Testimonial Matches- help needed

[dave.woodhall]

some poor attendances there.  Remember 76 we played Eintract Frankfart at home something to do with Dunlop  and we got something like 23,000 and of course the Rangers game was around 17,000 both of which were "friendlies" or meant to be.

I remember going to the Eintracht Frankfurt game - I was given a ticket for the old Upper trinity Road - was this just a friendly ?

Also - was this before or after the Rangers game ?  I remember both were in the Autumn of 1976-77

Eintracht was something to do with Dunlop's anniversary - sixtieth sounds about right.

[Exeter 77]

I remember going to the Sty to see a Ron Atkinson International XI play Small Heath in Frank Worthington's testimonial (although I had to look that up) shortly after BFR had taken the Villa job which appears to have been on 10th September 1991.

There were several Villa players in the line-up plus some long-retired but well known name - I remember Keegan still looking quite fit but George Best came on and barely ambled around.

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[cdbearsfan]

How come Agbonlahor hasn't had one yet?

[Godfrey Brian]

Joe Gallagher's testimonial against us at St Andrews two days after we won the league was one great night out.

[Flamingo Lane]

I went to a testimonial match for Ray Wilson (WBA left back), at the Hawthorns at the end of the 74-75 season, a few days after we'd been promoted.  I'd say Villa made up two-thirds of the crowd. The game ended 2-2, and was a proper game.

[castlefields_villan]

Joe Gallagher's testimonial against us at St Andrews two days after we won the league was one great night out.

Cheers for the reminder Brian - I went to that game - when the chant had become "WON THE LEAGUE, WON THE LEAGUE" - but I'd completely forgotten why the game was played.
(whisper - I always felt Joe Gallagher was a decent player - certainly always played well against us).

[tomd2103]

Went to the testimonials for Nigel Spink and Gordon Cowans.  The pitch invasion after Spinksy's was the one and only time I have been on the Villa Park pitch!!  I seem to remember David Platt arriving in a helicopter to kick one game off.  Was that Birchy's?   

[castlefields_villan]

Went to the testimonials for Nigel Spink and Gordon Cowans.  The pitch invasion after Spinksy's was the one and only time I have been on the Villa Park pitch!!  I seem to remember David Platt arriving in a helicopter to kick one game off.  Was that Birchy's?

Back in the 1970s it wasn't quite the "issue" it is now and I remember being on the pitch a few times as a teenager, notably when we went up from the 3rd Division (and winning the first leg of the Youth Cup final) and I'll never forget being in Trinity Road Enc for the Sunderland game in 1975 and watching the Holte End empty on to the pitch from the centre circle.  I can also remember the celebrations at the end of 1976-77 when we felt we were on the cusp of something special.

It really is a magnificent place to be.  Must get round to another tour before too long.