They beat us 3-0 Boxing Day 82 didn't they? There is a video on Youtube of the game in 87 I think. I have never seen such a packed away section as we had in the Tilton.It must be have been extra moody at the Sty being at that end and coming up the Cov Road and walking all the way round the ground.
Did you know that the Boxing Day 82 match was actually played on Mon 27th Dec? Was Sunday a no go area for football at this time?
I remember that That first match at Blues after Ron had gone , I took a mate of mine to his first game of football saying everything would be OKin those days you just paid at the turn style, as we entered the ground there were fans fighting all over the pitch, especially in front of the long side stand that they used as there 'end' (don't know what it's called)Police horses being used to try and regain order, mayhem breaking out all over the placeMy mate and I are in our early 50's now and he still reminds me of it when I see him Oh the good old days
87 at the Sty was certainly bad but it was actually on a par with 03/03/03 for an evil atmosphere. For the first time ever we became them at home, mainstream fans being just as interested in settling scores outside the ground as on the pitch. Relatively sane, respectable Vila fans I knew turned into something else that night. The 87 game was about righting a wrong (they'd beaten us at home in August), taking the piss and going home. Anyone remember the skinead noses with their bed sheets before the game, the bare patch of grass in front of the Tilton (rumours abounded) and the nets that weren't tied down properly (see earlier rumours).