35 Years ago today

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Felt physically sick at the match when we went behind  it was now or never.  The emotions  at the end  was well worth it.

Same here. The two biggest games in my Villa supporting history, Highbury and Rotterdam and I hated almost every minute, like you, feeling physically sick throughout. At least in Rotterdam we scored but even then the threat of extra time and losing were still top of my mind. I still get really nervous watching the 82 final all these years later.

[West Derby Villan]

absolutely nothing happening on the pitch and 20,000 or so away supporters suddenly go delirious - must have been awkward for the players to actually concentrate on the job in hand.

Hearing Bryon Butler's immortal words still gives me goosebumps.

"Let's be the first to congratulate Aston Villa on their title as it must be theirs now."

The congratulations didn't exactly go on for very long though did they ? After all it was Ipswich who lost the title!

Sorry, and I understand the tone of your post but, Ipswich didn't lose it, we won it.  The league table will forever say so.

We won it, and we won it fair and square - the point I was trying to make is that even now (and even in comparison to Leicester today) I feel we barely got any recognition for winning either the league OR the European Cup a year later.

As the great Bill Shankley said the league is won over the season not a couple of matches. Agree with Castlefields, we never got the credit we deserved. We won it Ipswich didn't win it, end of!

[wittonwarrior]

I think we proved it previously  that simply playing nice football would not win you the league cue Villa 77 and  QPR believe it or not the season before. 

Nevermind Villa not getting the recognition, Sir Ron Saunders was a masterclass at knowing at exactly what time Villa needed a particular type of player.

[castlefields_villan]

I think we proved it previously  that simply playing nice football would not win you the league cue Villa 77 and  QPR believe it or not the season before. 

Nevermind Villa not getting the recognition, Sir Ron Saunders was a masterclass at knowing at exactly what time Villa needed a particular type of player.

absolutely nothing happening on the pitch and 20,000 or so away supporters suddenly go delirious - must have been awkward for the players to actually concentrate on the job in hand.

Hearing Bryon Butler's immortal words still gives me goosebumps.

"Let's be the first to congratulate Aston Villa on their title as it must be theirs now."

The congratulations didn't exactly go on for very long though did they ? After all it was Ipswich who lost the title!

Sorry, and I understand the tone of your post but, Ipswich didn't lose it, we won it.  The league table will forever say so.

We won it, and we won it fair and square - the point I was trying to make is that even now (and even in comparison to Leicester today) I feel we barely got any recognition for winning either the league OR the European Cup a year later.

As the great Bill Shankley said the league is won over the season not a couple of matches. Agree with Castlefields, we never got the credit we deserved. We won it Ipswich didn't win it, end of!

I think we proved it previously  that simply playing nice football would not win you the league cue Villa 77 and  QPR believe it or not the season before. 

Nevermind Villa not getting the recognition, Sir Ron Saunders was a masterclass at knowing at exactly what time Villa needed a particular type of player.

Apparently Bill Shankley spoke to Ron Saunders the following day and told him to ignore whatever public opinion was saying - 26 League wins in a season spoke for itself.  I always admired Bobby Robson but even back in 1981 he was obviously being lined up for the England job and from point of view, Ipswich were a bit of a "blue eyed boy team"

That's an excellent point about us in 1976-77 and QPR (who finished second in 1975-76) about exciting football not necessarily being the way to winning the title).  Both us and QPR would've been worthy champions - although for us it was a just a couple of years too early.

[class-of-82]

Sure Ipswich game in hand on us was played the following Monday night and Southampton beat them 0-3
Can't be bothered to google it but if you ring in to talk sport between 6-10 am I am sure Alan Brazil will tell you

[dave shelley]

May I respectfully suggest that any of you that were there that day, and have a (clean, inoffensive) story to tell about the day and match, then you post them here.  For those of you who may not know, this is a charity in which Chris Jameson of this parish's brother is heavily involved.  I'm sure your contributions to this worthwhile site would be welcome.
Obviously you should still continue to post your stories here too.  I love reading them.

I have taken the liberty of posting this without first contacting Chris.  If I am out of order then Mod's please remove.

[castlefields_villan]

Sure Ipswich game in hand on us was played the following Monday night and Southampton beat them 0-3
Can't be bothered to google it but if you ring in to talk sport between 6-10 am I am sure Alan Brazil will tell you

Yes, he still considers it an injustice that we got 60 points that season and they only got 56.

[Chris Jameson]

May I respectfully suggest that any of you that were there that day, and have a (clean, inoffensive) story to tell about the day and match, then you post them here.  For those of you who may not know, this is a charity in which Chris Jameson of this parish's brother is heavily involved.  I'm sure your contributions to this worthwhile site would be welcome.
Obviously you should still continue to post your stories here too.  I love reading them.

I have taken the liberty of posting this without first contacting Chris.  If I am out of order then Mod's please remove.

Thanks Dave, they don't have to be clean either!

[Godfrey Brian]

So tonight (5th May) is the 35th Anniversary of Joe Gallagher's testimonial at St Andrews. The match had been arranged months beforhand. One mad night , absolutely packed out with Villa fans. Tony Butler playing in a prematch celeb game and a night long celebration of the league championship.We won by a mile , what a great way to round off the season.

[Comrade Blitz]

So tonight (5th May) is the 35th Anniversary of Joe Gallagher's testimonial at St Andrews. One mad night , absolutely packed out with Villa fans. Tony Butler playing in a prematch celeb game and a night long celebration of the league championship.We won by a mile , what a great way to round off the season.

Tony Butler from Big Country?

[Exeter 77]

May I respectfully suggest that any of you that were there that day, and have a (clean, inoffensive) story to tell about the day and match, then you post them here.  For those of you who may not know, this is a charity in which Chris Jameson of this parish's brother is heavily involved.  I'm sure your contributions to this worthwhile site would be welcome.
Obviously you should still continue to post your stories here too.  I love reading them.

I have taken the liberty of posting this without first contacting Chris.  If I am out of order then Mod's please remove.

I've just read your entry on that site Dave and it's a great story.  For what it's worth mine from that day is far more mundane.  I listened to the Radio 2 coverage of the games that day in my grandmother's flat and they talking about how Villa needed to win while ignoring the fact that if Ipswich lost it would be all over, something that wasn't lost on me even though I was only 9. I remember finding that I was wiping away tears after Byron Butler delivered his classic line - the first time I remember crying involuntarily . I'm glad I understood the enormity of what Villa had achieved despite being so young. Strangely 55 weeks later I was jumping around like an idiot. Maybe I reached the pinnacle if my own maturity that May day in 1981!

[dave shelley]

Thanks Exeter, it's still as fresh in my memory now as if it was yesterday.  Regarding your story, you may think it's mundane but believe me it isn't.  It's a story of the day and just the type of thing that would be welcome on that site.  No matter how mundane you may think it is, it may just evoke memories of times gone by for any poor soul suffering the dreadful debility of memory that is dementia.

BTW, for any of you that are reading this, you may like to pass on to your friends that don't post on H&V a link to the site.  All contributions welcome, it's a great cause.

[Godfrey Brian]

So tonight (5th May) is the 35th Anniversary of Joe Gallagher's testimonial at St Andrews. One mad night , absolutely packed out with Villa fans. Tony Butler playing in a prematch celeb game and a night long celebration of the league championship.We won by a mile , what a great way to round off the season.

Tony Butler from Big Country?

Nah Comrade.This one was the one from BRMB radio. Claims to have invented the football phone in, his theme tune was'Theme from an unmade silent movie' and coiner of the phrase 'Get your prayer mats out '. He was of his time and received abuse from every part of the ground.

[dcdavecollett]

Casstlefields is right. The press had anointed Ipswich months before the end of the season when it became clear that Liverpool were off the pace. Villa winning it really annoyed them and their expert judgements were brought into question.

The objective national press also felt that Town should have won it as they were far more likely to do well in the EC in 81/82.

[pooligan]

Ipswich also had the football world's favorite Bobby Robson who was always, it appeared favored over Ron Saunders when the media were looking for quote  or story