20 years ago today

[olaftab]

The amazing thing was having finished second to them in the League the previous season we had deteriorated and they were on a huge upwards slope (no offence intended towards our fans from the east) that by the time cup final came around the media saw it as a walk in the park for them. It turned out to be nothing but and we totally dominated the game. One of the best days ever.

[tomd2103]

As a teenager, it was my first trip to Wembley and I couldn't get over how bad the seating and the view was!!  We didn't know Kanchelskis had been sent off until we heard it on the news on the way home.  Great day though and a great performance against, Schmeichel aside, a full stength Manchester United team that went on to win the double that year.  Just watching that clip again, our first goal was a very good one.   

[Deano's Mullet]

This and the Tranmere semi remain the peak for me as a Villa fan having not been around during the early 80s successes. Coming up from the south I don't remember seeing too many other Villa fans on the train that day, 1-2 Man United fans though and it seemed like more and more of them got on the train the nearer we came into London. At Victoria for the change to Wembley I honestly thought I was in Manchester, the multi-accented bastards were everywhere and pretty smug although one or two weren't too confident saying they remembered our title tussle the year before and how we'd beat them twice that season and come close in the epic at Villa Park in August. At Wembley however, different story as it felt we far outnumbered them. Didn't we sell more of our tickets and have more supporters in the ground than them?
Anyway onto the match. I couldn't get to the 96 Final so this is the only time I have seen the Villa at Wembley and that makes it even more special. Despite having a really really good team we went into the final on a poor run of results and looked like cannon fodder to Man United's best team ever  and despite a lot of possession from them at times we really did look comfortable and boss the game on our own terms. Dalian and Deano on top form, Townsend and Richardson outmatching Keane and Ince, Tony Daley scaring Paul Parker shitless everytime he bombed down the wing. I still get that spine tingling feeling everytime I see Bosnich turn Hughes' volley round the post preventing their equalizer. Lovely to see BFR give Fenton a chance in midfield as by that time it looked like he'd said to hell with playing youth players. Little did we know that 9 months later our trophy winning manager would be sacked due to poor results. Only could happen to the Villa.

[Damo70]

The poorer we played in the build up to the final the more convinced I was we would turn it on come the game. And BFR had previous as a winning underdog at Wembley in '85 and '91.

[Richard E]

My favourite memory as a Villa fan so far, and probably won't be surpassed. Football was just more exciting in those days and more competitive. Great to be the underdogs but win so well. I was jumping round my living room like MON on crack.

The 2018 Champions League Final will surpass it. Winning it for the 3rd year in a row is going to feel so sweet.

[ez]

I also remember seeing Gary Shaw there. Everyone started singing the Gary Shaw song and pointing towards him and he stood on his seat and waved to everyone getting big cheers.

For me that first goal seemed to take ages to cross the line. Steve Bruce was chasing it and for just a microsecond i thought he might get it. Bosnich making a good save at 2-1. Shaun Teale magnificent in defence. Cantona ineffective.

I still have my ticket stub. Ticket price Ł37.00. I'd forgotten the match started at 5pm.

[Villa in Denmark]

I also remember seeing Gary Shaw there. Everyone started singing the Gary Shaw song and pointing towards him and he stood on his seat and waved to everyone getting big cheers.

For me that first goal seemed to take ages to cross the line. Steve Bruce was chasing it and for just a microsecond i thought he might get it. Bosnich making a good save at 2-1. Shaun Teale magnificent in defence. Cantona ineffective.

I still have my ticket stub. Ticket price Ł37.00. I'd forgotten the match started at 5pm.

I remember Townsend absolutely clattering him early in the first half.  Totally legit challenge, took the ball clean as a whistle, just that Cantona's foot was right behind the ball as Townsend went through the ball. After seeming to land from about 5 foot up in the air, he hid for the rest of the game.

[Deano's Mullet]

Always remember a lovely bit of skill from Deano in the second half, he nipped into intercept a pass to Gary Pallister,  he kind of knocked it on with the outside of his boot and sped off with it at 100 miles an hour. Always remember watching it back on the telly Brian Moore got very excited about that. Also remember Shaun Teale played the entire match with a broken nose I believe, Bosnich caught him with a punch during training didn't he?

[Damo70]

Always remember a lovely bit of skill from Deano in the second half, he nipped into intercept a pass to Gary Pallister,  he kind of knocked it on with the outside of his boot and sped off with it at 100 miles an hour. Always remember watching it back on the telly Brian Moore got very excited about that. Also remember Shaun Teale played the entire match with a broken nose I believe, Bosnich caught him with a punch during training didn't he?

And Paul McGrath had what was described as some kind of virus in his shoulder that meant he had to have painkilling injections and his one arm was basically useless. He was still suffering from it when he put in that great display against Italy in the World Cup too.