BackRowVilla Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I'd be interested to know if anyone else can remember this "friendly" game back in 1996 (I think.) at St. Andrews? It was John Frain's testimonial match. I remember it being a night game and we hammered them from start to finish. I think I'm right in saying it was 6 nil? I'm sure at some stage even Brian Little, the then Villa manager, got on the pitch and played. I will also never forget the sight of Villa fans ripping up the old wooden benches in the back of Railway Stand and passing them over the heads of fellow fans to the stewards at the front. BCFC's response was to make a tannoy announcement to all Villa fans to please behave and to remind us that this was only a friendly, testimonial match. I think the stewards also let a load of City's firm into the Villa end towards the end of the game and it kicking off a bit? Anyway, was a great game! Would be interested if anyone else as any memories of this game and also if anyone knows more of the match details like lineups, goal scorers, attendance etc. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tezvilla Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I do. I remember draper getting a few. We beat the scum 6 nil being sung around town for our Coca Cola cup winning ceremony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfc1982 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I remember it well. David Sullivan said that the result (all be it a friendly) was one of the reasons he sacked Barry Fry. I'm pretty sure even Brian Little came on as a sub and gave them the run around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackRowVilla Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 I do. I remember draper getting a few. We beat the scum 6 nil being sung around town for our Coca Cola cup winning ceremony That's right! I remember it well. David Sullivan said that the result (all be it a friendly) was one of the reasons he sacked Barry Fry. I'm pretty sure even Brian Little came on as a sub and gave them the run around. and Allan Evans too? Seems to be very much a "forgotten match". Asked lots of my Villa mates about it and none of them seem to remember it. Nothing much on the internet either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 20, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted February 20, 2014 I didn't see any of it but I remember it happening. It was the first Villa vs Blues game that happened since I became a fan (that I can remember anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parisvilla Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I'd begun to think this game was a figment of my imagination. I was only 6 or 7 when it happened and no-one ever seemed to mention it. Had no idea Brian Little came on though, that's fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 20, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted February 20, 2014 Sure I remember something being said about Bosnich properly goading the blues fans during the game as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackRowVilla Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Wish I could find a match report and team lineup for this game. I may be way off but did Cyrille Regis play as well? I know he was still playing at the time (just!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SikhInTrinity Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) DON'T mention Aston Villa to John Frain. The former Blues full-back racked up nearly 350 appearances for the St Andrew's club, but his memories against the old enemy are not pleasant. His first two appearances against the boys from B6 saw Villa romp to a 5-0 win in the League Cup, and that was followed weeks later by a 6-0 thrashing in the long-forgotten Simod Cup. His final outing was for his end-of-season testimonial when Villa cruised to a 6-0 win. But the sight of Villa's then management team of Brian Little and Allan Evans playing keep-ball in the second half proved to be the final nail in Barry Fry's coffin and the bubbly boss was dismissed days later. I know we called Ridgewell an agent. But this fella my word!! Also think you should ask Craig Cardner for details on this game, he was a mascot for them. And here's the interview he gave with my colleague Colin Tattum last week. "Having played for the Villa everyone thinks I'm a Villa fan but I'm a Bluenose,'' ''I have been all my life. I was a mascot at John Frain's testimonial. "But I don't have to prove anything to anyone. People who know me, my close friends and family, they all know I'm a Blues fan. "As they say: 'once a blue, always a blue'." Edited February 20, 2014 by SikhInTrinity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackRowVilla Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Craig Garner with Paul Delvin: http://blogs.birminghammail.co.uk/birminghamcity/2010/01/gardner-digs-blues.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted February 20, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) I found the lineup for this game on a scrap of paper last week! I'll go and dig it out, back in a bit. EDIT: Oh poo, I must have put it "somewhere safe". It'll turn up. What I do remember was that Small Heath fielded close to their strongest team, and Villa were basically Little, Gregory and Evans plus the youth team - and we tonked them. Edited February 20, 2014 by mjmooney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 There's a programme available here http://www.midlandsmemorabilia.com/birmingham_city_programmes_friendly_and_testimonial_matches.html If anyone is willing to pay £1.55. On the other hand, surely the club would be able to give the teams if you wrote to them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I will probably have info on this. Will have a look when I get back to brum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 (edited) I was at that game and sat in the Tilton with my mate from school who was on the books with sha at the time . It was a quid in and Mark Draper scored a couple of pearlers IIRC. We also met Gareth Southgate before the game as he walked from the car park to the ground. I asked him if he was worried about his car being bricked and he just laughed and said he didn't care as it was a club car. It was hard to not celebrate every goal but I didn't feel afraid at the time either which was strange. Edited February 21, 2014 by Brumerican Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted September 4, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted September 4, 2014 Bumped. I found it! Wasn't quite as I remembered it, most of the first team played (and no Gregory). According to my notes the team was as follows (2nd half substitutions in brackets): Bosnich (Oakes) Wright Southgate Evans (Lescott) Ehiogu Murray Draper (Middleton) Townsend Milosevic Little (Hendrie) Yorke (Joachim) Couple of names I don't remember there. Murray? Middleton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Scott Murray .. we sold him to Bristol City Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilS Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Scott Murray maybe? I think he was a gut we bought down from Scotland, and went on to have a career in the lower leagues with Bristol City I think. Middleton though I have no idea on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villan4Life Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 (edited) Yes i went to it!! Lee Hendrie scored twice and i think brian little scored twice as himself and Allan Evans played Bumped. I found it! Wasn't quite as I remembered it, most of the first team played (and no Gregory). According to my notes the team was as follows (2nd half substitutions in brackets): Bosnich (Oakes) Wright Southgate Evans (Lescott) Ehiogu Murray Draper (Middleton) Townsend Milosevic Little (Hendrie) Yorke (Joachim) Couple of names I don't remember there. Murray? Middleton? Edited September 4, 2014 by Villan4Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I think there was a Craig Middleton at Coventry around about then. Could we have had him on trial at that time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villan4Life Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I think there was a Craig Middleton at Coventry around about then. Could we have had him on trial at that time? I think we did have him on trial if memory serves me correctly Gareth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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