Boxing Day 1989

[LTA]

My first Villa game was a surprise Christmas Present to see us beat Man United from the Holte on Boxing Day 1989.  I think it put us top for the first time that season.  A great memory, although a little hazy 25 years on.

[Big Dick Edwards]

And Alex Ferguson was under pressure and at risk of getting the sack at the time. Hard to believe now.

[Villan For Life]

It was a morning kick off - 10.30 I think - and I remember going into the Guild pub at around 8.30am. It was packed.

The queue for the Holte was long and although we got in to the ground in time for kick off we didn't see any of the first half. At half time when people went to the loo or to get a drink we managed to get a spot and saw all three of the goals. A great morning.

Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.

[Villafirst]

I have video footage of that memorable match. If I recall we beat the Arse 2-0 two days later - I have an hour's footage of that game. Also, we beat Chelsea 3-0 at their place on New Year's Day to complete probably the best Christmas ever - I have another hour's footage of that one as well. What a goal by Tony Daley!!

[LTA]

I know the United fans really turned on Ferguson that day, but I was 7 at the time, so I didn't notice it on the day (nor really cared tbh)

I think at the time we were flying.  With a bit more conviction, we'd have pushed the Scousers even harder in the closing weeks

[tomd2103]

I have video footage of that memorable match. If I recall we beat the Arse 2-0 two days later - I have an hour's footage of that game. Also, we beat Chelsea 3-0 at their place on New Year's Day to complete probably the best Christmas ever - I have another hour's footage of that one as well. What a goal by Tony Daley!!

Yep what a great Christmas period that was!  Dismantled Manchester United on Boxing Day and then beat the reigning champions a couple of days later (though I thought it was 2-1). Those two results, particularly the Aresenal one, signalled that we were serious contenders for the league title.   

[The Left Side]

Nigel Kennedy lay down in the goal at the Holte End at half time for a photo op, the crazy loon!

[andyaston]

For both games the queues to get in the Holte End were massive well before kick off. Those we the days of getting to the turnstile and paying on the day, great for atmosphere but you couldn't leave it too late.

[pauliewalnuts]

I have video footage of that memorable match. If I recall we beat the Arse 2-0 two days later - I have an hour's footage of that game. Also, we beat Chelsea 3-0 at their place on New Year's Day to complete probably the best Christmas ever - I have another hour's footage of that one as well. What a goal by Tony Daley!!

Yep what a great Christmas period that was!  Dismantled Manchester United on Boxing Day and then beat the reigning champions a couple of days later (though I thought it was 2-1). Those two results, particularly the Aresenal one, signalled that we were serious contenders for the league title.   

Totally agree, one of the best Christmases I can remember as a Villa fan.

Against Arsenal, I remember us singing "Hand it over, hand it over, hand it over, Arsenal"

[ez]

If this is the game i'm thinking of, there was no public transport until midday. I walked from Sutton Coldfield to Villa park which took me about 2 hours, starting out at 8am.

[Damo70]

It was a morning kick off - 10.30 I think - and I remember going into the Guild pub at around 8.30am. It was packed.

The queue for the Holte was long and although we got in to the ground in time for kick off we didn't see any of the first half. At half time when people went to the loo or to get a drink we managed to get a spot and saw all three of the goals. A great morning.

Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.

The 'Thank you very much for Paul McGrath' was great fun. A week or two later we were giving it the 'Thank you very much for Chrissie Price' to Blackburn in the cup. And soon after that we had appeared to have about 70,000 in the ground for a game against Port Vale. It was a great few weeks/months. I was convinced we would win the league when I was leaving White Hart Lane after our 0-2 win in March. Feb? March? I think it was March.

[Exeter 77]

I remember the chorus of 'Fergie On The Dole' from that game as well.

[dave.woodhall]

I remember the chorus of 'Fergie On The Dole' from that game as well.

No you don't. It never happened.

[Damo70]

Those were the days when United not only didn't win anything but they didn't even finish in the top six. And they lost games by three goals. We will never see anything like that again.

[Exeter 77]

I remember the chorus of 'Fergie On The Dole' from that game as well.

No you don't. It never happened.

I'd forgotten their historical revisionism suggests we'd all had a group hallucination that day.