I've heard it said in the past that Villa's following to Highbury in 81 was a record for the largest amount of away fans at an English league match. I've heard figures of 27,000 mentioned in the past, and although that seems a touch high, I think it's safe to say that due to the size of the Clock End at Highbury and Villa fans being in other parts of the ground that there was at least 20,000 Villa at the game. One thing is for sure is that with the advent of all seater stadia it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where any club will ever have such a large following away from home ever again.
I was at Old Trafford for that Bonfire night match in 88, and it was surreal the amount of Villa that turned up, for what was really a run of the mill league game with nothing hanging on the outcome of the game. They just kept on coming and coming, and the police had to move the Utd fans (Brummie Reds) and open another section up for the Villa. I'd estimate 6,000 to 8,000.
We always took loads to all Small Heath, Albion and Coventry back in the 80s and 90s. Probably as many Villa as home fans in all honesty.
Sheffield Wednesday for Big Ron's first match was mental. I ended up standing in the corner of the Leppings Lane end even though it was technically an all seater stadium by that point, but that corner was still terracing for some strange reason. I think the police had no option but to let us stand there as there were thousands of people who were unable to get to their seats because they were already occupied. I'd estimate about 6,000 at that match.
It's one of the things that I miss about old school footy, is the ability to take thousands to away games. What's the most that you can take now to a premier league game? 3000?