andybaha
Active member
I've just realised that in a couple of days time it will be exactly 35 years ago since I saw my first Albion match. I went with a mate and his Dad to see them play Aston Villa in the old 3rd Division. Tickets were like gold dust and the crowd was 30,000+. I remember a stonking goal from Willie Irvine as the Albion won 2-1. In those days MOTD consisted of just two games usually from the 1st Division but the cameras were there for this game as the teams were top and second in the table.
That afternoon was a turning point in my life, I had never taken much interest in football before but I was completely and utterly smitten. It was the most fantastic thing that had ever happened to me in my 10 years. Watching the game on MOTD I looked for myself in the crowd but of course never saw myself. I think Irvine's goal was goal of the season. It's funny the things you remember, Villa had a bald player and that seemed very strange to me, as being bald I associated with old age. Anyone remember his name?
I went to every remaining home game that season including the 1-1 draw with Rochdale that saw us promoted. I usually went with a mate but couldn't find anyone to go with that night so went on my own. It was pay on the gate and another 30,000+ crowd. At kick off there were, what seemed like thousands to me still waiting to get in. We were told the ground was full and I didn't think I was going to get in, then someone opened an exit and let a load of us in for free. At the end of the game we all ran onto the pitch and I remember thinking life doesn't get much better, the Albion promoted and I still had my 15p entrance money in my pocket.
The world has changed so much in 35 years. I lived at Whitehawk and got myself by bus to the Goldstone and home again at 10 o'clock at night. I have a 10 year old son and I wouldn't dream of letting him go to a football match on his own in the daytime let alone at night.
That afternoon was a turning point in my life, I had never taken much interest in football before but I was completely and utterly smitten. It was the most fantastic thing that had ever happened to me in my 10 years. Watching the game on MOTD I looked for myself in the crowd but of course never saw myself. I think Irvine's goal was goal of the season. It's funny the things you remember, Villa had a bald player and that seemed very strange to me, as being bald I associated with old age. Anyone remember his name?
I went to every remaining home game that season including the 1-1 draw with Rochdale that saw us promoted. I usually went with a mate but couldn't find anyone to go with that night so went on my own. It was pay on the gate and another 30,000+ crowd. At kick off there were, what seemed like thousands to me still waiting to get in. We were told the ground was full and I didn't think I was going to get in, then someone opened an exit and let a load of us in for free. At the end of the game we all ran onto the pitch and I remember thinking life doesn't get much better, the Albion promoted and I still had my 15p entrance money in my pocket.
The world has changed so much in 35 years. I lived at Whitehawk and got myself by bus to the Goldstone and home again at 10 o'clock at night. I have a 10 year old son and I wouldn't dream of letting him go to a football match on his own in the daytime let alone at night.
