1989

[Chico Hamilton III]

It's that time of year again, when we can all think about the best Christmas and New Year period most of us can remember. Lost to Millwall in mid December, then won 7 games on the bounce, including the 2 fantastic results against Man United and Arsenal. "Thank you very much for Paul McGrath..." "Fergie Fergie on the dole..."Bleary headed on the crumbling terraces of Stamford Bridge on New Year's Day, watching a Daley masterclass....

Merry Christmas, readers

[castlefields_villan]

They were 2 superb results within a few days against Man Utd. and Arsenal - who would've thought then that between them they'd have won the league championship (is it) 17 times since ? (considering in 1989/90 Liverpool and us pretty much had the show to ourselves)

[Fuse]

Id love to see footage of those 2 games - Man U and Arse - remember there being 1000s locked out of the Man U game

[castlefields_villan]

Had a season ticket in the Holte End the year - was glad I did !!!

[spk]

Was at the back of the Holte when the second goal went in against Arsenal.The Villa Villa ! chant that rang out after was the loudest noise I have heard anywhere ever.

[OzVilla]

That 3-0 Man Utd game is still one of my favourite ever matches at VP. 

All 3 goals were scored in the 2nd half towards the Holte, we absolutely battered them.  Cowans and Platt in particular were superb.  We really took the piss too.

It's when I think of these games I really feel sorry for the kids that have only ever seen us struggle.

[Villan For Life]

The Man Utd game was an early kick off, around 10am if I recall right. I went in the Guild by the fire station at around 8am and it was rammed.

The queue for the Holte was the biggest I'd seen since the Championship season. I didn't see any of the first half as although I got into the ground I couldn't get near a decent vantage point. At half time, loads of people moved to get drinks or go to the loo so I managed to nick a place near the white walled exit on the left side. Saw all of the second half so all of the goals.

I went in the Trinity for the Arsenal game and was sat behind the Arsenal dugout. The noise when Platt scored the winner was extremely loud and Arsenal protested long afterwards that he was offside. I'm actually on the 89/90 season review video at this game, sat next to my brother having a normal conversation. When I saw it I thought it strange that they caught footage of me calmly seated and not on my feet giving dogs abuse to the ref or Tony Adams!

[Pat McMahon]

I cant remember the Man U Boxing Day kick off time but it was early. I was home from Paris with no transport and had no way of getting into town - either no buses that day or they didn't start early enough-  so my brother in law dropped me off in New St on his way to work and I had to sit in McDonalds for an eternity before getting to Villa Park.

A cracking day, great performance and the start of probably the best Villa festive season I have seen in my life.

[castlefields_villan]

I seem to remember it being a midday kick off ??

[Bad English]

I was one of the thousands locked out that day. Boooo!

[The Left Side]

Nigel Kennedy lay in the muddy goal at the Holte during half time of the manure game too!

[andyaston]

Great days. The United game was midday but it still early. The 'Thank you very much for Paul McGrath' chant was great. Shame we couldn't pip Liverpool at the end of the season but I look back to this season with affection even if after 6 games we were awful and getting crowds of 14,000 v QPR.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Depressing, watching Bournemouth and Newcastle have their "1989s" in the last couple of games

[tomd2103]

Depressing, watching Bournemouth and Newcastle have their "1989s" in the last couple of games

Hardly the same Chico.  Those two games cemented us as serious title contenders. 

[Chico Hamilton III]

Depressing, watching Bournemouth and Newcastle have their "1989s" in the last couple of games

Hardly the same Chico.  Those two games cemented us as serious title contenders. 

I reckon Bournemouth fans will be talking about beating Man United and Chelsea in a week for as long as we'll be talking about 1989.