Villa v Birmingham city 1983.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Not seen that for years. Was it played on Easter Monday?

I was on the Holte with a Blose mate. He didn't say a word all game!!

It was October 15th, Saturday.

I'd forgotten about that blues fan sauntering onto the poitch and walking towards the Holte. I do remember Withe's shot taking ages to cross the line, it was like watching slow motion

[OzVilla]

In my youth this game was universally known just as 'The Battle of Brum'.

[Brend'Watkins]

There's a circus in the town, Ronnie Saunders is the clown, Noel Blake is a fucking thief (why btw??) and Birmingham are going down.

I had a letter printed on Jimmy Greaves letter page in Shoot, because he'd said on Saint and Greavsie that he didn't think that they shouldn't use TV evidence to prosecute Noel Blake because that wasn't fair.

The chant/song I remember from that day was..

"You must be Fucking Mad, Saunnn-ders, Saunn-ders"

repeated 3 or 4 times.

[Richie]

Not seen that for years. Was it played on Easter Monday?

I was on the Holte with a Blose mate. He didn't say a word all game!!

The Easter Monday game was the season before.

Another 1-0 win. Gary Shaw.

[Pat McMahon]

Not seen that for years. Was it played on Easter Monday?

I was on the Holte with a Blose mate. He didn't say a word all game!!

The Easter Monday game was the 1982-83 season IIRC - Gary Shaw late winner.

Love the footage as I had never seen it before. I was a student in France and went through all sorts of agony trying to get the result. From the highlights I can only assume that game would have finished with 8 a side today.

[Rudy65]

Wow, what a battle

Cant believe I used to go to those games home and away and not be bothered about any trouble. Think it was just part of the experience. Not so brave now.

Remember being at the sty with my girlfriend (now wife) and being chased by the zulu and brick and bottles flying over her company car!

[clash city rocker]

You have to watch clips like that to remind you that there can be times of pure joy...Had a few hairy moments at the sty but have had far worse at places like west ham..Middlesboro and leeds

[pauliewalnuts]

The Steve McMahon "1-0" gesture to Blake at the end was something we'd emulate on a very frequent basis whilst playing football at about that time.

The headbutt, not so much.

[andyaston]

As a 9 year old I almost shat myself that day, the tension was unreal.

[Moscow]

Kevan Broadhurst never played another game after this.  An honest hard working player in his mid 20's career finished by McMahon.  Comments ?

[Brend'Watkins]

According to Wikki he was at Birmingham till '86.  As this game was in '83 that means he was there for 3 more years doing nothing? 

[Damo70]

That sounds about right. He made numerous failed comeback attempts. Not totally dissimilar to Gary Shaw '83-'88. Although Shaw did manage some first team games in that time and I don't think Broadhurst did.

[D.boy]

I was stood on the Holte that day and loved Blakes penalty miss. A few weeks later (I can't recall who we were playing) I was in the Holte end and who was standing alongside me, yep Noel Blake with his hood up. Big bugger he was.

[Pat McMahon]

A Bluenose I worked with in London was a year below Noel Blake at school and said that he was genuinely scary and pretty wild. Aged 13 he was often battering kids who were 3-4 years older than him.

[barrysleftfoot]

 I met Noel Blake in a night club, he was actually quite a nice guy, just a few weeks after this game.Coton, Hopkins et al were there as well......now thet were knobs