Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"

[Pat McMahon]

Sid did indeed score v QPR, Pat, and that was 1977.

Ian, you are now my official go to person for Villa stats!

Funny, as I really thought the cup final programme on sale at Villa Park that night was for the Southampton v Man U final. Non Villa stuff really isn't my forte.....

I dug out the match night programme for the QPR game last night, including Ron Saunders' column confidently predicting a United victory in the cup final.

If only he had been as good at predicting the Bendalls.....

I remember that QPR game for Sid's goal, my dad buying me a pint in the stand before the game (I was 14 and he was working after a year unemployed)  and the old bloke next to us who could not stop commenting on the "pigeon chested" Dave Clement. If only I had the same memory for chasing contacts about work....

[Steve R]

Brian Little made his debut on this day in 1971 according to the OS. any H and V posters there?

Yup. 4-1 shellacing of Blackburn. He came on as sub. We were missing a few defenders that day and I thought we'd struggle. Neil Rioch played centre half and scored twice.

We thought we'd found George Curtis' replacement until 7 days later we blew a 4-2 lead at Port Vale. Sammy Morgan played and scored for Vale.

I don't think Little played again until his goalscoring full debut near the end of the season.

[martin o`who??]

Robert Hopkins against Norwich in midweek, some time in the `80s, he came on, and scored with his first touch, dunno if it still is, but it was the fastest debut goal of all time for years.

[Chris Jameson]

Must have seen quite a few over the years but for some reason I remember Darren Byfield's debut at Elland Roadas well as Gareth Barry at Sheffield Wednesday and the first match of Big Ron's reign when we had a few debutants at Hillsborough.

[PeterWithesShin]

Christian Benteke. In years to come when he's world player of the year for the 10th year running 100,000 will claim to have been at that Swansea game.

[Ron Manager]

I remember my first real way game being Man City, many moons ago.
I am sure that it was Sid's debut game.

I thoughts Sids debut was against Norwich City but my minds going!

[Ron Manager]

My minds gone .It was Man City at VP . We lost 2-1!

[ChrissyPrice]

Didier Six.

And Callaghan's and stix Ormondroyd in 1989. A 2-0 win against Wednesday?

[ilott]

My minds gone .It was Man City at VP . We lost 2-1!

It was Man City away - 7th February 1976 - and we did lose 2-1 having taken the lead. We couldn't hold onto leads then either!

[Ian.]

I'm sure I saw Simon Stainrod's first game for Villa at Exeter City in pre-season friendly, and score three?

[Lastfootstamper]

I'm sure I saw Simon Stainrod's first game for Villa at Exeter City in pre-season friendly, and score three?

Four. And it was a league cup tie

[Vancouver]

Nobby Solano away to Leicester when we won 5-0 and Ian Walker chucked the fan off the pitch. (Was it Nobby's debut?)

[richtheholtender]

Nobby Solano away to Leicester when we won 5-0 and Ian Walker chucked the fan off the pitch. (Was it Nobby's debut?)

Wasnt it Leeds at Villa park?

[Grande Pablo]

I was at Hillsborough in 1998 when a 17 year old Gareth Barry made his debut.

Also my dad went to Charlie Aitkin's debut which I'm sure he said was Johnny Dixon's last game for Villa.

Any famous Villa debut's you have attended ?

That was the game where some wag threw his season ticket at Big Ron in the Wednesday dug out, & Fernando Nelson begged Draper to take a free kick, which only clipped the crossbar (much closer than one of Draper's normal efforts).

[richtheholtender]

I was at Hillsborough in 1998 when a 17 year old Gareth Barry made his debut.

Also my dad went to Charlie Aitkin's debut which I'm sure he said was Johnny Dixon's last game for Villa.

Any famous Villa debut's you have attended ?

That was the game where some wag threw his season ticket at Big Ron in the Wednesday dug out, & Fernando Nelson begged Draper to take a free kick, which only clipped the crossbar (much closer than one of Draper's normal efforts).

Draper would have probably knocked it sideways anyway