Big Rons Opener

[Chris Harte]

"Trevor's army will show them" - lol.

Top day made all the more sweeter by the fact that if I'd not missed the coach I should have been on I'd never have seen the game.

[Des Little]

Remember it well....had to go to a family wedding whilst all the lads had the best day out since Everton '90.  Listened to it on a car radio in the car park and was delighted and really gutted at the same time!

[Richie]

Des - in my opinion this was even better than Everton 90. Although both were absolute cracking days that will live long in the memory.

[Chico Hamilton III]

The match was far better than Everton but I reckon the Everton game was the better atmoshphere

"Graham Taylor's Claret and Blue Army" seemed to go on from the kick off through to the second half. What a send off

[barrysleftfoot]

 Got their early, and i remember the initial attempts at fitting Atkinsons name into the "Claret and blue army" song.Started off as Atkinsons Claret and Blue army, then morphed into Ron Atkinsons Claret and Blue army, the some bright spark came up with " Big Fat Rons Claret and Blue army".Much laughter, and it stuck, a long rendition, 20-30 mins before kick off, and throughout half time if i remember.

 Start of an era, we had arrived, and the optimism that BFRs appointment was fantastic.He used to get a standing ovation before every home game when he came out the tunnel for most of his 1st season.

[Chris Jameson]

My son asked me last week what were my favourite ever Villa matches and this came up! It was a fine day out, I was at the ground as the team coach arrived and there was quite a reception for Atkinson from both sides, the cheers negated the abuse.

[AV82EC]

Best away day ever without a doubt, I was on that Special out of New Street that got delayed and remember the guys legging it off the train, chased by an over eager rozzer, towards the Don Valley Stadium!!! The guys did make it to the game, I think they got there just in time for the second half after a friendly taxi driver gave them a lift to Hillsbrough.  Fantastic memories.....

[OzVilla]

This and the Tranmere Semi are the two best Villa games i've ever been to.  They both had everything.

[andrew08]

The Dean Saunders game at Anfirld was another top away game in that era. I've seen us thumped a few times at Anfield but we've won quite a few up there as well.

[Damo70]

'Big fat Ron's claret and blue army' always reminds me of Grimsby away in the cup a few weeks after Hillsborough. If my memory is correct the entire away end sang it all the way through the half time break.

[cheltenhamlion]

Great day. Also memorable for a philosophical question only a football fan could ask in the gents before the match.

"If grounds have to be all seater now, how come I still have to stand up to have a piss?"

[montague]

That was a great win. Heralded the start of a fine period in recent Villa history.

When you say fine period you mean 3 years - actually thats quite a sustained period in our lumpy history.

It was a great team, who know what would have happened if they could have won that first premier league.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The game had everything you'd ever want, from the weather, some great pre-match beers and a Villa invasion to witness a brilliant start to the season. Certainly right up there with the greatest away days in recent history.

[cheltenhamlion]

I doubt you could get official figures on tickets sold but we were everywhere that day.

[silhillvilla]

'Big fat Ron's claret and blue army' always reminds me of Grimsby away in the cup a few weeks after Hillsborough. If my memory is correct the entire away end sang it all the way through the half time break.

Yep, we also had a rendition of Big Fat Rons barking army, woof woof woof woof.
Away end was very packed that day.