Inter Milan 1994. Big Ron's last hurrah

[eric woolban woolban]

21 years ago. Where does the time go?

[LTA]

https://youtu.be/3CJ06T2fUUc

For those who always mock Villa Park for having no atmosphere, that night proved that when we click, it's as raucous as anywhere.

I don't have any recollection of the 1990 game, but 94 was a brilliant night.  How cool and calm was Phil King?  Amazing to think he hardly played for us again after that.

[LTA]

This really was one of the all time truly memorable occasions at VP.

Sorry Lucky, but I thought it was as good if not better than the 2-0 win four years earlier.  In that tie, although we took a deserved 2-0 lead over there, I always worried about them getting an early goal, which of course was exactly what happened.  That return really was bad news for us - their second (and equalising goal) was never a free kick to them in the first place and for the their winner Mcgrath had seen their player take the ball over the goal line before he crossed it.

Anyway, we more than got our revenge four years later, and yes the old ground really was rocking that night - I was at the front of the upper doug, level with the Witton End penalty area and the noise was defeaning - I'll always remember the booing and whistling whenever they had the ball.

Like everyone else I feared the worst against a multi starred team in a penalty shoot out, but of all people - Phil King was our hero.  There's a tremendous shot of Big Ron and Doug side by side, by the tunnel, immediately afterwards, and when I watched it back later seeing them together makes it hard to think that as was said earlier, Ron was gone in a few weeks.
I wonder what would've happened if we hadn't lost to Trasponspor (then an unknown team) in the way that we did, in the next round.

We outplayed Tranbzonspor at Villa Park, they they scored with literally their only attack of the game.

[Chris Harte]

I remember both 1990 and 1994 games against Inter.

The first was a stunning win against a team that comprised something like eight Italia 90 semi finalists from Italy and West Germany. The other was nerve wracking - I'd been to the away leg and seen Nigel Spink's careless slide gift Inter the penalty that gave them their first leg lead. Then I nearly missed the second leg through food poisoning.

I'm trying to remember who scored for us in the second leg. Was it Garry Parker? I remember my mate saying Ray Houghton was a greedy get for going for goal at one point before we'd scored. Or have I mixed the two up?

[castlefields_villan]

Ray Houghton scored to level the aggregate score at 1-1

[Tayls_7]

Ray Houghton scored to level the aggregate score at 1-1

I was at the home legs (90 & 94) but me and my friends also caught an official coach to the 1st leg. There was some kind of transport strike so the San Siro was pretty sparse but still an amazing venue. We lost out to a Ruben Sousa penalty. The return leg was incredible and in my experience, only bettered by the Tranmere semi which will stay with me always. My bro often recalls how I was dancing in the Trinity upper with an elderly gentleman. Like two Whirling Dervishes.

[Chris Harte]

I was at the home legs (90 & 94) but me and my friends also caught an official coach to the 1st leg. There was some kind of transport strike so the San Siro was pretty sparse but still an amazing venue. We lost out to a Ruben Sousa penalty.

Yep, the gate was something like 22000 in a 80000+ seater stadium. I vaguely remember everyone in the Villa end singing "shit ground, no fans" at various times throughout that night.

[Tayls_7]

I was at the home legs (90 & 94) but me and my friends also caught an official coach to the 1st leg. There was some kind of transport strike so the San Siro was pretty sparse but still an amazing venue. We lost out to a Ruben Sousa penalty.

Yep, the gate was something like 22000 in a 80000+ seater stadium. I vaguely remember everyone in the Villa end singing "shit ground, no fans" at various times throughout that night.

That's right Chris. We started that chant outside the ground. I remember they gave us a natty silk scarf as we entered the stadium and all the policeman were about 5 feet tall.

[Chris Harte]

I was at the home legs (90 & 94) but me and my friends also caught an official coach to the 1st leg. There was some kind of transport strike so the San Siro was pretty sparse but still an amazing venue. We lost out to a Ruben Sousa penalty.

Yep, the gate was something like 22000 in a 80000+ seater stadium. I vaguely remember everyone in the Villa end singing "shit ground, no fans" at various times throughout that night.

That's right Chris. We started that chant outside the ground. I remember they gave us a natty silk scarf as we entered the stadium and all the policeman were about 5 feet tall.

It think I might still have that scarf somewhere. It was a bit flimsy as I remember.

[Deano's Mullet]

1990 and 94 were both great but 1994 edges it for me - I preferred BFR's team even though it was on the decline and we actually won the tie whereas the 2-0 in 1990 is tainted by the fact we actually lost in the end. Nothing will top Kent Nielsen's goal though.

[Lucky Eddie]

I was at the home legs (90 & 94) but me and my friends also caught an official coach to the 1st leg. There was some kind of transport strike so the San Siro was pretty sparse but still an amazing venue. We lost out to a Ruben Sousa penalty.

Yep, the gate was something like 22000 in a 80000+ seater stadium. I vaguely remember everyone in the Villa end singing "shit ground, no fans" at various times throughout that night.

That's right Chris. We started that chant outside the ground. I remember they gave us a natty silk scarf as we entered the stadium and all the policeman were about 5 feet tall.

They also kept us at a service station all afternoon and coined us throughout the match

[Richard E]

If I remember right the service station was in Switzerland not Italy. The rumour was going round that the game was going to be off because the pitch was waterlogged. There was a big electrical storm during the game.

As we were heading away in the coach after the game there was a home fan in the next lane so busy giving it large to us that he took his eyes off the road and went straight into the car in front. His face when he realised too late he was going to hit it was a picture!

[Tayls_7]

If I remember right the service station was in Switzerland not Italy. The rumour was going round that the game was going to be off because the pitch was waterlogged. There was a big electrical storm during the game.

As we were heading away in the coach after the game there was a home fan in the next lane so busy giving it large to us that he took his eyes off the road and went straight into the car in front. His face when he realised too late he was going to hit it was a picture!

It was in Switzerland. The price for a sandwich and a coffee was eye watering, much like the coach toilet. I think we had breakfast in Luxembourg on the way back but can't be certain.

[Holte L2]

I was in the Upper North against Inter.  My first UEFA Cup match.  Wonderful, wonderful night!

[ZhongYi]

on TV and club football its the only time i have ever heard a commentator and his sidekick both shout "YESSS!!!" when the home nation team won. in our case after that penalty shoot out. Parry and Keegan were totally on Villa's side and some of the commments particularly towards the end of the game and the shootout were very funny and cool - especially from Alan Parry.