Villa v Small Heath 1971 on TV

[London Villan]

So, a bit of odd one.

My folks got married on the 7th August 1971 and they are convinced that the wedding party watched a football match on TV during the day. Villa played Blues that day in a friendly, but surely it wouldn't have been live on TV?

Any ideas welcome...

LV

[castlefields_villan]

Evening London,

I remember that day and that week well, I didn't go thast game as I was on a family holiday in Devon and went on that day (I was just a few days short of my 14th birthday).  I was aware I'd miss the friendly against the rags, but I was more concerned with being back for the first league game the following weekend at home to Plymouth. 

I know we won 2-1 although I never found out until my dad got the paper the next morning.  We got home in time for the Plymouth game and reading the programme I'm sure the attendance for the friendly on 7th August was over 35,000 (can any confirm as my programmes are in my garage at home and that one won't have seen daylight for in excess of 30 years !)

I really can't see how it would have been on tv - I seem to remember the tournament that was popular then was the Watney Cup - but, no, I'm sure the other oldies on here will agree the only way anyone would've seen it, would be to actually have been there.

[big 1st serve]

 I remember a picture from the game being used as the front cover for a pre season league preview, possibly a Rothmans publication? Small Heath were in penguin shirts,I think Geoff Vowden was pictured in a proper Villa shirt.

[Weedy]

There was the FA Charity Shield that day

Liverpool v Leicester

[Pat McMahon]

There was the FA Charity Shield that day

Liverpool v Leicester

I remember those charity shield matches being played between random teams eg Villa v man City at some point in the early 70s.

I have a vague recollection of the photo that big 1st serve mentions above but I thought it was from the Villa programme for the first home game. Sadly I lost all that old memorabilia years ago.

[Rudy65]

There was the FA Charity Shield that day

Liverpool v Leicester

I remember those charity shield matches being played between random teams eg Villa v man City at some point in the early 70s.

I have a vague recollection of the photo that big 1st serve mentions above but I thought it was from the Villa programme for the first home game. Sadly I lost all that old memorabilia years ago.

Yes we lost 1 nil against Citeh

[MorrisNielson]

Here you go.
As castlefields_villan states is was the Watney Cup Final, Albion bumming out to Colchester.

 

[London Villan]

Cheers all! Seeing them today so i can wow them with that knowledge. My mom will be impressed!

[castlefields_villan]

Thanks for putting the newspaper clips in Morris, how times have changed ! - Cricket not starting tv coverage until 12.00pm and then having to share coverage with other sports in the afternoon, and I remember the last session going over to BBC2.

Also, can anyone recall the Watney Cup from that time - I seem to remember a trial of players only being offside in the opposition penalty area ?

[dcdavecollett]

Two fine strikes from Willie Anderson against one from Latchford.

Third division, but still too good for some!!

[Hookeysmith]

Here you go.
As castlefields_villan states is was the Watney Cup Final, Albion bumming out to Colchester.

 

Show that the kids of today - only 3 tv channels in a world of TV on demand

Don't know their born I tells ya

[Old Kodjia]

I was at this game, as an 11 year old.  It definitely  wasn't on telly.

It meant so much to me as they were a division above us.  I'd take a guess at the attendance being 37,000.  Blues were in the Holte but I was right at the front, pitchside, so don't know where abouts they were.  I remember hearing the rumbling of what was probably many feet running on the terracing so I imagine there was battles throughout the day.

I was also at the Plymouth game the following week for the first game of the season.  It absolutely poured down, torrential rain before and during-So much so, I was worried that the game would be abandoned.  Pat McMahon broke his leg in that game.

[wittonwarrior]

Sounds daft but I feel cheated having just missed Division 3.  For years I have heard  the songs/stories and characters some of whom I have met since.

[Old Kodjia]

Sounds daft but I feel cheated having just missed Division 3.  For years I have heard  the songs/stories and characters some of whom I have met since.

I was very, very fortunate.  I came from a family who were Villa fans.  My dear old dad used to drive us to all the away games.  I don't recall missing a match during that promotion run in (although I probably did).  Rotherham, Notts County, Mansfield, Shrewsbury, Wrexham all spring to mind as away games in that run in.  Massive followings as you would expect.  Bradford was a bit dodgy, as no trains were available that day, due to a strike.  I also feel a bit cheated though-As an 11/12 year old, you don't really enjoy it in the same way that an 18+ year old would do.  It's great to hear the stories from the older guys about those times.

[wittonwarrior]

One story about that era was the villa skin girls - how many  times have I been told  that they would have mullered me.

Turning back to us and the bloooose - my fav derby was the one the day after Sid V  had  been arrested  for the murder of nancy - the Kop had  a  banner Sid was innocent, one of the paratroopers got caught in his shoot, a letter in the programme was sent in by a loon who was in prison and Gray scored the winner.