Third Division or nowadays?

[DeKuip]

Even the fact that in four attempts we couldn't beat Walsall brings a smile to the face now. Thrashed 3-0 at Fellows Park was painful at the time, drawing 1-1 on our second trip wasn't much better - and the two goalless Villa Park meetings with them in front of 45-46,000 were frustrating to say the least.
But the fact that the mighty Villa, a giant fish splashing around in a very small pond, just couldn't get one over the smallest of our neighbours is how football should be. Just like Leeds losing to Doncaster in the 3rd Division play-off final a few years back.

[pooligan]

DeKuip, oh how the distant mermories came flooding back to me reading your memories. I was at all 4 of those Walsall games and like you say we could nt  beat them. i think i am right in saying we could nt beat Mansfield in 4 matches either. Games against Bristol Rovers and Wrexham were always hard fought to.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

From memory, I would have to check to be sure. Didnt we win at Mansfield away about April 1972 ? It was a midweek  game at Field Mill and we all but mathematically ensured promotion, I'm sure there was a bit of a good natured celebratory pitch invasion at the end.
Wrexham as you say were always good games, including 3 league cup games, 4-3 in the 2nd replay at The Hawthorns ?
And the first time I can remember Ray Graydon was when he was playing for Bristol Rovers against us in the LCQF 70/71. They were amongst the stronger sides along with Notts C, Bournemouth, Brighton.

I still to this day regret missing Plymouth Argyle away in 71/72 for no other reason than I went to the all the other 45 league games that season.

[Bernie]

I remember the Wrexham games- the one at The Hawthorns was on on 31st August 1971- sticks in my mind as the next day I started my first job.
And now I'm trying for early retiremennt- where did it all go??

[adrenachrome]

Even the fact that in four attempts we couldn't beat Walsall brings a smile to the face now. Thrashed 3-0 at Fellows Park was painful at the time, drawing 1-1 on our second trip wasn't much better - and the two goalless Villa Park meetings with them in front of 45-46,000 were frustrating to say the least.
But the fact that the mighty Villa, a giant fish splashing around in a very small pond, just couldn't get one over the smallest of our neighbours is how football should be. Just like Leeds losing to Doncaster in the 3rd Division play-off final a few years back.

The 3-0 at Fellows Park turned out quite well for me, as Villa handed out special vouchers when you bought a ticket for this game and it was this which qualified me for a ticket for Wembley against Sperms. I had stopped buying the program by that season, and if you weren't a season ticket holder, you needed the vouchers contained therein.

[pooligan]

Hi Andy-Lochhead-in-the-air. Just had a look at our 3rd division results and i was right in saying we never managed to beat Mansfield Town in the 4 games we played against them. We lost the 2 home matches both 1-0, while away we lost 2-0 and drew 1-1. Your right in thinking the 1-1 was a midweek away match and we secured promotion. Not sure,but i seem to remember Mansfield scoring with almost the last kick but as we only needed a point no body was to upset.

[stubbsyandy]

Was anyone at the Preston away game when we took their club flag down and tore it up..I still have my piece!

[stubbsyandy]

Anyone?

[Sir Paul Merson]

standing at the back of the holte in a crowd of 48.110 against bournmouth with 22 players giving  blood sweat and tears, an atmosphere you could cut into slices, no prima donnas, no crap refs, bloody right you can stick your premiership, and your money

[Ray Graydon]

My dad always said that his favourite time as a Villa fan was when we were in the third division. Beating Man Ure  of best, law & charlton, league cup final vs Spurs when for best part of the game we outplayed them.

The next season when we won the title, the big crowds, the feeling of togethernes & the fact that he felt we were on the way back after falling so low.

I was born in 1970 so missed the 3rd div days but would have loved to have been there when football wasnt just about five rich clubs

[Simba]

Captain trips:

           ...."Notts County in the old wooden stand which I was sure was going to collapse,"

It did. Remember if you were in the middle of that stand with us and the bloody barrier broke. We were left holding the cross piece chanting "barrier broke, barrrier broke" and passed it down to the Police. Those metal uprights were lethal and we kept the kids away.

Then the old chap in front of the few County suporters trying to gee them up when Villa had three sides of the ground. Hately getting his boots caught in bog paper in front of us. "shit- shit-shit".

Oh and then somone tried to set fire to the back of that old wooden stand so we chanted. 'fire , fire". doo  dah doo dah. siren like.

Won three nil I think.

Oh yes we had some fun. That's what is missing I guess.

[adrenachrome]

Was anyone at the Preston away game when we took their club flag down and tore it up..I still have my piece!

Yep, I remember that Andy.

Climbing up floodlight pylons/flag poles seemed to be a fairly regular pastime back then.

[pooligan]

Yeah i remember that to Andy. My friend and i watched that game from their main stand enclosure and the locals were not best pleased to put it lightly.

[stubbsyandy]

 
Well I am pleased I was not alone! Such behaviour eh lads!!
Happy days!!

[The Laughing Policeman]

Thanks for bringing back some happy memories.
The one abiding memory is the "We're all in this together" (I've heard that phrase elsewhere recently) attitude that ran throughout the club during that period.
Something we could do with in the coming season. So how about when AM walks out for the first home game we give him a standing ovation and then sing our hearts out for the full ninety minutes?
It'd certainly upset the gathered media vultures.