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

[dave shelley]

No, definintely Brian Tiler RIP.  Signed by Tommy Doc from Rotherham 1968.

[Holte L2]

Deano's home debut would be the big one from my generation.  I was 7 and my dad had just brought me the new strip for my birthday which I wore to the match.  At the time out season tickets were in the Witton Lane stand.

That game was really special and really kicked off a wonderful season.  Even though I was only 7 I didnt miss a home game and went to my first proper aways.  Forest away 1-0 Macca.  My mum went mental as me and my dad missed my grandads 80th Birthday to go to the game.  And Arsenal away 1-0 Tony Daley.  I owe a lot to my dad for taking me to big games at such a young age.

my the time I was 10 I would have been to nearly all of the league grounds in the Premier!

[Godfrey Brian]

 David Geddis v Arsenal in 1979. Didn't do a lot in that game and never really established himself as first choice for any length of time but was one of the glorious 14 and made a vital contribution in the championship year particularly against the blues and Southampton and,I think, was on the bench in Rotterdam.

[Steve R]

I was there for that one too, not sure it was Boxing Day, though it could have been.  It was certainly around Christmas time.

Boxing day vs Cardiff. Bone hard frozen pitch.

Tiler put one in his own net too but it was disallowed.

[adrenachrome]

I was there for that one too, not sure it was Boxing Day, though it could have been.  It was certainly around Christmas time.

Boxing day vs Cardiff. Bone hard frozen pitch.

Tiler put one in his own net too but it was disallowed.

I remember it well. Was down the front of the Holte for a change as my Dad decided to go to the game. BT ran late into the box to plant it into the roof of the net with a bullet header. Cardiff were top of the division at that time.

We had a chant for BT to the tune of "I Am A Tiger" by the Scottish songstress Lulu.

One of my most vivid memories from that game was the roar when the attendance was announced over the P.A.: in excess of 40,000.

[Bernie]

I was there for that one too, not sure it was Boxing Day, though it could have been.  It was certainly around Christmas time.

Boxing day vs Cardiff. Bone hard frozen pitch.

Tiler put one in his own net too but it was disallowed.

I remember it well. Was down the front of the Holte for a change as my Dad decided to go to the game. BT ran late into the box to plant it into the roof of the net with a bullet header. Cardiff were top of the division at that time.

We had a chant for BT to the tune of "I Am A Tiger" by the Scottish songstress Lulu.

One of my most vivid memories from that game was the roar when the attendance was announced over the P.A.: in excess of 40,000.

.....at a time when 20,000 was considered pretty good. If I remember rightly a lot of matches had been called off due to the weather & our crowd was boosted a bit by Coventry & Wolves fans?

[Chico Hamilton III]

Deano's home debut would be the big one from my generation

I went to Elland Road to see his full debut. Seem to remember it was a nil nil draw on a sunday afternoon?

[AV82EC]

Deano's home debut would be the big one from my generation

I went to Elland Road to see his full debut. Seem to remember it was a nil nil draw on a sunday afternoon?

That's right. He had one disallowed which was blatantly onside and had two stonewall penalties turned down by the ref. Leeds had a good team back then been champs the previous season and we played them off the park.

[montague]

Loads.

Dennis Mortimer 4-1 vs West ham boxing day 1975 (balloons etc) stands out.

[placeforparks]

savo, southgate and draper. 3-1 v united.

[willywombat]

Bosko Balaban coming on as a sub, cant for the life of me remember who against. Bloke next to me said, 'Go on, make a name for yourself Son'. Er.......

[silhillvilla]

Der Hammer had a good debut if my memory is correct , didn't score but played well

[richard moore]

Yep, Dixon's last/Aitken's debut game was the last of the 60/61 season. Dixon also scored. As a nice touch it was also against Sheffield Wednesday. I am fairly sure that Dixon also left the field early with a burst blood vessel, probably an excuse for a the solo ovation he deserved.

It was also Gerry Hitchens' last game for the club. He got a couple.

In a season when he bagged over 40 goals as well

[Dave Summers]

 David Geddis v Arsenal in 1979. Didn't do a lot in that game and never really established himself as first choice for any length of time but was one of the glorious 14 and made a vital contribution in the championship year particularly against the blues and Southampton and,I think, was on the bench in Rotterdam.

I believe that it was also the full debut of Des Bremner and the home debut of Mike Pejic?.  Pejic made his debut in a 0-0 at Palace the week before (they were going to be the team of the 80's under Venables) and if I recall correctly we had just sold Gray and Gidman and this was the start of putting the final touches to the League/European Cup winning side.  If he had stayed fit, he only played about 15 games for us, I reckon Pejic would have gone down as one of our all time great left backs.

As someone also said, Dennis Mortimer's debut on Boxing Day 1975 was fantastic.  51,000 in the groiund and a 4-1 win and a superb performance from Little and Deehan.   I think Dave W wrote that that was the last time we had upwards of 50k Villa fans inside Villa Park as there were only a few hundred from West Ham.

I would love to go back to the mid to late 70's.  My happiest days watching the Villa from the Old Witton End.

[dave shelley]

I was at that game too; and I'm trying to remember did we go a goal down to a Trevor Brooking goal before putting on a performace that did truly bode well for the future, or am I thinking of another game against WHU when that happened?