1970-71: Outposts of English football

[dave.woodhall]

Things are getting a bit better:

https://heroesandvillains.info/2021/12/08/1970-71-outposts-of-english-football/

[nigel]

My first season.
Gillingham first game.
Bristol Rovers, twice
Chesterfield
Remember the Torquay game. We battered them for 80 mins, then Cave scores
I also remember Torquay as they wore yellow and the other four wore blue and white

[dave shelley]

Oh those memories.  I was on holiday on the Norfolk Broads for the opening game against Chesterfield and the cup game against Notts County.  Drove home hell-for-leather for that Plymouth draw. I purchased a jungle hat on that holiday and I still have it, wear it for gardening duties.  I also travelled on that special out of New St to Bristol for the League Cup and got caught up in the trouble at the station afterwards.  I could go on for hours about that season.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Had forgotten that Reading used to be The Biscuitmen.

A lot more interesting than The Royals.

See also Barrow being The Ziggers.

[Vegas]

The biscuitmen sounds like a cheap but quite scary B movie

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

This is when I started going regular home and away.
Rochdale and Halifax were without doubt the two biggest dumps we went to, accompanied by just about the smallest crowds .
This was pre M42, so lots of trips by road via Tamworth, Measham, Ashby to reach the M1.
Man U in the home semi final is without doubt the greatest atmosphere ever at Villa Park.

[robbo1874]

Nice posts fellas. Must’ve been very strange times to both live in and be a Villa supporter.

[papa lazarou]

This is when I started going regular home and away.
Rochdale and Halifax were without doubt the two biggest dumps we went to, accompanied by just about the smallest crowds .
This was pre M42, so lots of trips by road via Tamworth, Measham, Ashby to reach the M1.
Man U in the home semi final is without doubt the greatest atmosphere ever at Villa Park.

Same as me, home and away employing various modes of transport. One of them was a Ford Thames van, Anglia style, two in the front and usually three in the back. A tad uncomfortable at times and we broke down more than once but it didn't matter. On one trip we stopped at a services on the M1 around Leicester and we met Andy Lochead who was waiting for the team coach to pick him up en route to the game. Somehow I don't think that would happen today.

[nick harper]

I always think of the Chesterfield game as the start of the journey to Rotterdam. Only Forest and Clough’s genius is comparable.

[Damo70]

I was at Witney Town in Oxfordshire for BFR's first game in charge. A few new signings made their debut that evening. I believe he had done some coaching there when he played for Oxford. We were just stood around the touchline chatting to the players who had been substituted. I think we won 6-0 although one of the goals was 'scored' by Ivo Stas who had hit the side netting and the ball crept through a hole in the net. Kevin Richardson had just signed for us after his spell in Spain and I have no idea how or why but at some point after he was substituted I was stood next to him on the touchline and I was I was discussing Spanish lager with him as the game carried on.

[steamer]

That Yanited game is one of my fondest memories
My mate Bill and i  got to VP at about 9.00 on Saturday night to queue for tickets that were on sale Sunday Morning.
The ticket offices were under the steps at the trinity. we took our sleeping back place at roughly the corner of the Holte
When we got our tickets and left ,the queue was around past the Holte pub and halfway down witton lane
That night was awesome, biggest crowd I have ever been in at VP, the atmosphere, maybe it has grown with memory, but as John said, Villa,Villa,Villa
Goosebumps time as I write

[olaftab]

Strangely enough I don’t recall any long queues for tickets for the manu semi final. I was too young to buy a ticket so my mate’s older brother got us the tickets and it was just a case of walking up and buying. But 61000 (officially😉) in the ground just mental.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Thought I read that there was 62,500 for the second leg, but could be wrong

[olaftab]

lol...attendance accuracy in them days. Officially stated in book keeping as 58,667 however 61 or 61,500 was number reported on the day. What I do recall is there were lots and lots and that was my first match at Villa park and since then I have been disappointed with  attendance levels.

[dcdavecollett]

Yes, I recall queueing all night for tickets. The turnstiles opened at about 10:00 am.

I got my ticket for the Trinity downstairs, went home, watched Villa beat Bradford on Star Soccer, then fell asleep!!