Which was your favourite League Cup Final?

[peter w]

1977, not for the excitement while they were looking for the bandsman's spur at Wembley.  But for the 3rd game at Old Trafford - trailing for ages, but remaining confident Saunder's boys would triumph.

Have to agree with this. The second replay at Old Trafford was a great game and the Villa fans were great.

I waqs at that one also. Remains my favourite as does the programme. I played the campaign games in the kitchen for months afterwards. Both us and Everton!

[willywombat]

1971 v Spuds. Ok, I know we lost but to come from where we had been and play like we did was some achievement. I remember the players doing a lap of honour at the end and even the Spurs fans were chanting Villa. Awesome day and I was, as I am to this day, proud to be a Villa fan

[Guy M]

I watched the decisive game of the 1977 Final on DVD the other week and loved the way the game flowed, the players stayed on their feet and generally got on with things.

Late on, some young Everton lad gives away a pretty reckless free-kick near their area and one of their older players chastises him for it and tells him to calm down.

Before my time, but such a joy to watch. Going to watch 1994 and 1996 next, but I suspect I'll go for 1994 purely for having been there.

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

The Everton one at Old Trafford - how Brian squeezed his first goal in from the touchline was amazing, Chris Nicholl's thunderbolt and the stunned silence from the Everton fans after Brian's winner. I remember Ron Saunders' reply to a reporter before the game who asked "who wants to win a League cup in Manchester on a Wednesday night anyway?"- as deadpan as ever "well, we do". Great stuff.

[Mike Jeffries]

Got to say 1977 as the first game is the only Leauge cup final I've actually been and watched before now.

It was all a bit much for a nine year old Jeffries though, I was ill for two days solid afterwards.

Will it be any different now I'm 42? I'm not banking on it.

[PeterWithesShin]

Although I was at Wembley in '77 (I remember nothing about it, although it was my 7th birthday which may be why). And '94 was great as we were underdogs.
I've gone for '96 as there were no nerves, no stresses, just pure enjoyment that we were a class apart from Leeds and there was only ever going to be one winner.

[Holte L2]

1994.  I remember my Dad driving us down, and he kept saying "Whatever the result, make sure you enjoy the day" I was 10.  And sure we were going to win.  

I remember beng stood on the plastic seats at the front.  We were to the right of the goal, can't remember how far back.  I remember waving my "Big Fat Ron's, Claret & Blue Army" flag for the entire match, and the build up before.  We didn't know Kanchelskis was sent off for his handball until we'd left the ground.  

1996 was brilliant too. We were in the Olympic Galary at the top of Wembley,slap bang on the half way line. The stand was so rickerty, I was terrified we'd fall through the stand if we stood up, but what a day!

I'll admit to watching them both last Saturday morning and bursting into tears and the thought of going again!

[Witton Warrior]

The Everton one at Old Trafford - how Brian squeezed his first goal in from the touchline was amazing, Chris Nicholl's thunderbolt and the stunned silence from the Everton fans after Brian's winner. I remember Ron Saunders' reply to a reporter before the game who asked "who wants to win a League cup in Manchester on a Wednesday night anyway?"- as deadpan as ever "well, we do". Great stuff.

I voted for this as it was my first experience of a Villa triumph. I went to every round except QPR away (at Loftus) and have so many mad tales from that wonderful year the young 'uns don't believe them. I never saw Sir Brian's goal that put us 2-1 up until I purchased the video about 15 years ago. I had been on the floor after Nichol's thunderbolt and completely missed it!

[eric woolban woolban]

It's 1994 for me.  First trip to Wembley in ages, first trophy in ages, massive underdogs to the media darlings who were going for their treble.

From 20 minutes in it was never really in doubt - the whole country rejoiced with us (apart from the Mancs and Noses ofcourse).

I don't think I was feeling too comfy when it was 2-1 and Bozzie made that great save from Hughes!

[E I Adio]

1975. My first trip to Wembley. Sat next to a Norwich supporter who was mightily miffed when Graydon knocked in the rebound.

Had a ticket for the '71 final but gave it to a mate so that I could get married that day.

Sadly, not the only bad decision I've made in life.

[Desi]

Memories of the 1975 League Cup Final


Born in South Birmingham, I have been supporting the Villa for nearly sixty years and moved to Australia in 2007.

In the sixties and seventies was working in the Theatre and TV professionally.

In 74/75 I was appearing at The Victoria Palace Theatre in London with Max Bygraves (another Villa connection as he was also a supporter due to his close friendship with Harry Parkes).

Max, knowing of my support, asked, one day, if I fancied going with him to Wembley for the LCF against Norwich. There was only one problem! We had two shows to do on a Saturday and as the first one was at 6 o/clock we would have to leave before the final whistle, he would arrange, however, for his driver to be waiting right outside Wembley to rush us to Victoria.

Needless to say the seats were great, right next to the Royal Box, but the game was not the greatest. (I had memories of 1971 and the disappointment at seeing us lose to Spurs). It was still 0-0 when we had to leave.

We got outside the stadium and there was a big roar which quickly died (obviously not a goal), all quiet for a few moments then chanting which then died down (no idea which fans were cheering), then a huge oooh, a moments quiet and a huge roar.

Frustratingly for us not a clue as to what had happened! Just then the car arrived and the driver was able to tell us that Villa had a penalty, Ray Graydon had hit the post but had scored from the rebound. (Suddenly the above made sense!).

Needless to say the shows that night were performed on a real high, although I had to wait till the next day to actually see the goal.

(Very different memories in ’77 driving up and down motorways – London, Sheffield, Manchester…’94 outplaying Manure…’96 overwhelming Leeds).

Will be with you all in spirit on the 28th.

[Simba]

Got to be '71 for me. We were the better team and the fans were brilliant. The atmosphere was amazing simply because we were such underdogs ( old third division) and yet had outplayed Manu in the Semi. We had nothing to prove and had no fear.

Will never forgive Andy Lochhead though...

I was at the BFR '94 too but it somehow did not have the same sense of achievement even though we lost in '71 and beat Man U in '94.

No, it doesn't make sense to me either.

[TimTheVillain]

96, beating Leeds so thoroughly.

[ColinMac]

96 Leeds, went expecting to win, did the job in style, had some great seats and great views of Taylors and Yorkes goals.

Singing Yorkes song after the game was great too.

The whole day  just perfect, used the experience of 94 to plan the trip properly, and drank a pub opposite Euston dry afterwards... packed pub, all celebrating and sticking New York, New York on the jukebox and the whole pub singing.

Waking the neighbours up at some silly time in the wee small hours singing Villa songs when we ot back to the house and them not caring as they were Villa fans too.

[pauliewalnuts]

Memories of the 1975 League Cup Final


Born in South Birmingham, I have been supporting the Villa for nearly sixty years and moved to Australia in 2007.

In the sixties and seventies was working in the Theatre and TV professionally.

In 74/75 I was appearing at The Victoria Palace Theatre in London with Max Bygraves (another Villa connection as he was also a supporter due to his close friendship with Harry Parkes).

Max, knowing of my support, asked, one day, if I fancied going with him to Wembley for the LCF against Norwich. There was only one problem! We had two shows to do on a Saturday and as the first one was at 6 o/clock we would have to leave before the final whistle, he would arrange, however, for his driver to be waiting right outside Wembley to rush us to Victoria.

Needless to say the seats were great, right next to the Royal Box, but the game was not the greatest. (I had memories of 1971 and the disappointment at seeing us lose to Spurs). It was still 0-0 when we had to leave.

We got outside the stadium and there was a big roar which quickly died (obviously not a goal), all quiet for a few moments then chanting which then died down (no idea which fans were cheering), then a huge oooh, a moments quiet and a huge roar.

Frustratingly for us not a clue as to what had happened! Just then the car arrived and the driver was able to tell us that Villa had a penalty, Ray Graydon had hit the post but had scored from the rebound. (Suddenly the above made sense!).

Needless to say the shows that night were performed on a real high, although I had to wait till the next day to actually see the goal.

(Very different memories in ’77 driving up and down motorways – London, Sheffield, Manchester…’94 outplaying Manure…’96 overwhelming Leeds).

Will be with you all in spirit on the 28th.

Desi, that's the single most impressive and enjoyable story I've read on here in a long, long time.

Good work!