40 Years ago today

[Fin Feds Dad]

I was 7 and we sat in the Witton Lane for a treat- me, my Dad, my Uncle and my Grandad - 3 generations at a night that will live with me forever.

I honestly can still remember hardly sitting down on those wooden seats in the first half.

Just an incredible night - villa park under the AV lights, spanking the best team in europe - amazing.

(I was due to do the 2nd night of the school nativity play that night - and I remember my Mom (RIP) and Dad having a bit of a row about me going the match instead - thank God my Dad won that night).

[castlefields_villan]

It was a truly unbelievable night - even when (I think it was) Ray Kennedy pulled one back to make it 4-1 after about 35-40 minutes we immediately restored the four goal lead.

I remember we could have had a couple more in the second half as we attacked the Holte End - only a couple of good saves by Clemence and a couple of missed half chances stopped it being even more.

UTV

[Pat McMahon]

Remarkable, unforgettable, and simply unbelievable at the time. Emlyn Hughes said Half-time was the ONLY time anyone connected with Liverpool ever saw the magnificent Bob Paisley ever lose his temper.

I remember reading a Liverpool player talking about Alan Kennedy having a howler. Own goal, losing his man, wayward passing etc.

At half-time Paisley stormed into the dressing room and allegedly bawled "they shot the wrong Kennedy"

[dave shelley]

Never to be forgotten.  My daughter was just four weeks old so, I was fortunate to get to that match.  Memories for me were, standing down the Witton End watching the onslaught of goals one after the other.  Phil Thompson constantly berating the referee after nearly every goal went in.  Bob Paisley giving some sort of half-arsed reason for Liverpool losing but, to his credit he did say," that's to take nothing away from those Villa lads".  Bastards sending the cameras to Derby.

I have never met Sir Denis Mortimer and I know a good few of you have so, the next time any of you bump into him please ask him on my behalf; did he actually hit the crossbar in the second half?  This is at least the third time I have posted on a thread about this match and I've said the same thing each time.  I'm convinced that he did and, six would have been just that so much better than five.

[clash city rocker]

I stood on the holte and it still remains one if my favourite matches...The scousers were shell shocked and thanks to the derby supporting twats on itv the goals can't be seen again.

[Weedy]

I remember it made the front page of the Daily Mirror - there was a picture with the strapline "Thrilla at the Villa"
(the Thrilla in Manila -Ali v Frazier was a year ealier).

[Weedy]

From the Birmingham Mail

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/great-games-aston-villa-5-181147

[West Derby Villan]

Stood on the Holte with my mates, one of which was a Liverpool supporter, he disappeared at half time, similar to the disappearing act his team did in the first half. By the way that Liverpool team went on to win the League championship and their first European Cup that season.

[class-of-82]

I've seen George best, charlton, pele, gentile, bettega, Rossi,cruyf at villa park but not one of them would of got in the villa team that night ahead of little gray deehan Cropley etc

The most amazing 45 minutes ever seen at villa park I have ever seen

[Godfrey Brian]

We went with a guy who didn't like football, it was his first professional game. At half time he went off to find his dad who was a football fan. It remains the only game he has ever attended despite us imploring him to come and stand with us again for luck.

[martin o`who??]

Remarkable, unforgettable, and simply unbelievable at the time. Emlyn Hughes said Half-time was the ONLY time anyone connected with Liverpool ever saw the magnificent Bob Paisley ever lose his temper.

I remember reading a Liverpool player talking about Alan Kennedy having a howler. Own goal, losing his man, wayward passing etc.

At half-time Paisley stormed into the dressing room and allegedly bawled "they shot the wrong Kennedy"

I had heard that story before, I know he wasn't Villa but what a man on so many levels, wasn't he at El-Alemain as well - led an uneventful life didn't he....

[dave shelley]

Slightly off topic but I've just seen a page on my Facebook feed that showed a page from what I take to be a Liverpool publication of this match.  It showed the Liverpool line up; and one name that jumped out at me was someone who I always thought of as dislikeable, and that was David Johnson (sp).  My suspicions I found out were well founded.

One evening we had a guest speaker at our Referee's Association meeting, I think it may have been the late Neil Midgley I can't fully remember but, he told the story of a fellow referee of the time by the name of John Key from somewhere in Yorkshire, Barnsley maybe.  Anyhow, this Johnson used to think it funny to aim the ball as hard as he could at any linesman who would be checking the nets prior to the kick-off and laugh his bollocks off if he hit him.

One Liverpool game John Key was refereeing and Johnson was on the bench.  Liverpool happened to be losing and Johnson was sent on.  He continually kept moaning down John Key's ear and after another decision that went against Liverpool, Johnson said to Key, "referee, you've been fucking this game up from the start".  John Key then replied, "Aye lad, but at least I got on from't fucking start"!  Wonderful putdown.

[nigel]

Remarkable, unforgettable, and simply unbelievable at the time. Emlyn Hughes said Half-time was the ONLY time anyone connected with Liverpool ever saw the magnificent Bob Paisley ever lose his temper.

I remember reading a Liverpool player talking about Alan Kennedy having a howler. Own goal, losing his man, wayward passing etc.

At half-time Paisley stormed into the dressing room and allegedly bawled "they shot the wrong Kennedy"

It was Deehan 2 Gray 2 Little 1

[pooligan]

I was at the game  and i was lucky to be at the Witton end where we scored all our goals Apart from the goals ,the other thing i remember clearly from that great night was the sight of Emlyn Hughes,Phil Thompson ,Alan Kennedy and Ray Clemence almost coming to blows amongst themselves as the goals rained in .Has to be the most memorable game i have seen and i have seen a few!

[castlefields_villan]

I was at the game  and i was lucky to be at the Witton end where we scored all our goals Apart from the goals ,the other thing i remember clearly from that great night was the sight of Emlyn Hughes,Phil Thompson ,Alan Kennedy and Ray Clemence almost coming to blows amongst themselves as the goals rained in .Has to be the most memorable game i have seen and i have seen a few!

Spot on Pooli - I was in the Holte End - but the sight of the stunned look on the players' faces that you mention was something 40 years has not diminished from my memory.  I'll also never forget the standing ovation the team received at half time.