Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Rory on January 04, 2024, 11:15:10 PM

Title: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 04, 2024, 11:15:10 PM
Couldn't think of where else to put this but just discovered a few pictures from my very first game.


(https://i.ibb.co/Bj1Kg5k/20240104-230446.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Bj1Kg5k)



(https://i.ibb.co/YbXRtHg/20240104-230500.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YbXRtHg)



(https://i.ibb.co/VSyqVV6/20240104-230528.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VSyqVV6)



(https://i.ibb.co/YbV6L14/20240104-230542.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YbV6L14)



(https://i.ibb.co/GWLcHL1/20240104-230555.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GWLcHL1)
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Ian. on January 04, 2024, 11:25:08 PM
Nice, I wish I had photos of my first game. This makes me feel old though. One question though Rory, why are you dressed so smart?
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 04, 2024, 11:29:25 PM
Nice, I wish I had photos of my first game. This makes me feel old though. One question though Rory, why are you dressed so smart?

My Dad had won on one of the old Villa scratchcards, so we had a ground tour, met the team, met Doug, had lunch in the Corner Flag, all that. I imagine the attire was my Mom's idea!
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: WarszaVillan on January 04, 2024, 11:31:42 PM
Was it the 3-1 defeat against Leicester?
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 04, 2024, 11:33:36 PM
Was it the 3-1 defeat against Leicester?

It was indeed. My first six games were all defeats - I didn't see us win until the 3-1 against Fulham in (I think) 2002.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: dcdavecollett on January 04, 2024, 11:40:51 PM
A true Villa fan, then! Not someone who gets put off by the odd half-dozen stuffings.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: PeterWithesShin on January 04, 2024, 11:41:59 PM
Nice pics. I've always wished I knew what my first game was. I don't even know for sure what year, closest I know is it would have been 74 or 75 when I was 4 or 5.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 04, 2024, 11:47:09 PM
A true Villa fan, then! Not someone who gets put off by the odd half-dozen stuffings.

Although after my 4th game (the FA Cup loss to Coventry when Bosnich made 'that' save) I did ask my Dad if maybe I should not go again, because I seemed to be bringing bad luck.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 04, 2024, 11:48:46 PM
Nice pics. I've always wished I knew what my first game was. I don't even know for sure what year, closest I know is it would have been 74 or 75 when I was 4 or 5.

Yeah, I don't remember much of the day and I was 7. Aged 4 or 5 must be impossible.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Ian. on January 04, 2024, 11:56:14 PM
Nice, I wish I had photos of my first game. This makes me feel old though. One question though Rory, why are you dressed so smart?

My Dad had won on one of the old Villa scratchcards, so we had a ground tour, met the team, met Doug, had lunch in the Corner Flag, all that. I imagine the attire was my Mom's idea!

Get on, great memories for you. I think my dad used to sell those scratch cards for Villa and Wolves.

My first match was 1-1 against Wolves in the John Ireland Stand at Molineux. The only thing I remember was Jimmy Rimmer. It must have been 1983 I reckon. My first Home game was a little while later as we moved to Devon in 83. I think it was 85 or 86 and we stuffed West Ham 4-0. I’m sure Stainrod scored a couple.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 12:03:58 AM
Found a couple more:


(https://i.ibb.co/Z83VmZF/20240104-235651.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z83VmZF)


The old tunnel


(https://i.ibb.co/7pW4KDr/20240105-000030.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7pW4KDr)


And there's no mistaking Tommy Johnson's running style.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Lastfootstamper on January 05, 2024, 12:05:21 AM
Nice pics. I've always wished I knew what my first game was. I don't even know for sure what year, closest I know is it would have been 74 or 75 when I was 4 or 5.

Yeah, I don't remember much of the day and I was 7. Aged 4 or 5 must be impossible.


My first game was "the" Bournemouth game.
Do I remember the sense of occasion? Yes.
Do I remember anything that happened? Nope, not a clue.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 12:10:14 AM
Nice pics. I've always wished I knew what my first game was. I don't even know for sure what year, closest I know is it would have been 74 or 75 when I was 4 or 5.

Yeah, I don't remember much of the day and I was 7. Aged 4 or 5 must be impossible.


My first game was "the" Bournemouth game.
Do I remember the sense of occasion? Yes.
Do I remember anything that happened? Nope, not a clue.

Haha yeah, the only bit of the actual game I remember is my Mom and Grandma cheering one of the Leicester goals because they didn't realise the sides switched ends at HT.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Lastfootstamper on January 05, 2024, 12:14:41 AM
A true Villa fan, then! Not someone who gets put off by the odd half-dozen stuffings.

I might need to double check this, but I don't think my missus has ever seen us lose. Blatant gloryhunter. She's a fairly infrequent visitor, but I've a feeling she's seen us beat man citeh a couple of times.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: olaftab on January 05, 2024, 12:40:16 AM
Rory what a good looking lad you were… ok probably still are😊
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 01:51:50 AM
Rory what a good looking lad you were… ok probably still are😊

Thanks Aftab, but the past tense is definitely appropriate!

My youngest brother is an acting school at the moment, and he's the one currently occupying whatever looks are in the family:


(https://i.ibb.co/NKLk7Hz/20240105-014915.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NKLk7Hz)


(But he's only ever been to four Villa games, so fuck him.)
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Sexual Ealing on January 05, 2024, 03:10:54 AM
I'd like to speak to the parent that kept taking you despite you being an obvious Jonah. Do you realise what you've put us through? And here I am, keeping Rory hours (my wife's in the spare room in case she catches me fiddling with myself).
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 03:17:18 AM
I'd like to speak to the parent that kept taking you despite you being an obvious Jonah. Do you realise what you've put us through? And here I am, keeping Rory hours (my wife's in the spare room in case she catches me fiddling with myself).

My last loss was Watford, November 2015, so I'm making up for it! I went to about 20 games in the Championship and we didn't lose once.

Just don't fiddle with yourself over any of my photos, you sick bastard.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Sexual Ealing on January 05, 2024, 03:23:29 AM
I'd like to speak to the parent that kept taking you despite you being an obvious Jonah. Do you realise what you've put us through? And here I am, keeping Rory hours (my wife's in the spare room in case she catches me fiddling with myself).

My last loss was Watford, November 2015, so I'm making up for it! I went to about 20 games in the Championship and we didn't lose once.

Just don't fiddle with yourself over any of my photos, you sick bastard.

We've all seen wins in the Championship mate. Your brother might justify a fiddle, but you've got a long way to go.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 03:39:23 AM
I'd like to speak to the parent that kept taking you despite you being an obvious Jonah. Do you realise what you've put us through? And here I am, keeping Rory hours (my wife's in the spare room in case she catches me fiddling with myself).

My last loss was Watford, November 2015, so I'm making up for it! I went to about 20 games in the Championship and we didn't lose once.

Just don't fiddle with yourself over any of my photos, you sick bastard.

We've all seen wins in the Championship mate. Your brother might justify a fiddle, but you've got a long way to go.

Tough talk. I know you want a piece of this ass.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Meanwood Villa on January 05, 2024, 06:39:38 AM
A true Villa fan, then! Not someone who gets put off by the odd half-dozen stuffings.

I might need to double check this, but I don't think my missus has ever seen us lose. Blatant gloryhunter. She's a fairly infrequent visitor, but I've a feeling she's seen us beat man citeh a couple of times.

My ex went to less than 10 games but saw the Small Heath 5-1 and Blackburn 6-4, two best matches of the 00s probably.

Nice pics. I've always wished I knew what my first game was. I don't even know for sure what year, closest I know is it would have been 74 or 75 when I was 4 or 5.

Yeah, I don't remember much of the day and I was 7. Aged 4 or 5 must be impossible.

My first match was v Reading in 1987. I do have a vague memory of being there but apparently Mark Lillis, of all people, scored a screamer and I have no recollection of it at all. Attendance of 13k! You tell that to the kids of today...
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Villan For Life on January 05, 2024, 06:52:39 AM
Great pics, Rory. I’ve never seen a pic inside the old tunnel before and I’ve often wondered what it was like.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Dave P on January 05, 2024, 12:29:26 PM
Great pics.  My first away game was this month, the 2-1 win at Coventry.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: SoccerHQ on January 05, 2024, 12:35:47 PM
Was it the 3-1 defeat against Leicester?

Wasn't that the game Oakes collected the ball, Heskey shoulder-barged into him and the ref (from pretty much near the halfway line) decided to give a penalty?

Leicester were a nightmare to play against in those days and we went 5 years without beating them home or away.

We probably should've just appointed O'Neill instead of Gregory in March 1998.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: SoccerHQ on January 05, 2024, 12:38:41 PM
Also first game was in 96/97, a 0-0 draw with West Ham I have completely no recollection of!

One thing I did though years later was go down Villa Village and purchase a folder containing all the programmes from that season which I still have in the loft.

It's a real moment in time flicking through all 19 games and reading about club defending putting prices up for one game to over £20! And SBL's programme notes for the game about Middlesborough and how people coming would be "excited to see all their foreign players."

How times change.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: LeeB on January 05, 2024, 02:11:36 PM
Nice, didn't get any of that pitchside malarkey for my first game, just a bag of chips after the game.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Risso on January 05, 2024, 05:47:16 PM
I missed that Leicester game because a group of us were driving up to Newcastle for a mate’s 21st birthday. I remember the score updates coming through on the car radio and getting increasingly pissed off. I did cop off with a Geordie slapper in Tuxedo Royale though, so not a complete write off of a weekend.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 11:54:00 PM
Nice, didn't get any of that pitchside malarkey for my first game, just a bag of chips after the game.

Oh it was only because my Dad won it. We didn't pay for it, and I haven't been near the pitch since - apart from the 6-4 LC SF.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Rory on January 05, 2024, 11:56:19 PM
Great pics, Rory. I’ve never seen a pic inside the old tunnel before and I’ve often wondered what it was like.

Yeah the tunnel and changing rooms make me laugh. Players would probably expect better than that at the Sty these days, let alone VP.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Axl Rose on January 06, 2024, 01:26:03 AM
I missed that Leicester game because a group of us were driving up to Newcastle for a mate’s 21st birthday. I remember the score updates coming through on the car radio and getting increasingly pissed off. I did cop off with a Geordie slapper in Tuxedo Royale though, so not a complete write off of a weekend.

😂

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaate
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Dave P on January 06, 2024, 10:40:25 PM
I missed that Leicester game because a group of us were driving up to Newcastle for a mate’s 21st birthday. I remember the score updates coming through on the car radio and getting increasingly pissed off. I did cop off with a Geordie slapper in Tuxedo Royale though, so not a complete write off of a weekend.

Wasn’t it Tuxedo Princess or was that a different place?
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Risso on January 07, 2024, 03:29:28 PM
I missed that Leicester game because a group of us were driving up to Newcastle for a mate’s 21st birthday. I remember the score updates coming through on the car radio and getting increasingly pissed off. I did cop off with a Geordie slapper in Tuxedo Royale though, so not a complete write off of a weekend.

Wasn’t it Tuxedo Princess or was that a different place?

Two different boats that did the same thing. I think when they moved one, they used the other one in its place.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: rob_bridge on January 10, 2024, 09:35:42 PM
Never meet your heroes.

I have met DW, Legion and I think Percy but none of them remember me.
Title: Re: November 1996
Post by: Deano's Mullet on January 11, 2024, 07:42:41 PM
Around the same time I remember we beat Boro with a Yorke penalty after Neil Cox of all people had been adjudged to have fouled him.... or was it handball.... either way it was quite a soft penalty.
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