39 Years ago today

[castlefields_villan]

Villa 3, West Brom 0

The score only told a fraction of the story - anyone else remember being there ?

[dave.woodhall]

Villa 3, West Brom 0

The score only told a fraction of the story - anyone else remember being there ?

Er, it rings a vague bell. Did much happen?

[dave shelley]

I can still hear it now.  I found This interesting piece a while back when looking up something about Alex.  There's a lot of reading but, the first part of the article is about Alex.  Strangely, I don't remember the song about him that the author quotes, but then again, I can't remember what I had for my breakfast this morning.  Apologies if this has been posted before.

[wittonwarrior]

“Five Foot Eight, Not Much Weight, Alex Cropley's Fucking Great".

Difficult I know to draw comparisons about players but in my all time Villa 11 if I had  to pick  between Sid and Cropley the latter would claim my vote.

Even back then the opposition were bitter horrible people. 

Been said before on the pitch this was the Derby - Blues always should beat them took us a few years to work that one out but that's for a different thread.

The thing with their team, they knew they were not the same class as the Villa and had one or two animals such as Wilde at the back.  A lot of bull about their wonderful football style. 

[Morleys left boot]

Wasn't this the game when they broke sids leg

[PeterWithesShin]

I thought this was going to about the time the bitters won 5-3 away to the side that finished 9th and still have anniversary dinners to celebrate it.

[wittonwarrior]

All  that 5-3 game  showed  was that they were better than the mancs on snow.

Never the pure entertainers as their "admirers" would have you believe.

Could never fatham out why they attract so many semi entertainers and that prat Adrian Chiles.

[villan from luton]

Alex was a superb player and will never forget that tackle, disgraceful. Don't agree with the earlier comment about having him ahead of Sid, but he had the lot. Now a taxi driver in Edinburgh and someone I met on holiday a couple of years back is the same and knows him and remembers him at Hibs. Hated Ron Saunders

[castlefields_villan]

As my memory goes, both games against the albion the previous season were tasty affairs (we drew 1-1 at the hawthorns and beat them 4-0 at home - in what I think was the last game of the 1976-77 season).

But this match was something else, ironically I remember the "tackle" that finished Alex Cropley's career wasn't anywhere near as bad as other stuff dished out that day.  I'm sure we played the second half with 10 men (of course only one sub in those days) - was it Andy Gray who also went off injured - anyone remember ?

[dave.woodhall]

As my memory goes, both games against the albion the previous season were tasty affairs (we drew 1-1 at the hawthorns and beat them 4-0 at home - in what I think was the last game of the 1976-77 season).

But this match was something else, ironically I remember the "tackle" that finished Alex Cropley's career wasn't anywhere near as bad as other stuff dished out that day.  I'm sure we played the second half with 10 men (of course only one sub in those days) - was it Andy Gray who also went off injured - anyone remember ?

Ken McNaught early on.

[Pat McMahon]

I remember this being unduly physical in an era where there was far more tolerance of spiteful tackles.

The BBC commentary had Barry Davies saying he felt the ref should blow early for half time just before we scored our second. I also recall Jimmy Hill singling out Brian Little for praise as he offered a consoling arm to Alistair Brown after the tackle.

[castlefields_villan]

As my memory goes, both games against the albion the previous season were tasty affairs (we drew 1-1 at the hawthorns and beat them 4-0 at home - in what I think was the last game of the 1976-77 season).

But this match was something else, ironically I remember the "tackle" that finished Alex Cropley's career wasn't anywhere near as bad as other stuff dished out that day.  I'm sure we played the second half with 10 men (of course only one sub in those days) - was it Andy Gray who also went off injured - anyone remember ?

Ken McNaught early on.

So Ken McNaught was substituted early on - and then obviously when Alex Cropley had to be taken off (which I seem to remember was also in the first half), so we beat them 3-0 with 10 men - for what the best part of 55 - 60 minutes ?

[dave.woodhall]

As my memory goes, both games against the albion the previous season were tasty affairs (we drew 1-1 at the hawthorns and beat them 4-0 at home - in what I think was the last game of the 1976-77 season).

But this match was something else, ironically I remember the "tackle" that finished Alex Cropley's career wasn't anywhere near as bad as other stuff dished out that day.  I'm sure we played the second half with 10 men (of course only one sub in those days) - was it Andy Gray who also went off injured - anyone remember ?

Ken McNaught early on.

So Ken McNaught was substituted early on - and then obviously when Alex Cropley had to be taken off (which I seem to remember was also in the first half), so we beat them 3-0 with 10 men - for what the best part of 55 - 60 minutes ?

We did indeed.

[castlefields_villan]

Cheers Dave, I seem to remember we beat them by the same score at their place three or four months later.

[peter w]

I think this is the game for many people of that generation that explains their absolute hatred of the Albion.