The memory is a strange thing

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Ask me scores from matches last season, and I doubt I would get even half of them correct. Ask me scores from the early 1970s in my mid teens, I can probably tell you the score, and sometimes our scorers and the crowd to the nearest thousand.
For example, without looking it up right now what happened at Bolton away last season? I honesly cant remember. But I know we beat Doncaster at home 3-2 in 70/71 and Lochhead got two and the crowd was  23,000. And I know the league cup run that season was Notts C, Burnley, Northampton, Carlisle, Bristol R, Man U, Spurs.  

Im not like this with the memories of other aspects of my life, plus excessive alcohol intake as a student should have deleted some of these  third division memory banks.

The other thought that occurs is whether our present younger fans will have the same sort of recall and memories 30/40 years from now ?

[Deano's Mullet]

I am like that for fixtures between 1988 and, say, 2004 ish. Scores, scorers, the lot. Even opposition players who scored against us. However its not so easy to recall the last few seasons - i might get the result right but i wouldnt be able to name all the scorers.
PS Bolton away i do remember, we won 1-0 with a Young goal, it was the week before i got married.

[MadJohnnyC]

I'm very similar mate albeit a different era. I began watching football in 92/93 (nothing to do with the premier league being formed might i add, im 27), and i can remember all the squads, results, who won what etc etc right up until i'd say 2002. Now, like yourself i struggle to remember results from 6 months ago and couldnt name you 7 players off the top of my head for, say, Blackburn, for example.

I put it down to 2 things:

1. I was sober every game i watched back then
2. I collected sticker albums which would have installed all my knowledge of the teams squads and stats etc

[Chris Harte]

Same here, but my sharpest memories are from the mid-1980s. Possibly why I hate that twat Hodge so much.

[eamonn]

I think it's because during your formative years footy means much more to you. As you grow-up life intervenes and Villa isn't always the priority.

[atomicjam]

I lose memory of games very quickly. I usually remember the first game of each season but after that unless the result is a biggy or against a local rival all the other games tend to get lost. I couldnt tell you much about the last five home games against West Ham for example, but I was at them all!

[E I Adio]

I think it's because during your formative years footy means much more to you. As you grow-up life intervenes and Villa isn't always the priority.

I'm sure this is the case. My most vivid memories are from watching the Villa in the sixties, even though we had a very poor side for most of the decade and we played like shit most of the time.

[Pete3206]

Early 80's very vivid.

After 1990, very selective.

[Reuben]

Definitely down to obsessing more as a youngster.  I remember someone on another post describing the feeling when you start to find out about Aston Villa by looking through the history books, how Villa park changed, the 1930-31 season,the cup wins, the classic matches...  It grabs you and hopefully youngsters have the same thrill today with even more coverage and media outlets in which to learn.

Then you have the season review videos which I digested avidly (particularly the late 80s/early 90s) or the match programmes where I'd look at and learn statistics with far more ease than any school based learning.  This means I can recall the highest win in 1987/88 (Man City v Huddersfield, although I'm sure most remember this!) and home and away results against insignificant oppostion like Barnsley (0-0 and 3-0 respectively) without looking.

Today I find I rarely even watch MOTD, preferring to read match reports, so matches stick less in the head as I haven't seen the goals.  The modern game is less endearing to me and now I couldn't name starting line ups for several prem teams.  A change to 20 years ago when I was editing Sensible Soccer teams on the Amiga without looking at '90 minutes' magazine.  Now I have to go online if editing Pro Evo.... The other day there was a headline on BBC homepage that some Man City player was leaving for Lazio - I had never heard of him!

[adrenachrome]

Very much agree with you, Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air.

And I remember the first goal that your namesake scored for Villa after that long barren period. It was scored at the Witton end and was looping header that seemed to take an age to nestle in the back of net.

The Holte went fucking berserk. When Dean Martin and then Val Doonican sang memories are made of this, they weren't kidding around.

[montague]

Afraid this is all a function of getting old. Your short term memory goes but you can still recall stuff from ages ago. Not sure I can even remember what I had for lunch some days.

[Dave Clark Five]

I totally agree with Andy Lochhead In The Air on this one. By the way, we had a rendition of that song in Portugal and it still brings back great memories. I remember getting back from matches in the 70s and having to ask my Dad what the score was. That was all down to booze. The memory of those days is clearer now and I can remember most of it, except recent scores; even forgetting results and goalscorers on the day of the match. Selective memory, I suggest.

[frank]

Selective memory, I suggest.

I believe we played in the 2000 cup final and apparently I was there, but I have absolutely no recollection of it. As you say, Jon, selective memory.

[ADVILLAFAN]

For example, without looking it up right now what happened at Bolton away last season? I honesly cant remember.

I was at that game (and only go to a few away games a year) and we won 1-0. Ashley Young curled one into the top corner from outside the area, in a similar fashion to his goal away to West Ham (except he meant this one).

I can usually remember the outcome, but not neccessarily the scoreline.

Have only been a season ticket holder since 1999/2000 though, so I haven't got as much to remember.

[cdbearsfan]

I can't remember any home games against Middlesbrough, West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace or Sunderland. I was yet to have my first birthday when we played Boro in 1981 so didn't attend.