Villa Back in the top division Part 1 - 1975-76

[wittonwarrior]

I was a young lad living in London with only loose connections to Birmingham.  I loved the colour Claret and Blue and was attracted to Aston Villa.

I was attracted to to the Villa first and foremost by MOTD and an away game at Blackpool in the relegation year from the 2nd Division (am sure we changed our shirts at half time but thats another story).  Slow forward to the 3rd Division and saw Villa live for the first time (in Landen boo boo) and loved the massive support we had.

I remember travelling up the Lake District start of our holidays and seeing hundreds of cars going to Preston - first game back in Div 2, somehow persuaded my dad to divert!

Being a young teenager there was no way I would be allowed to travel independently to Bham.  I somehow managed to sneak out one Saturday home game v WBA again a MOTD game and was completely hooked.

No way was I going to miss Villa back at the top.  I am sure my parents knew what I was up to being a big mouth but travelled to Bham again for the Leeds game, at that time London was a dangerous place Saturday mornings and I was at Victoria Coach Station pretty much surrounded by Cockney Reds (and they were mental in that era).

Although only 14 I managed to find myself from Digburth to Villa Park (bus from Lewis Store).  I loved the Trinity Road side it was like a palace to me. I immediately met up with another young lad who I had met at Orient the season before Mark Tonks and he kind of looked after me that day at the match, even introducing me to his mum and dad when they came to collect him afterwards.

The atmosphere was out of the world this was a special occasion for all Villa fans, only the team to be caught in the headlamps, either that or Ron S didnt believe we were good enough for the top and we held back far to much.  My idol at that time was Ray Graydon however at the start of this period in our history he seemed to be kept too much on a chain and for the most part of the season failed to go on his diagonal runs which a year later brought us so much success.

Jimmy Cumbes in goal was adequate although ageing.  Aitken, sorry his legs had gone and Ian Ross and Leighton Phillips were in reality along with Chico not good enough for the challenge ahead.  Saying that if I was honest Chico struggled towards the end of our promotion season.

Away from home was a disaster as far as results were going, we had to win a good portion of games at Villa Park if we were to stay up.  We were defeated before we set out at various grounds such as Anfield and even lost an epic game at St Andrews towards the end of the season.

During the first part of the season I somehow did enough car washing to get the train to the first home Derby v Blues (alright we lost that one as well) but we had a new goalkeeper and Andy Gray who as everyone will appreciate moved us up a notch or two.

We lost in the FA Cup to Southampton ( in the replay) but this again will be remembered for the balloons, see its not only Manchester City fans who can be witty.  It was around this time that I met Clive, Dave and Nick from London all three in their mid twenties, especially Dave who was from Bham had been everywhere with Villa and I hanged on all their stories. 

The game which probably turned our season and saw us survive ultimately would be West Ham at home , over 50.000 in Villa Park and we destroyed them according to the radio, no I didnt go (pretty sure it was Boxing day without looking it up).  Some scrapped victories and I went on my first long distance away game at Manchester City, lost that one again although we played well.

The Sty away derby was out of this world for the support we had in the Tilton Road however we lost.  The season kind of pettered out from there, although I do remember the pitch invasion after Middlesboro last game of the season.

I just had to get a season ticket! (Que - the £10 kids seasons).

To be resummed.

Alex

[Witton Warrior]

Hiya Alex

Spookily we must be about the same age - I was 16 in '75 and attended my forst match the season before -  you've also chosen an interesting name there mate ;-) Were you a Witton Warrior? If so we may have bumped into each other...

[wittonwarrior]

First of all as a witton warrior not really! This for me was the best period of supporting Villa, the team that Ron built and even without possibly the best centre forward in Britain Andy Gray  going on and winning the European Cup.

There were one or two moments in the first season back to fire warning signals to the rest of the league, unfortunately it took a few seasons and decreasing attendances before we really got to grip and show our true talent.   As I said I think we were caught between the headlamps in 75/76.

[Bernie]

Excellent mini autobiography, ww!  Just being picky, I think you're wrong on the result at home v SHA; as I remember it we beat them 2-1 at VP at the end of September '75. I'm sure someone else will either refute or confirm this.

[flybo]

Excellent mini autobiography, ww!  Just being picky, I think you're wrong on the result at home v SHA; as I remember it we beat them 2-1 at VP at the end of September '75. I'm sure someone else will either refute or confirm this.

Hamilton and Little(He that still walks on water)

[Brend'Watkins]

Preston away in our promoted year to the 2nd Div was my first ever away game.  I went with my father's friends in an Austin 1100.  It seemed like Villa had taken over Preston for that Saturday. 

[class_of_82]

just to add on my bit, the away game at the blues was still today my best ever away game if you can call it one and ive been most places from old trafford for the league cup semi in our 3rd div days to anderlecht and so on.it was a tuesday night there was 54,000 at the game and i reckon nearly 20,000 was villa we packed the tilton out had them hanging from the floodlights to, on the roof of the tilton, had most of the upper railway end and a big crew by the scoreboard.when we went 1-0 up and the "villa1 city0" was ringing out it was deafening it seemed like it was coming from all corners of the ground which it poss was. even my best mate who was a die hard blue nose and hated the villa came up to me in the pub after and said ive never seen away support like that ever. even though we got beat 3-2 i just smiled at him and said you can have the 2 points cause it was worth it just to show you what real support is. for the record we beat them 2-1 at villa park with chico hamilton and a winner from brian little.

[wittonwarrior]

Does anyone remember the programmes from that year, pretty sure it was the Derby County, cant remember if it was Ipswich as well with the fella with the scarves dripping off him.

Also the season when Chris Nichol scored all 4 goals at Leicester.

Remember the return game at the sty - 70p a ticket just a bit of a difference from now.

Did we take the lead at Sheff United.  I know we were only one of 2 or 3 teams maximum that they beat at Bramall Lane.

[martin o`who??]

I was a young lad living in London with only loose connections to Birmingham.  I loved the colour Claret and Blue and was attracted to Aston Villa.

I was attracted to to the Villa first and foremost by MOTD and an away game at Blackpool in the relegation year from the 2nd Division (am sure we changed our shirts at half time but thats another story).  Slow forward to the 3rd Division and saw Villa live for the first time (in Landen boo boo) and loved the massive support we had.

I remember travelling up the Lake District start of our holidays and seeing hundreds of cars going to Preston - first game back in Div 2, somehow persuaded my dad to divert!

Being a young teenager there was no way I would be allowed to travel independently to Bham.  I somehow managed to sneak out one Saturday home game v WBA again a MOTD game and was completely hooked.

No way was I going to miss Villa back at the top.  I am sure my parents knew what I was up to being a big mouth but travelled to Bham again for the Leeds game, at that time London was a dangerous place Saturday mornings and I was at Victoria Coach Station pretty much surrounded by Cockney Reds (and they were mental in that era).

Although only 14 I managed to find myself from Digburth to Villa Park (bus from Lewis Store).  I loved the Trinity Road side it was like a palace to me. I immediately met up with another young lad who I had met at Orient the season before Mark Tonks and he kind of looked after me that day at the match, even introducing me to his mum and dad when they came to collect him afterwards.

The atmosphere was out of the world this was a special occasion for all Villa fans, only the team to be caught in the headlamps, either that or Ron S didnt believe we were good enough for the top and we held back far to much.  My idol at that time was Ray Graydon however at the start of this period in our history he seemed to be kept too much on a chain and for the most part of the season failed to go on his diagonal runs which a year later brought us so much success.

Jimmy Cumbes in goal was adequate although ageing.  Aitken, sorry his legs had gone and Ian Ross and Leighton Phillips were in reality along with Chico not good enough for the challenge ahead.  Saying that if I was honest Chico struggled towards the end of our promotion season.

Away from home was a disaster as far as results were going, we had to win a good portion of games at Villa Park if we were to stay up.  We were defeated before we set out at various grounds such as Anfield and even lost an epic game at St Andrews towards the end of the season.

During the first part of the season I somehow did enough car washing to get the train to the first home Derby v Blues (alright we lost that one as well) but we had a new goalkeeper and Andy Gray who as everyone will appreciate moved us up a notch or two.

We lost in the FA Cup to Southampton ( in the replay) but this again will be remembered for the balloons, see its not only Manchester City fans who can be witty.  It was around this time that I met Clive, Dave and Nick from London all three in their mid twenties, especially Dave who was from Bham had been everywhere with Villa and I hanged on all their stories. 

The game which probably turned our season and saw us survive ultimately would be West Ham at home , over 50.000 in Villa Park and we destroyed them according to the radio, no I didnt go (pretty sure it was Boxing day without looking it up).  Some scrapped victories and I went on my first long distance away game at Manchester City, lost that one again although we played well.

The Sty away derby was out of this world for the support we had in the Tilton Road however we lost.  The season kind of pettered out from there, although I do remember the pitch invasion after Middlesboro last game of the season.

I just had to get a season ticket! (Que - the £10 kids seasons).

To be resummed.

Alex

I think you may be wrong about losing to the noses at VP, we fell behind, John burridge (making his debut) pushed a shot straight out to Francis who scored, we replied with goals from Chico hamilton and Brian Little who capitalized on a mistake from the disgusting Kenny Burns, final score 2-1 to us.

[5ft811st2 Durham]

just to add on my bit, the away game at the blues was still today my best ever away game if you can call it one and ive been most places from old trafford for the league cup semi in our 3rd div days to anderlecht and so on.it was a tuesday night there was 54,000 at the game and i reckon nearly 20,000 was villa we packed the tilton out had them hanging from the floodlights to, on the roof of the tilton, had most of the upper railway end and a big crew by the scoreboard.when we went 1-0 up and the "villa1 city0" was ringing out it was deafening it seemed like it was coming from all corners of the ground which it poss was. even my best mate who was a die hard blue nose and hated the villa came up to me in the pub after and said ive never seen away support like that ever. even though we got beat 3-2 i just smiled at him and said you can have the 2 points cause it was worth it just to show you what real support is. for the record we beat them 2-1 at villa park with chico hamilton and a winner from brian little.

I was at that game as well, but it was on a Saturday not Tuesday evening ,that was the following seson with T.F's infamous dive.

[Witton Warrior]

Looks like we have a generational reunion going on - nice name by the way ;-)

Like most on this thread I recognise all this and it is still my favourite period of watching the Villa - it was like learning history as we went along - poring over Rothman's annuals for details of the Villa prior to seeing them.

The great part was wherever we went, home or away, you thought we could win - and up until the mid-80's we did - everywhere with tremendous support.

Best night I rememeber was the replay against QPR at Arsenal - the whole day was mad - bunking off school - jumping trains - begging for the entrance money and then Sir Brian scores three - Wembley was a total anti-climax

[Rudy Can't Fail]

just to add on my bit, the away game at the blues was still today my best ever away game if you can call it one and ive been most places from old trafford for the league cup semi in our 3rd div days to anderlecht and so on.it was a tuesday night there was 54,000 at the game and i reckon nearly 20,000 was villa we packed the tilton out had them hanging from the floodlights to, on the roof of the tilton, had most of the upper railway end and a big crew by the scoreboard.when we went 1-0 up and the "villa1 city0" was ringing out it was deafening it seemed like it was coming from all corners of the ground which it poss was. even my best mate who was a die hard blue nose and hated the villa came up to me in the pub after and said ive never seen away support like that ever. even though we got beat 3-2 i just smiled at him and said you can have the 2 points cause it was worth it just to show you what real support is. for the record we beat them 2-1 at villa park with chico hamilton and a winner from brian little.

I was at that game as well, but it was on a Saturday not Tuesday evening ,that was the following seson with T.F's infamous dive.

I was there too. There was so many Villa there and they only had a couple of poxy turnstiles, we ended up, like loads of others, giving up trying to get in the Tilton and going in with their lot on their spacious kop. With that in mind, I struggle how they managed to claim there were 58,000 at the game.