The Boys Of '88

[Damo70]

After the death of Paul Birch, Chris Price's accident and the more recent story of Warren Aspinall's problems I started remembering the promotion season. I left school and started earning in '87 so it was my first season going away regularly. I remember walking past a newsagents and seeing the Mail with the story Sir Graham was our new manager, the crush getting into Portman Road in the sushine on the first day, Sir Graham coming over to talk to us in the stand before the kick-off at Filbert Street, beating a Baggies side including Andy Gray and Tony Morley, winning twice at Elland Road, one of my favourite away days ever at Bradford, Platt's debut at Blackburn, the atmosphere at home to Bradford and waiting in the corner with the players at Swindon before the celebrations could start. I also seem to remember Shrewsbury giving us their home end for the game at Gay Meadow. Does anyone else recall if that was the case?

[Eastleighvilla]

Yes, Great days, Great memories, if you remember we couldn't win at home in the early part of the Season, we actually beat Crystal Palace 4-1(contained Andy Gray) who we signed a few weeks later.First Home win 21st October. Three unforgettable games against Bradford, The home match decider, Best atmosphere at Villa Park for ages, the away Leg, fantastic match, but frightening after, nasty supporters, we got off lightly.
And in between that Simod cup game where we lost 5-0!!Superb away trips to Plymouth, Reading, Bournemouth, Oldham and as you say, Leeds, and at Shrewsbury, the birth of Spinksy Birchy, ALAN McINALLY Song at Shrewsbury!

[The Left Side]

I was just sprouting my Villa wings and didn't go to too many games but I went to the 5-0 demolition of Hull on new year's day, that was good and yes we didn't win as many at home as we should have.

[Exeter 77]

I remember going to that game against Hull with my Dad and my Uncle. My Uncle had got a fiver at very favourable odds on Villa winning 4-0 and he was completely crestfallen when the 5th goal went in in the last couple of minutes after earlier celebrating Nigel Spink's penalty (from Pat Heard) like we had won the European Cup.

[Damo70]

The home form nearly did for us towards the end when we lost to Leeds, Stoke and Oldham. Luckily we pulled off the two one nils against Shrewsbury and Bradford. We did have the record for away wins in that division (13) after that season but I suppose it's been broken since, didn't Reading get over 100 pts when they went up?

[Richie]

Memorable season. Remember beating Hull 5-0 on New Years Day, up to Barnsley the next day where we won again 3-1 and back up to Yorkshire for a 3rd Round FA Cup match at Leeds a few days later where we won 2-1.

All this a few months after the most depressing season in my life. Sir Graham was a miracle worker - the team of 86/87 under McNeill would of gone down to the 3rd.

[andyaston]

Remember beating Blues at the sty with two bullet headers from Bruno Thompson.

There goal went throught the hole in the net. Remember looking at the Ansells scoreboard wishing the last 20 mintes away, great day.

[The Left Side]

Remember beating Blues at the sty with two bullet headers from Bruno Thompson.

There goal went throught the hole in the net. Remember looking at the Ansells scoreboard wishing the last 20 mintes away, great day.

I had to stand in the blose end with my uncle and it wasn't pretty, the crush outside was particularly scary.

[TopDeck113]

Great memories of the away games that season, countered by too many mediocre home matches.  After the dismal football of the previous two seasons, promotion at the first attempt was an unexpected bonus!

[charlie659]

Unforgettagle season, brilliant away days galore that me and my mates still go on and on about.

[andyaston]

I remember that we had Liverpool in the FA Cup that year and it was a massive build up. I was a school kid back then and was really excited by the thought of a full house at Villa Park (extremeley rare at stadiums back then). I know we lost but the crowd and the atmosphere was unbelievable, when I got off the train at Aston Station I could hear the Holte End singing and it was nearly an hour before kick off!

[andyaston]

Oh and another game from early in that season was a League Cup game against Spurs. They were a star studded side and it was a night game. I think there was nearly 30,000 there, and we beat then thanks to a late Warren Aspinall winner at the Holte End, great stuff.

[Damo70]

I've just seen Steve Sims get a mention in the most hated Villa 11 and remembered he would take all the free kicks if they were given deep in our half. Invariably they ended up going out of play at which point he would examine his boot with a quizzical look on his face as if they were the problem!

[UsualSuspect]

Oh and another game from early in that season was a League Cup game against Spurs. They were a star studded side and it was a night game. I think there was nearly 30,000 there, and we beat then thanks to a late Warren Aspinall winner at the Holte End, great stuff.

Remember it well 2-1