European Cup Final - Memories

[K3Villa]

I was talking about this game with an old friend last night and it got me thinking.
Having been born on 1978 I'm glad to be able to say Villa won The European Cup in my lifetime. Obvioulsy I was not at the game but it got me thinking about members of this forum.

How many people on here were at the game and what stories do you have to tell of the occasion?

[DeKuip]

I was there - as you might have guessed by the name.

I could bore you for hours with my memories - but let's just say it was the night I got to know the true meaning of the word emotional. Having watched the greats of the game win it on TV over the years since being thrilled by Best,Law,Charlton etc beating Benfica in black n white in 68 (when my own team were struggling to even stay in existence) I was overwhelmed by the enormity of what we'd achieved when that final whistle blew. Only ten years earlier we'd won Division 3.

The match etc is all well documented but a couple of things should be appreciated by youngsters like yourself...
Firstly it was not easy to get to the game. Villa booked up pretty much every available ferry, but a lot of boats were out of circulation at the time as they were being used to help with supplies etc for the war against the Argies in the Falklands. And because of trouble at the semi in Brussels. Villa fans could only buy match tickets as part of the club's official travel package. Flights back then weren't cheap like now, so ferries were the only option for most of us.
That's the main reason when you watch the game on TV you might be surprised at the number of empty seats on the sides. Also the Dutch themselves stayed away because of the threat of hooliganism.
I know that some Villa fans did go out to Holland well before the game and but tickets at that end, and quite a few ended up in the Bayern end of the ground.

Secondly, despite the threat of trouble there was a good atmosphere. One great memory for me was that on the afternoon of the game Feyenoord's training pitch (a mini stadium) next to the main ground was opened for fans and thousands sat alongside the pitch eating and boozing while anyone who wanted to could join in a mass kickabout on the pitch, where Villa fans took on the Germans. There seemed to be hundreds involved (far more on our side) - and it was all in good spirit.

As I said, I won't go on too much but hope that helps... I'm sure others can give you their stories.
My only regret is that I never thought to take a camera.

[big 1st serve]

  The journey for our group,  started at the old Swanpool tavern, in the back room for a bit of a"lock- in" before heading into town & New St station.
 Most of us worked at the old Cincinnati factory on Kingsbury Rd,& we had @ 20 going to the match.
 At the station , it nearly went sour for me as I,d had a little bit too much to drink & desperatly needed the loo.
 No toilet to be found , so did  the next best thing & found a discreet wall to pee against, only to recieve a tap on the shoulder from a WPC .
 She was not amused, & started to take down my particulars !
 Then I did something really silly & gave a false name, whilst handing over my passport as proof of ID !! ----drink does that to you!!
 All this time , my mates are getting closer to the train, & I,m seeing my 1st trip abroad to watch the Villa disappear .

Well the WPC, who was quite pretty as I recall, wrote up the incident in her book, told me I,d be hearing from them at a later date & sent me on my way!!
 2 weeks later, still feeling the warm glow of satisfaction of our win,
a letter drops thru the letterbox, its a summons & the pretty WPC has written up my little toilet break  as something akin to indecent exposure!!
My ex - wife was very understanding, well she blew a gasket as only ex- wives can !
Anyway giving a false name was an own goal on my behalf , result fined £55
But I did get to Rotterdam!!   
















































           













       

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I was there. It was the day before my 24th birthday. My Dad having faith we would get to the final, had booked a weeks holiday in Holland for him and my Mom months earlier. I went with my then girlfriend getting trains and the old Dover-Ostend ferry crossing. Travelling through the night and arriving early morning in Rotterdam meant we were able to catch up on sleep in the hotel they were staying at.

As DeKuip mentions in the previous post, there was a game between Villa and Bayern fans on a pitch adjacent to the stadium. I remember we walked past in the afternoon and a few fans were having a kick around into one goal. When we came back later there was a full scale game going on, approximately 100 a side. I think the `players` tied a scarf to their arm to show which side you were on, replica shirts were not so in vogue then. The pitch was surrounded by fans, and it was all very very good natured.

We all know the outcome of the game. At the end it occurred to me that just 10 years earlier I had been at a midweek match watching us lose to Torquay United away in the 3rd division, that is progress in anybodys book.

We left after the game in my Dads car and it was quite tricky getting a ferry back in the early hours of the morning. We called in at Ostend and Zeebrugge seeing loads of Villa fans milling around and no spaces available on boats. We eventually got on a crossing from Calais, the floor covered with Villa fans everywhere trying to grab a couple of hours sleep.

[The Left Side]

I was there - as you might have guessed by the name.

I could bore you for hours with my memories - but let's just say it was the night I got to know the true meaning of the word emotional. Having watched the greats of the game win it on TV over the years since being thrilled by Best,Law,Charlton etc beating Benfica in black n white in 68 (when my own team were struggling to even stay in existence) I was overwhelmed by the enormity of what we'd achieved when that final whistle blew. Only ten years earlier we'd won Division 3.

The match etc is all well documented but a couple of things should be appreciated by youngsters like yourself...
Firstly it was not easy to get to the game. Villa booked up pretty much every available ferry, but a lot of boats were out of circulation at the time as they were being used to help with supplies etc for the war against the Argies in the Falklands. And because of trouble at the semi in Brussels. Villa fans could only buy match tickets as part of the club's official travel package. Flights back then weren't cheap like now, so ferries were the only option for most of us.
That's the main reason when you watch the game on TV you might be surprised at the number of empty seats on the sides. Also the Dutch themselves stayed away because of the threat of hooliganism.
I know that some Villa fans did go out to Holland well before the game and but tickets at that end, and quite a few ended up in the Bayern end of the ground.

Secondly, despite the threat of trouble there was a good atmosphere. One great memory for me was that on the afternoon of the game Feyenoord's training pitch (a mini stadium) next to the main ground was opened for fans and thousands sat alongside the pitch eating and boozing while anyone who wanted to could join in a mass kickabout on the pitch, where Villa fans took on the Germans. There seemed to be hundreds involved (far more on our side) - and it was all in good spirit.

As I said, I won't go on too much but hope that helps... I'm sure others can give you their stories.
My only regret is that I never thought to take a camera.

Did we beat the Germans?

[The Left Side]

I was 7 and a half, so I can only remember sitting at home watching it with my Dad, sisters and brother... we went crazy when Peter Withe scored but the rest of the match was a blur, we did go to the celebrations in Victoria Square though, I had never seen so many people before, ahhh fantastic!

[DeKuip]

I was there - as you might have guessed by the name.

I could bore you for hours with my memories - but let's just say it was the night I got to know the true meaning of the word emotional. Having watched the greats of the game win it on TV over the years since being thrilled by Best,Law,Charlton etc beating Benfica in black n white in 68 (when my own team were struggling to even stay in existence) I was overwhelmed by the enormity of what we'd achieved when that final whistle blew. Only ten years earlier we'd won Division 3.

The match etc is all well documented but a couple of things should be appreciated by youngsters like yourself...
Firstly it was not easy to get to the game. Villa booked up pretty much every available ferry, but a lot of boats were out of circulation at the time as they were being used to help with supplies etc for the war against the Argies in the Falklands. And because of trouble at the semi in Brussels. Villa fans could only buy match tickets as part of the club's official travel package. Flights back then weren't cheap like now, so ferries were the only option for most of us.
That's the main reason when you watch the game on TV you might be surprised at the number of empty seats on the sides. Also the Dutch themselves stayed away because of the threat of hooliganism.
I know that some Villa fans did go out to Holland well before the game and but tickets at that end, and quite a few ended up in the Bayern end of the ground.

Secondly, despite the threat of trouble there was a good atmosphere. One great memory for me was that on the afternoon of the game Feyenoord's training pitch (a mini stadium) next to the main ground was opened for fans and thousands sat alongside the pitch eating and boozing while anyone who wanted to could join in a mass kickabout on the pitch, where Villa fans took on the Germans. There seemed to be hundreds involved (far more on our side) - and it was all in good spirit.

As I said, I won't go on too much but hope that helps... I'm sure others can give you their stories.
My only regret is that I never thought to take a camera.

Did we beat the Germans?

I recall the pitch being that crowded that shots on goal were a rarity so wouldn't be surprised if it stayed goalless. I remember playing for at least half an hour before getting my one and only touch of the ball and then going back to sit down on the sidelines with a drink rather than run around for another half hour. It was a bit like the Shrove Tuesday games they have in the streets of Ashbourne and Atherstone!

[RugbyVilla]

I am compiling a major book about fans memories of all things Villa. I hope to include celebs and current and ex-players, as well as us the fans.

Would anyone mind if I use their postings in the book? If you have any more good stories please contact me at simongoodyear@soccerbiographies.com

[Damo70]

I was eleven and my main memories are-

My dad waking me on the Monday morning to tell me instead of going to school I was going to Rotterdam!

The heat on the day/evening of the game

Not looking at the pitch for the last twenty minutes but just focusing on the big digital clock counting to ninety minutes.

My next door neighbour wearing a Hitler mask and giving a Nazi salute from the coach all the way through France!

Being very proud of my first Villa away kit, wearing white socks, shorts and shirt on the night like the players.

[dave shelley]

I was ill! turns out I had pneumonia but that didn't stop me travelling, I'd waited a long time for something like this.  I was still recovering from winning the league the year before.  I witnessed most of what has been posted above including the mass match.  My abiding memories though start at Ostend when we were marched from the ferry to the coaches at gunpoint by the Belgian police.  Then some crazy woman went to pat a police dog, it couldn't have gone madder has she squeezed it's nuts!  On to Rotterdam and the match.  When Peter Withe scored I just pointed my souvenier flag at the sky and yelled Daaaaaaaaaaad in memory of my old man who never gave me anything other than the Villa gene.  How he would have loved this.  The clock at the Bayern end was directly in my eyeline and I can honestly say there was never a longer twenty five minutes in my life.  I have posted on here how territorial we are when it comes to attending football matches in relation to where we stand (this in the days prior to all-seater stadia) and to see the joy on the faces coming out afterwards of people I recognised from standing around the Witton end where I always stood was priceless.  After we got back to Ostend because of my feeling ill I was dying of thirst, now ask anyone who was there you could not get into any bar in town as they were packed with celebrating drunken Villa fans.  I said to my mates that I had noticed this place just up the road as we entered town that seemed to be open and we should try there.  So we all trooped off (about six if I remember correctly) and sure enough it was open, the only problem was it was a knocking shop and woman of the night on duty couldn't speak English! I tried in my elementary schoolboy French to tell her I wasn't there for her favours only a drink of water! At this stage her minder came out and showed us the door.  I left home on the Monday evening and got back sometime on Thursday night.  My football hating missus was delighted we won and ushered me straight to the doctors.  I still managed to get to town for the homecoming despite feeling like I was at deaths door.  Happy days.