In 2016, Aston Villa had been relegated to the second tier of English Football, our first time out since the inception of the Premier League. Tony Xia had taken over from Randy Lerner and Roberto Di Matteo had come in as head coach so we looked strong favourites for going straight back up. However, things didn’t quite go to plan. … Read More
Proud History, Bright Future?
In 2006, Randy Lerner had completed his takeover of the club and under the influential Martin O’Neill, things were looking and sounding good. New players, new focus and new ambition under the slogan ‘Proud History, Bright Future’. We pick up the story in September 2008, with us going well in the league and about to enter the last ever Uefa … Read More
The Intertoto Cup Years
We are dancing into 1999, top of the league with a real chance of winning the title (where have we heard this before?!). A top 3 finish will be enough for a place in the Champions League under the stewardship of John Gregory. A bright vibrant British team, Stan Collymore doing well, with plenty of goals up front and a … Read More
The Boys Are Back In Town
November 1994 was not going well at all for us. We were knocked out on away goals by Turkish side Trabzonspor in the Uefa Cup and Ron Atkinson had been sacked as Manager after losing 8 out of 9 games, leaving us in the relegation zone. Two former Villa favourites were strongly linked to one of the most wanted jobs … Read More
Big Ron
The start of the nineties saw the return of English Football into European competitions, and after enjoying brief moments in Uefa Cup, Villa were looking for more continued success. A disappointing 1990/91 season had seen Josef Vengelos depart and Villa were now looking for their 5th Manager in just 7 years. We pick up the story in the Summer of … Read More
European Journey
European Throwbacks European Journey In 1985, Football was in crisis with the European ban, low attendances, crowd trouble and television blackouts. Villa were also about to begin a time of crisis- lack of scoring, poor defending, star players leaving and the inevitable at end of 1986/87 season, relegation. We take a look at what happens next and how we began … Read More
Difficult Times
The story begins in the Summer of 1982, with Aston Villa reigning European Champions and Italy winning the World Cup for the 3rd time. Little did the fans know but this would be the beginning of the slow break up of team that won in Rotterdam. The club would face difficult times; not just the Villa, but the whole game … Read More
One Night In Rotterdam
After starting our Europa League campaign with a 1-0 win against Bologna, this Thursday we make an emotional return to Rotterdam. In this European Throwbacks, we take a look at how Aston Villa got the opportunity to get to Rotterdam in 1982, with one match and one chance to change the club history forever and to win that star for … Read More
Start Of An New Era
On Europa League nights, we will be looking through all the years of Aston Villa in European Football in our ‘European Throwbacks’. We take a look at all the highs, the glories and the occasional lows of this great Football Club. Tonight, we start in the seventies with Aston Villa fighting long way back to the top under a Manager … Read More