On this day 1972

[Hiney]

We played Aston Villa at The Goldstone.

They were top of the 3rd Division, we were third. 28,833 saw a superb match and the Match of the Day cameras were there as well.

Willy Irvine scored the goal of the season as we won 2-1.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Thanks , Hiney.

Best Albion goal in living memory, and caught on film, too.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Goat 'em Albion!

 

[Peter Grummit]

My Dad decreed it would be "too crowded" and so we gave the game a miss. I've never forgiven him! I was 8.

PG

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Groundsman Frankie Howard painted the bare patches in the goalmouths green so that the pitch would look perfect on MotD.

I believe it was also the first time the team played in blue-and-white stripes with blue shorts. Previously that season we'd worn white shorts, but Pat Saward decided to make kit changes as well as team changes (Ian Goodwin for John Napier in central defence, Bert Murray to right back in place of Stewart henderson) after a couple of defeats.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

The Sunday Mirror's match report of this game can be found here (plug, plug!) along with some colour photos from it:

http://thegoldstonewrap.com/2014/03/25/brighton-v-aston-villa-1972/

 

[Return of the Rev]

Good time on the back step of the north! And on match of the day

VILLA GOT SOME HUGE CROWDS IN DIV 3


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUBREZlitK0

 

[Surf's Up]

I was there!

 

[Tubby-McFat-Fuc]

On this day in 1972, I can safely say at some point during the day I shit my nappy!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

 

[Padders]

Think this was my first time in the North Stand, my brother took me. Nine years old and my feet hardly touched the ground all game.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

I can still feel the surge forward in the North when Willie Irvines goal went in. Happy days

 

[Hiney]

[yt]j7yrZUds3_A[/yt]

 

[The Large One]

This seems to highlight an inaccuracy in Attila's 'Goldstone Ghosts'.

"Then Villa in the big crunch game. A thirty thousand crowd.
Bald Lochhead scored, but we still won the day."

It seems Bruce Rioch scored, not Lochhead.

 

[BLOCK F]

Remember it well.
Fantastic goal by Willie Irvine and thanks to John Templeman.
Oh happy days;I just find it hard to believe it was 42 years ago!
Makes me feel like an old git......oh God ,I am!

 

[Harry H]

I was there in the chicken run next to the North Stand with the Villa supporters.

 

[Hiney]

Our home crowds after that game till the end of the season:

Torquay - 27,513
Wrexham - 18,156
Blackburn Rovers - 23,269
Bolton Wanderers - 25,074
Rotherham United - 27,928
Rochdale - 34,766 the 3rd highest attendance ever at The Goldstone

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Our home crowds after that game till the end of the season:

Torquay - 27,513
Wrexham - 18,156
Blackburn Rovers - 23,269
Bolton Wanderers - 25,074
Rotherham United - 27,928
Rochdale - 34,766 the 3rd highest attendance ever at The Goldstone

Increadable support for a 3rd division side.....and those prats up the road try to tell us we only get big gates at the Amex cos of the JCL's.
Albion have always had a superb fan base.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

My Dad decreed it would be "too crowded" and so we gave the game a miss. I've never forgiven him! I was 8.

Classic.

Hard to believe now how big a game it seemed at the time. Aston Villa looked a massive club to us, and the Match of the Day cameras ..... well that didn't happen to the Albion.

To watch the game - then go home and wait to see it on MotD was just incredible. And you only got one chance to see it.

Tell the kids today - and they don't believe you.

 

[jabba]

As a 12-year old I was asked by a lost driver (male, Villa supporter alone in car) around Montpelier for directions to the ground. He said that he'd buy me a ticket if I went with him, which I did as it was difficult to explain route. Naive? Stupid? I guess so, but maybe they were simpler, more trusting times?