There have been so many in my lifetime but, thinking long and hard about it, it has to be Highbury 1981 and, although losing the match; actually winning the league for the first time in seventy years. I didn't want to go, it was my mate persuaded me to with the words," we have to go, we've been everywhere and seen some rubbish, we can't not go now when everything is so near". We went (thanks Rog.). After twenty-five minutes I said, "let's go home". he said, "nah, we'll hang on". Hang on we did and midway through the second half a little pocket of Villa fans started jumping up and down. What's happening? Middlesborough have equalised, meaning if that stayed the same Villa were champions. People around us were saying there's nothing on our radio's, then it did, cue pandemonium. We left the ground with about five minutes to go and as we got outside an almighty roar from the clock end went up. I said to my mate," we must have scored". So we hung around for a minute until we saw someone else come out and asked them who'd scored for us?, he said no one, 'Boro had got another goal, so it was as good as over. We legged it back to my car just in time to hear Sports Report announce that the new First Division Champions are...Aston Villa!
The penny didn't drop as to just what an achievement it was until the following morning when I was travelling to referee a match. I was in the car on my own and let out this roar, after years of under achievement Aston Villa were back at the pinnacle of English football. The league table said so.
David Shelley
Memory added on July 12, 2014
1 Comment (Add your voice)
Another brilliant day to be a Villa fan.
– Lee Baker, July 12 2014 at 18:07
