my first villa match

[Bernie]

Weren't we one of the few teams they beat that season? 1-0 at Bramall Lane?

Dad first took me in 1975/76 & I think it was against Sheffield United - was it 5-1 ?

http://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-sheffield-united-08-november-1975-83179/

Sheffield United must have hated coming to VP in 1975 and of course they were a decent team then (did they finish 6th in 74-75 ?) on top of beating them 4-1 in the FA Cup, we then proceeded with the aforementioned 5-1 demolition about 10 months later.  For some reason that good team of 74-75 was bottom of the league throughout the next season - strange ?

[wittonwarrior]

We were one of only 2 teams that lost at their gaff  that season - reality check.  What I can remember the programme showed Chris Nichol in running shoes on the Trinity Road  enclosure.  At that time it was the same photograph for 2 home games. 

It was games like Sheff  Utd that kept the woofs away and us from the trap door back to Div  2.

[dcdavecollett]

Mine was the spring of 1965 and a 1-0 win against Spurs, with Alan Baker scoring the winner in the first half with a twenty-five yarder. Midland Footballer of the Year Ron Wylie wore the number four shirt. Part of an eight game unbeaten run which warded off relegation.

[Old Kodjia]

My first Villa match was at home against Oldham 12/04/1975 when we were in Division 2. I remember going through the junior/oap turnstiles on my own (there was a separate block of turnstiles for adults) and then waiting for my Dad to come and collect me from the bottom of the steps before we made our way onto the Witton end terrace. We won 5-0 and it cost something stupid like 25p to get in and the programme cost 5p.

I remember this game well, I'd been going for 8 years by this time, but this demolition of Oldham as good as marked our return back to the big time - I remember the tremendous feeling around the place at the end of the game.  Followed of course by away games at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.

I saw us play Oldham 3 times that season.  Twice in the league and once up there in the cup.  We won all 3.

I'm wondering whether this home game was the one where Andy Lochhead returned as Oldham manager?  He got an outstanding ovation as he made his way to the dug out and commented afterwards on how emotional it made him feel.

[castlefields_villan]

My first Villa match was at home against Oldham 12/04/1975 when we were in Division 2. I remember going through the junior/oap turnstiles on my own (there was a separate block of turnstiles for adults) and then waiting for my Dad to come and collect me from the bottom of the steps before we made our way onto the Witton end terrace. We won 5-0 and it cost something stupid like 25p to get in and the programme cost 5p.

I remember this game well, I'd been going for 8 years by this time, but this demolition of Oldham as good as marked our return back to the big time - I remember the tremendous feeling around the place at the end of the game.  Followed of course by away games at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.

I saw us play Oldham 3 times that season.  Twice in the league and once up there in the cup.  We won all 3.

I'm wondering whether this home game was the one where Andy Lochhead returned as Oldham manager?  He got an outstanding ovation as he made his way to the dug out and commented afterwards on how emotional it made him feel.

My only visit to Oldham was for this FA Cup 3rd round win.  I remember we "shared" their end with them !

[Deano's Mullet]

My only visit to Oldham was a 1-1 draw in 1993, Gunnar Halle got the goal for them and Dean Saunders equalized. We really should have won that game.

[Old Kodjia]

My first Villa match was at home against Oldham 12/04/1975 when we were in Division 2. I remember going through the junior/oap turnstiles on my own (there was a separate block of turnstiles for adults) and then waiting for my Dad to come and collect me from the bottom of the steps before we made our way onto the Witton end terrace. We won 5-0 and it cost something stupid like 25p to get in and the programme cost 5p.

I remember this game well, I'd been going for 8 years by this time, but this demolition of Oldham as good as marked our return back to the big time - I remember the tremendous feeling around the place at the end of the game.  Followed of course by away games at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.

I saw us play Oldham 3 times that season.  Twice in the league and once up there in the cup.  We won all 3.

I'm wondering whether this home game was the one where Andy Lochhead returned as Oldham manager?  He got an outstanding ovation as he made his way to the dug out and commented afterwards on how emotional it made him feel.

My only visit to Oldham was for this FA Cup 3rd round win.  I remember we "shared" their end with them !

Yes-It was exactly the same for the league game, a few months earlier.  It was a strange set up, they bused you from the station to the ground, dropping you off, right outside the main end.

[Pat McMahon]

My first Villa match was at home against Oldham 12/04/1975 when we were in Division 2. I remember going through the junior/oap turnstiles on my own (there was a separate block of turnstiles for adults) and then waiting for my Dad to come and collect me from the bottom of the steps before we made our way onto the Witton end terrace. We won 5-0 and it cost something stupid like 25p to get in and the programme cost 5p.

I remember this game well, I'd been going for 8 years by this time, but this demolition of Oldham as good as marked our return back to the big time - I remember the tremendous feeling around the place at the end of the game.  Followed of course by away games at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.

I saw us play Oldham 3 times that season.  Twice in the league and once up there in the cup.  We won all 3.

I'm wondering whether this home game was the one where Andy Lochhead returned as Oldham manager?  He got an outstanding ovation as he made his way to the dug out and commented afterwards on how emotional it made him feel.

It was indeed. Doug even commented on it in a column in the programme for the last home game v Sunderland.

[Villafirst]

I seem to recall Sir Brian scoring a hat-trick in the 5-0 against Oldham? He scored so many goals in that second-half of the 74-75 promotion season. Who remembers the epic 2 leg semi against Chester in the League Cup?  We eventually went through to Wembley 3-2 in the Villa Park 2nd leg - again Sir Brian got the winner.

[ldavfc4eva]

My first game was against Bolton in 95, I can remember walking up the steps to see the whole view of the pitch, which seemed massively long and very green! Sat in the lower Holte towards the center so L6 at a guess.

We won 1-0 but can't remember who scored if I'm being honest, Yorke or Taylor I think.

I think I just have spent the match just looking around and taking in the atmosphere of villa park as I couldn't tell you one thing about the actual game itself.

Most memorable was the game vs Atletico Madrid when we won 2-1 but went out on away goals, I was sat in the trinity almost smack bang in the middle, fantastic seat. When the final whistle went I thought it was extra time before being told we were out - gutted wasn't the word.

[dave.woodhall]

My first Villa match was at home against Oldham 12/04/1975 when we were in Division 2. I remember going through the junior/oap turnstiles on my own (there was a separate block of turnstiles for adults) and then waiting for my Dad to come and collect me from the bottom of the steps before we made our way onto the Witton end terrace. We won 5-0 and it cost something stupid like 25p to get in and the programme cost 5p.

I remember this game well, I'd been going for 8 years by this time, but this demolition of Oldham as good as marked our return back to the big time - I remember the tremendous feeling around the place at the end of the game.  Followed of course by away games at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.

I saw us play Oldham 3 times that season.  Twice in the league and once up there in the cup.  We won all 3.

I'm wondering whether this home game was the one where Andy Lochhead returned as Oldham manager?  He got an outstanding ovation as he made his way to the dug out and commented afterwards on how emotional it made him feel.

It was indeed. Doug even commented on it in a column in the programme for the last home game v Sunderland.

For some sad, anorakical reason I remember that being written by Eric Woodward.

[Witton Warrior]

Taking my 9 year old niece to her first match on Saturday - I hope in 20 years time she will come onto this site and write - "My first match was with my Uncle who turned me away from the dark side that is the Dingles (now folded) and began my lifelong love affair with Aston Villa that has seen me savour 6 Premiership titles, 3 FA Cups and the brace of European Cup wins..."

[tricky59]

2-0 defeat to QPR, January 1976. A freezing cold day, Chris Nicholl fell onto the frozen pitch and dislocated his shoulder. The match is notable for being Charlie Aitken's last appearance. QPR were quite a team back then, finished 2nd in the league, I don't remember their lineup but I'd imagine the likes of McLintock, Masson, Francis, Bowles and Givens were playing. I was just excited to see heroes like Gidman, Aitken, Graydon, Hamilton and Gray.

I remember reading a match report on this game by Trevor Bailey, yes the cricketer, who obviously knew his football, he was very impressed by the Villa and said something like that they were the team to watch out for.  Bearing in mind the great season that followed, very prophetic words.

My first game was a 2-0 win against Burnley in the spring of '53, I was 6 and was just amazed by the size of the crowd. Don't think I saw any of the game sat in the Trinity, just looked at the crowd. I had to ask my dad what the score was.

[castlefields_villan]

I seem to recall Sir Brian scoring a hat-trick in the 5-0 against Oldham? He scored so many goals in that second-half of the 74-75 promotion season. Who remembers the epic 2 leg semi against Chester in the League Cup?  We eventually went through to Wembley 3-2 in the Villa Park 2nd leg - again Sir Brian got the winner.

I well remember the 2 legs against Chester, for a 4th division side, they certainly gave us two thoroughly close games.  In the days when only game was shown midweek, I remember the highlights of the away leg of our tie being shown and the 2nd leg of Norwich v Man. Utd the following week or whenever those second legs were played.

I'm not aware of any tv footage of the 3-2 win in the second leg, but I remember us going 2-0 up, them pulling one back and then didn't Jim Cumbes drop a clanger, similar to the one he'd dropped against West Brom a few weeks earlier ?

Yes, again Brian was the man in the end.

[castlefields_villan]

2-0 defeat to QPR, January 1976. A freezing cold day, Chris Nicholl fell onto the frozen pitch and dislocated his shoulder. The match is notable for being Charlie Aitken's last appearance. QPR were quite a team back then, finished 2nd in the league, I don't remember their lineup but I'd imagine the likes of McLintock, Masson, Francis, Bowles and Givens were playing. I was just excited to see heroes like Gidman, Aitken, Graydon, Hamilton and Gray.

I remember this game as well, a bitterly cold day and as you say QPR were a top team at the time (eventually finishing runners up to Liverpool).   One of my recollections of the game is the "Francis, ooooerrr, Francis ooooeerrrr, Francis, I'd walk etc etc....." being sang as loudly as ever, of course it was about him over the road and was sung at least 3 or 4 times every game.  A few weeks later in SHOOT, I remember GERRY Francis saying about how the abuse he'd got at Villa Park was amongst the worst he'd received anywhere as a visiting player !   I decided not to bother to write to him at SHOOT to explain !