa beat Liverpool 3-1 on Easter Monday scoring 3 goals in not very long. This against a Liverpool team who conceded only 16 goals all season and who clinched the title by beating Villa 3-0 a couple of weeks later. The Anfield game was a re-arranged game.

That was the first season I had a season ticket so can remember most of the matches that year.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: wittonwarrior on January 25, 2016, 08:56:10 PM
Great result against Liverpool 3-1 but we were believe  it or not badly outplayed  that day.

The season was muddled right from the start - we started off great Wolves then the Argies beaten or slaughtered at White Hart Lane  then losing  away at Ashton Gate (not my favourite away ground).

We beat the circus twice and then went on to lose to Luton in our league cup and Forest in the FA cup away.  Can't  remember the reason as to why it was a midweek game but I remember we were badly outplayed.

My season finished early no was not locked up ! Broke my leg playing fliggin squash.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: joe_c on January 26, 2016, 11:09:27 AM
we were way behind in the underground heating revolution I remember
was there a reason?

The pitch wasn't good enough.
hmmm, so we decided not to try and improve it's chances and just accept it was shit?

We'd had it relaid the previous summer so it couldn't be messed with, or something like that. We always had a bad pitch, for decades.
when did we finally get uh though

Mid 90s I think. I am sure it was a prerequisite for either the Premier League or hosting Euro 96 games. I remember the green sand that assisted us in a win over Liverpool towards the end of the 91/92 season so certainly not before then.

Back on topic, Leeds United on Boxing Day was my first ever game. I had no idea we didn't play at Villa Park for another two months.
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: castlefields_villan on January 26, 2016, 12:15:25 PM
Great result against Liverpool 3-1 but we were believe  it or not badly outplayed  that day.

The season was muddled right from the start - we started off great Wolves then the Argies beaten or slaughtered at White Hart Lane  then losing  away at Ashton Gate (not my favourite away ground).

We beat the circus twice and then went on to lose to Luton in our league cup and Forest in the FA cup away.  Can't  remember the reason as to why it was a midweek game but I remember we were badly outplayed.

My season finished early no was not locked up ! Broke my leg playing fliggin squash.

As I remember it was postponed from the Saturday because of the weather - the winter of 1978-79 was one of the worst ever - the winter of discontent ?
Title: Re: 1978 -79 season
Post by: PeterWithesShin on January 26, 2016, 03:07:11 PM
Pretty sure the pitch was still crap in '96. Main reason I think that is my memory is telling me that there were a lot of comments about it for the FA Cup semi played there.
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