Villa v (Brian Clough's) Leeds - 1974

[Rudy65]

...did seem to find the step up to the "First Division" as it was called back then a bit too much...

Check Ray Graydons career stats here, a consistent 1 goal every 3 games scorer across all three divisions.

http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/aston-villa-fc/ray-graydon-9866/league-appearances_a14892/

Good stats. Looks like his 12 goals in 75/76 was a big reason why we didnt get relegated

[dave shelley]

Ray Gradon was a perfect fit for Aston Villa and vice versa.  A great servant of the club, and  enjoyable to watch.  He owes us nothing.  A player that was exciting to watch as he got the ball and barreled goalwards.  Scored some fabulous goals and always gave 100%, with and ability to beat his man and conclude with a good cross.  I wish we had his like today.

[four fornicholl]

Ray Graydon cemented my wavering allegiance in the cup final of 75, I was only 8 but on that day the deal was done.

[wittonwarrior]

I think the way he slotted in for the 2nd replay says it all.  He was not a typical wide player he used to  love to use the width of the pitch.  Pity he was in his swansong years when we got promoted back to Division 1. 

[steamer]

One of my ever favourites.
I could not understand at the time why so many  fans would slag off Graydon.
O.K he was not the toughest of tacklers and would not jump into a last ditch tackle.
But as many have said his goals, crosses, were indispensable in our road back to the 1st Division.
1st season back ., I think (without checking) he scored 15 goals.
I was behind the goal at Wembley when he controlled the rebound and slotted the winner home.
Melvin, from the Holte enders in the sky and I and hugged danced together (nice one Melv)
Deserves a place in our Hall of Memory.
 

[Pete]

One of my ever favourites.
I could not understand at the time why so many  fans would slag off Graydon.
O.K he was not the toughest of tacklers and would not jump into a last ditch tackle.
But as many have said his goals, crosses, were indispensable in our road back to the 1st Division.
1st season back ., I think (without checking) he scored 15 goals.
I was behind the goal at Wembley when he controlled the rebound and slotted the winner home.
Melvin, from the Holte enders in the sky and I and hugged danced together (nice one Melv)
Deserves a place in our Hall of Memory.
 

First season back he was our top scorer, 12 league goals. He also scored our first ever goal in European competition I think, against Antwerp.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

One of my ever favourites.
I could not understand at the time why so many  fans would slag off Graydon.
O.K he was not the toughest of tacklers and would not jump into a last ditch tackle.
But as many have said his goals, crosses, were indispensable in our road back to the 1st Division.
1st season back ., I think (without checking) he scored 15 goals.
I was behind the goal at Wembley when he controlled the rebound and slotted the winner home.
Melvin, from the Holte enders in the sky and I and hugged danced together (nice one Melv)
Deserves a place in our Hall of Memory.
 

First season back he was our top scorer, 12 league goals. He also scored our first ever goal in European competition I think, against Antwerp.

He did score our goal in Antwerp. Happy memories of that first trip watching us in Europe getting the old Dover- Ostend ferry, even if the tie was as good as over by half time in the 1st leg. I've got half a dozen copies of the big red and white programme for the game.


 

[exiled on the wirral!]

Who is the old fella next to Ron..I've seen him in quite a few pictures.

[dave.woodhall]

Who is the old fella next to Ron..I've seen him in quite a few pictures.

Pop Ward. He was a bit of a lucky mascot/confidante for the team. It's the one on his right I haven't got a clue about. 

[MorrisNielson]

Here’s a couple of match reports to jog the memory

[b23]

Trevor Cherry gave me his sock tabs after this game.

[Jon Crofts]

I went to this game, there was indeed a reprint in the programme of our first ever programme versus Blackburn Rovers in 1906.

I seem to remember Ron Saunders parading the Manager Of The Year award before the game?  I could be wrong!

[Godfrey Brian]

Who is the old fella next to Ron..I've seen him in quite a few pictures.

Pop Ward. He was a bit of a lucky mascot/confidante for the team. It's the one on his right I haven't got a clue about.

I think the guy on the extreme right of the photo may be Walter Cowans (Sid's old man) who was kit man for some time.

[castlefields_villan]

I went to this game, there was indeed a reprint in the programme of our first ever programme versus Blackburn Rovers in 1906.

I seem to remember Ron Saunders parading the Manager Of The Year award before the game?  I could be wrong!

[/b]

Didn't we play Leeds in the first game of the following season (back in the first division) I thought Ron was manager of the year for 1974-75, so would it have been this game ?

[Rioch is King]

Going back to players who were favorites with the fans… I reckon a lot of it was down to how they looked. Chico Hamilton, Willie Anderson, Pat McMahon and Brian Little all looked pretty cool (in a  Beatles/George Best kind of way) so the younger fans, like myself, cut them a lot of slack because they looked the ticket. Ray Graydon - who was a fine player and perhaps as instrumental in our resurgence as any of the aforementioned looked a bit like someones dad or uncle so he didn't get the adoration of the youngsters.