So without Andy Gray we struggled to score at the Victoria Ground and were then left with a week's break (probably for internationals I cannot honestly remember), so we then invite a certain Scottish Team to Villa Park and all hell breaks out. My dad being a footballing man wouldn't let me go a million miles near the game and I spent the afternoon at my Grans. All I know is that we beat them before the referee interjected and abandoned the game.
Then on to our second away win in the 1st Division many thanks to me missing the game, it was just too far to travel for a 15 year old from London to Sunderland but our new signing Alex Cropley sorted the matter out and there were celebrations that lasted well over an hour in my home, where I sang the full Villa reputare as if I had witnessed it first hand. Have never seen footage of the game, one of the big plus points of modern day footage if you weren't there then generally you can catch up on it somehow.
My school caretaker Mr Drake was a massive Arsenal fan (who was quite famous at the time - he and his wife were the ones with the massive union jack at the front of the North Bank and he had a good selection of badges) - well anyway they took me to Villa Park for evening game where we simply destroyed a good Arsenal team including the likes of Rimmer and Alan Ball 5-1. We were beginning to look as if were hitting proper form. The general play over 90 minutes was superb, I even remember Mortimer scoring. He only seemed to do this against the better teams.
Bristol City were up next at Villa Park and we dispatched them not without some early scares and with two defenders scoring Gidman and Chris Nicholl.
Thanks to my friend Tony Tonks from Northfield I came up and stayed over for the Wrexham game, a massive crowd arrived at Villa Park for the match which was like a cup final for the welsh people. One moment of brilliance was by Little on the touchline when he brought a long cross ball down on his chest from Gidman. We again scored 5 goals and this was the first time I had ever heard the new song on the Holte "oh Andy your the Greatest the Holte End say"
The following Saturday was my first visit to Merseyside and guess what we lost. Certainly no place for a 15 year old travelling fan to go in those days, it was when I look back on it scary although at the time I was buzzing. My thoughts were it was a dump and simply could not believe how small the Kop was. Anyway the long and short of it I and the 100 plus train supporters all made it back to Lime Street. Have hated Liverpool FC ever since.
At that time Liverpool followed by Man Ure - you couldn't get bigger games side by side. United brought a massive support to Villa Park probably due to an excessive break out by Brummie Reds. In front of the cameras we beat them in what was a tight game 3-2. This was a more exciting cup tie than most later rounds FA cup games.
So apart from Anfield we were beginning to buzz. Could we keep it up? The following week we were away to in an all ticket game at a certain West Bromich Albion. I never liked them as they portrayed themselves as some kind of super team, although they had as many thugs in the team as the likes of Birmingham City did at the time. Cantello, Ally Brown, John pig shit Wile etc. In a game of not too much action we come away with a score draw.
The following week a home game against Coventry City surely we would beat them. I remember the Sun newspaper giving out giant posters to supporters of both teams outside and both sets of supporters then doing walk ons with the posters aloft at both ends of the ground. We were rubbish if I remember but snatched a 2 all draw with Gidman once again scoring. Imagine how many he might have scored if he played as a forward.
Norwich City away was next up and as always it was like visiting a foreign land, a destination which appeared to be so far removed from the bigger grounds and cities around the Country. Norwich used to put you in a pen in the side of the home end separated by netting which stopped you having a decent view of the game. Despite walking on water scoring we failed to properly break them down and came away with a disappointing 1-1 draw. This was the first time I really noticed a certain Mr Brown who would only have been about 14 at the time. Anyone else remember that one pub by the ground really small.
We then had some relief and a home victory in the league cup against Milwall. Not being a school holiday meant me missing the event. To be truthful I would not have wanted to be on a late evening train anyway back to London after that game. Anyway we continued our run in the cup winning 2-0 and so to Leeds away. Guess what we won and I didn't attend. I had been badgered into playing for the school again. I probably did the right thing missing Elland Road as it was a similar experience to Merseyside in the mid 70's. Andy and Alex Cropley scoring our 3 goals. Leeds were still kind of decent on the pitch at this time so it was no mean result.
Then onto Liverpool at Villa Park and probably the biggest game I had missed since our promotion. We won in 45 minutes 5-1, again I have only seen a brief snatch of the goals. I was still on a high, as you didn't beat the red scouse by 5 goals.
Newcastle at Villa Park on what I remember was a snowy weekend followed. They brought a massive support, I think we may have been 3rd and them 4th or 5th at the time. John Deehan scored both our goals and I think Tommy Craig scored for them a future Villa player.
I was at my nan's in Manchester for the last game of 1976 where we lost to Middlesborough. How we lost and I wasnt there makes no sense but it did happen going down 3-2 with a young David Hughes still older than me mind scoring.
So on reflection 1976 had been a good year for the Villa. Establishing ourselves back in the top league, a few away wins and a lot of hope moving forward.
Next time after a dubbing at Old Trafford we upped it again reaching another cup final in 2 years. Weary legs and injuries would though start to show through.
