33 years ago today

[WarszaVillan]

As for Ron going to Small Heath  I have no problem with that. He had a disagreement with our Board and did the honourable  thing by resigning after that he can do whatever he likes.

I remember at the time there were rumours that he had been in negotiations with Blues before he resigned - no idea if there was any truth in this. In any case I agree with you it doesn't actually matter. The longer time goes on the more things like these are forgotton. However, there was a time when he was hated down the Villa and the derbies after he moved  had a very nasty atmosphere.

[TopDeck113]

Resigning after falling out with the Bendalls is one thing, pitching up at St Andrew's a matter of days later is another.  The fact that we still went on and won the European Cup I think significantly diluted - and continues to dilute - the malevolence towards him.

[dave.woodhall]

As for Ron going to Small Heath  I have no problem with that. He had a disagreement with our Board and did the honourable  thing by resigning after that he can do whatever he likes.

I remember at the time there were rumours that he had been in negotiations with Blues before he resigned - no idea if there was any truth in this. In any case I agree with you it doesn't actually matter. The longer time goes on the more things like these are forgotton. However, there was a time when he was hated down the Villa and the derbies after he moved  had a very nasty atmosphere.

That was for reasons other than Saunders. In fact, I always thought that t he fuss died down remarkably quickly - winning the European Cup helped with that. Once the initial game against them was over we had more important things to concern us.

[Damo70]

As for Ron going to Small Heath  I have no problem with that. He had a disagreement with our Board and did the honourable  thing by resigning after that he can do whatever he likes.

I remember at the time there were rumours that he had been in negotiations with Blues before he resigned - no idea if there was any truth in this. In any case I agree with you it doesn't actually matter. The longer time goes on the more things like these are forgotton. However, there was a time when he was hated down the Villa and the derbies after he moved  had a very nasty atmosphere.

That was for reasons other than Saunders. In fact, I always thought that t he fuss died down remarkably quickly - winning the European Cup helped with that. Once the initial game against them was over we had more important things to concern us.

What was that first game like? I reckon including a Birmingham Senior Cup final where both teams played their strongest sides we played a Saunders Small Heath seven times and that one was the only one I missed.

[Pat McMahon]

[quote author=olaftab link=topic=53593.msg2769893#msg2769893 date


What was that first game like? I reckon including a Birmingham Senior Cup final where both teams played their strongest sides we played a Saunders Small Heath seven times and that one was the only one I missed.

It was a typical derby game with a winner from Withe at the Railway end. Loads of trouble, with a number of C Crew storming into the Kop about half an hour before kick off. The walk back to New St was one continuous flow of skirmishes.

I said recently on another thread that a Geordie mate, not averse to a bit of rough and tumble, came to that game and to this day he thinks Villa fans are lunatics. When he calls he always chips in with "Will never die, will never die.." In a poor Brummie accent.

[dave.woodhall]

[quote author=olaftab link=topic=53593.msg2769893#msg2769893 date


What was that first game like? I reckon including a Birmingham Senior Cup final where both teams played their strongest sides we played a Saunders Small Heath seven times and that one was the only one I missed.

It was a typical derby game with a winner from Withe at the Railway end. Loads of trouble, with a number of C Crew storming into the Kop about half an hour before kick off. The walk back to New St was one continuous flow of skirmishes.

I said recently on another thread that a Geordie mate, not averse to a bit of rough and tumble, came to that game and to this day he thinks Villa fans are lunatics. When he calls he always chips in with "Will never die, will never die.." In a poor Brummie accent.

That's about right but from then on it wasn't as bad as the seventies, right up to the Vietnam game. When Saunders came back to Villa there was, from  memory, surprisingly little reaction.

[ez]

I met Peter Withe last week. I'm still on an emotional high about it now.
What i remember about Saunders resigning was that Ipswich were playing that night and their highlights were on telly. Bobby Robson said he was shocked at the news.