Blandy,
Excellent Post
I first started watching the boys in 1970 and the age of 8. One of my first memories is the League Cup Semi-Final against Man U and feeling the 'buzz'. The days in the third division cemented my relationship and by the time we got to the days of Gray, Deehan & Little I was hooked and couldn't miss a game home or away or a friendly anywhere. In those days, the excitement I experienced in the week and then the anticipation of kick off on match days was just unbelievable and stayed with me until we broke up the European Cup winning side in the early 80's. Up to that time, I barely slept on a Friday night because I couldn't wait for the 'feeling' the next day...
Some of those games and performances will stay with me until I die. There are just so many memories I could fill a book but perhaps that's for another day! I still remember the Liverpool game when we thrashed them 5-1 and watching Keegan & Co just stand and stare in disbelief as they were played off the park. The last game at Arsenal when we won the league but played crap, the European games, the friendly against Santos when the queue for the Holte End wrapped around the whole of Villa Park and 57,000 were in there and probably 20,000 outside just to see Pele.The Bournemouth game in Div 3 with 48,000 there. The day Alex Cropley broke his leg, Charlie Aitken getting his shield of Billy Walkers wife for the most games played, Andy Gray - one of the best centre forwards I have ever seen, Dennis Mortimer - a superb leader and captain, 'Sid' Cowans (no need to say anymore about Sid!) and who can forget the likes of Bruce (thunderbolt) Rioch, Willie Willie Anderson, 'Chico' Hamilton, Ray Graydon, and Andy, Andy Lochhead, Andy Lochead in the Air! All of them great individuals but also fantastic players in great teams. Wow, I could go on and on....
Blandy, your post struck a real chord with me because I just realised that after 20 odd years the 'feeling' has come back. I have had a season ticket now for over 30 years and I must admit, up to when Randy & MON came on board, I was very close to packing it all in. You see, I had lost the 'feeling', 'the buzz', the excitement of the Villa and Match Days et al and was thinking I had better things to do with my time on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Now, it's back with a bang!
I just can't wait until the next game and I am definitely born again! Everything RL, MON, the players and staff at VP have done and are doing is geared to WINNING. Not only winning but winning in the right way. I have never felt so proud and yet humble to be a Villa Fan and the excitement is immense.
I think its right to give thanks and praise to everyone connected to Aston Villa F.C. and I am absolutely convinced that the glory days we experienced in the late 70's and early 80's are not that far away from happening again.
After all said and done, there is only one Aston Villa !