As an Aston Villa supporter living in a northern town in the 70s and going to a school populated by Leeds Utd, Middlesbrough, Man United and Liverpool supporters (I don't think the term glory hunter had been invented back then) it wasn't always easy, particularly as most of my school mates were Boro fans and in all my time at school they seemed to be our bogey team! My only escape from life in a dull town was Villa and music. Punk rock to be precise!
The 1980-81 season however was the start of a glorious two years of Villa supporting and not only because we actually managed to beat Boro 3-0 at Villa Park (goes without saying, we lost at Ayresome Park!) Villa had signed Peter Withe from Newcastle United for a club record £500,000 to replace Andy Gray who had gone to Wolves for £ 1.5 million, and it was to prove a masterstroke from the manager Ron Saunders.
All season Villa only used 14 players, captained by the criminally underrated Dennis Mortimer and built on a solid defence with Jimmy Rimmer in goal and a midfield yet to be bettered in claret and blue (including press favourites West 'Am), featuring the best passer of a ball Villa have had, Gordon Cowans. With local Villa fan Gary Shaw the perfect foil for Withe, Villa surprised everybody by being genuine title contenders. Villa went to the top of the table in January having beaten league champions Liverpool at Villa Park.
After a home defeat to Ipswich left the visitors one point behind with a game in hand it was foolishly mentioned to Saunders that Villa had blown their title hopes. "Do you want to bet against us?" was his withering reply. Villa went into their final game of the season at Arsenal knowing a point would secure their first league title for 71 years as Ipswich were four points behind with a game in hand and superior goal difference.
On 2nd May I set off for Highbury to join 17,000 expectant Villa fans whilst my QPR supporting brother for the first and only time went to cheer Middlesbrough on against Ipswich. Villa were abject and fell to a 2-0 defeat but it was played out to the surreal sight of partying Villa fans celebrating the news being passed on by those with radios that Bosco Jancovic had inspired a 2-1 Boro victory and the title was Villa's!
I returned home ecstatic and with a clump of Highbury turf in my pocket. The following season Villa were European Champions, but that is a different memory...
Memory added on August 22, 2012
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