The Super Cup in 1983 was a mid season tie and meant a lot when we won it, even if the trophy was just a piece of polished wood. Barcelona certainly never treated the tie as a friendly, it was a battle to the death. Nowadays it's a glorified pre season curtain raiser, a European version of the community shield. That said, we'll be Supreme Champions of Europe if we win it, like we were in 1983
I agree that it was a battle in 1983 and there was a tremendous atmosphere at Villa Park. But, even though we were playing Barcelona, the attendance was only 31,000. Above average for that season, but still low when you consider the opposition and, the ground was bursting at the seams a few days later, when we hosted Wolves in the FA Cup.
...I was at that game, a crazy night. GBH being dished out in plain sight on the pitch if I remember. Seems completely mad that we had a bigger turnout for Wolves than Barcelona, don't think that would happen now lol...
It was the 5th round. And the FA Cup was a huge deal then. Wolves must have had a large following. Even more in the seats in Trinity Road in those days as well.
Plus for quarter final v Dynamo Kiev I think we’d had 36k. So seems about par at the time given economic climate, hooliganism etc and the effects on gates.
