Wolves v Aston Villa, 27th October 1979
36,580
Published 2012-02-06
In September 1979, Wolves paid a then-record British transfer fee of almost £1.5m to Aston Villa for striker Andy Gray. It signalled something of an upturn in fortune for Wolves, an all-too brief period when the club achieved a notable measure of success in the top flight of English football. The 1979-80 campaign ended with Wolves in 6th position in the First Division and, most memorably, as victors in the League Cup Final against Nottingham Forest on 15th March 1980, with Gray scoring the only goal of the game.
Prior to their match with Villa, Wolves were 4th in the First Division after 11 matches. Similarly, Andy Gray had begun his Wolves career well with a goal on his debut against Everton and a total of 4 goals in 7 matches. There were 36,267 in attendance at Molineux to see Gray's eagerly awaited reunion with his former team.
Against Villa, Wolves manager John Barnwell fielded ten of the team who would ultimately win the League Cup the following March. The only exception was at left-wing with Dave Thomas in a rare outing in his brief Molineux career replaced at Wembley by Mel Eves. In addition to Gray, Wolves had completed another high profile signing with the capture at the start of the season of Emlyn Hughes. It proved to be an inspirational signing from Barnwell as Hughes captained the team magnificently, particularly in the League Cup Final where he won the only major honour to have eluded him during his highly successful Liverpool career.
Aston Villa, under manager Ron Saunders, had been slowly evolving into the team that won the First Division title in 1980-81 and the European Cup the following season. In addition to Gray's departure from Villa, John Deehan, Gordon Smith and John Gidman were transferred. Kenny Swain made the switch from winger to replace Gidman at right-back forming a generally settled defence of goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, central defenders Allan Evans and Ken McNaught and left-back Colin Gibson.
In midfield, Des Bremner joined Villa in 1979 and was an ever-present in their title winning season, while Dennis Mortimer and Gordon Cowans had long established themselves in the team. Although not in the team at Molineux, winger Tony Morley had joined Villa in June 1979 to compliment the striking duo of the emerging Gary Shaw and the experienced Peter Withe, who joined Villa at the start of the 1980-81 season. One player who didn't figure in Villa's title (and subsequent European Cup) winning team was Brian Little - a career-ending knee injury in 1980, aged just 26, cruelly robbed Villa and English football of a supremely gifted footballer.
Originally broadcast by ATV Star Soccer with commentary from Hugh Johns.
All Comments (20)
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Andy Gray,what a player...for all the teams he played for!
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All those Sunday afternoons sound-tracked by Hugh Johns' commentary.
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Was at this game, always eventful when we went to Wolves
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There was a big atmosphere at this game with Andy Gray just joining Wolves from Villa 7 weeks earier for the then record transfer fee. Wolves fans singing "Thank you very much for Any Gray" and Villa singing back "Thank you very much for 1.5 million"!
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my grate uncle played in this game. He played for Aston Villa and his name was John Deehan.
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Gary Shaw, Gary Shaw, Gary, Gary Shaw, when he hit the ball he's bound to score Gary, Gary Shaw,
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John Richards sent off????!!!!!!
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Best wishes Brendon. Nice one Gary .Villa Boys ✌
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afros, perms, not a shaved bonce in sight!!
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I was at this game.
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John Richards' delayed reaction after being struck across the face is pretty blatant. Ormsby was right to have been sent off for aggressive conduct, but I'm surprised at a player of Richards' quality and mettle hamming it up like that to make it look worse than it was, and feel that the red card he got served him right.
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How good could Gary Shaw have become?
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Any 1 notice the linos on the opposite side??????
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Andy Gray just doesn't like right without a Claret and Blue top.
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1 Jimmy Rimmer there's only 1Jimmy Rimmer.
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Jeez how far back is that stand lol
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Looking forward to them playing each other in the premiership this season, WOLVES favourite for a change? Albion and blues battle of the champion'SHIT 🤣🤣🤣
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John Richards sent off for being punched
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Hahaha Richards what a fanny. Decked by an 18 year old and cried like a little girl. Then got sent off too. No wonder Wolves made the 4th division their home back then. Always remember your hero Stevie Bull only ever played top division football for WBA hahahahaha
