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1980–81 season of Aston Villa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1980–81 season was Aston Villa's 81st in the Football League and their sixth consecutive season in the top division. They finished as league champions for the seventh time in their history, using just 14 players over the course of the campaign, of whom no fewer than seven were ever-present (Jimmy Rimmer, Kenny Swain, Ken McNaught, Dennis Mortimer, Des Bremner, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley). Gary Shaw made 40 starts, Allan Evans 39 and Peter Withe, in his debut season,[1] 36, with Gary Williams (21 starts) and Colin Gibson (19) contesting the remaining spot in the starting XI. David Geddis and Eamonn Deacy made eight and five starts respectively.
1980–81 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Ron Bendall | ||
Manager | Ron Saunders | ||
First Division | 1st (champions) | ||
FA Cup | Third round | ||
League Cup | Third round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Peter Withe (20) All: Peter Withe (21) | ||
Highest home attendance | 47,998 vs West Bromwich Albion (8 April 1981) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 23,622 vs Leeds United (27 August 1980) | ||
| |||
37--28--24 | |
Villa began the season with three wins and a draw from their opening four league matches. They also beat Leeds United in both legs of the League Cup second round before their unbeaten start ended at Ipswich Town, who would prove to be Villa's main challengers for the title as the season progressed.
Defeat at home to Everton was followed by a 12 match unbeaten run, and although Villa lost three of the next five, a further unbeaten run of 10 matches ensued, including seven straight wins. A key performance during this latter period was a second v first clash at home to Liverpool, who at the time headed the table on goal difference. Goals from Withe and Mortimer confirmed Villa as genuine contenders as they beat the reigning champions 2–0.
Ron Saunders' team were neck-and-neck with Ipswich when the two clashed at Villa Park in mid-April, and a 2–1 victory for the visitors appeared to swing the destiny of the championship in their favour. However, Ipswich lost their next two matches while Villa beat Nottingham Forest and drew with Stoke City to reclaim the initiative. Victory over Middlesbrough in their final home match left Villa four points ahead with one to play, although Ipswich had a game in hand and a superior goal difference.
At half-time on the final Saturday of the league season, Villa trailed 2–0 at Arsenal, and with Ipswich 1–0 ahead at Middlesbrough, the title was still hanging in the balance. No further goals were added in the second half at Highbury, but the home side scored twice without reply at Ayresome Park, as Boško Janković's goal confirmed Villa as champions for the first time since 1910.
Peter Withe ended the season as the First Division's joint leading scorer with 20 goals. Withe had previously won championship honours with Forest in 1978 and also played for Southport, Barrow, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Newcastle United before joining Villa in the summer of 1980. During a five-year spell at Villa Park, he scored 74 goals in 182 League games and won 11 caps for England, scoring one goal. He later played for Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town.
1983–82 Football League
Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
GK | ![]() |
Mark Kendall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GK | ![]() |
Jimmy Rimmer | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
GK | ![]() |
Nigel Spink | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Noel Blake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Eamonn Deacy | 5(4) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(5) | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Allan Evans | 39 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 7 |
DF | ![]() |
Colin Gibson | 19(2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22(2) | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Mark Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Ken McNaught | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
David Mail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Brendan Ormsby | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Mike Pejic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Kenny Swain | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Gary Williams | 21(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22(1) | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Paul Birch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Des Bremner | 42 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
MF | ![]() |
Terry Bullivant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Gordon Cowans | 42 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 5 |
MF | ![]() |
Alex Cropley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Pat Heard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Robert Hopkins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Ivor Linton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Dennis Mortimer | 42 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 4 |
MF | ![]() |
Gary Shelton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Gary Stirland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Terry Donovan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
David Geddis | 8(1) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 9(2) | 4 |
FW | ![]() |
Brian Little | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Tony Morley | 42 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 12 |
FW | ![]() |
Kevin Ready | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Gary Shaw | 40 | 18 | 2(1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 43(1) | 20 |
FW | ![]() |
Peter Withe | 36 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 21 |
FW | ![]() |
Willie Young | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
16 August 1980 1 | Leeds United | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Leeds |
Stevenson ![]() |
Morley ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 23,401 |
20 August 1980 2 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Norwich City | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 25,970 |
23 August 1980 3 | Manchester City | 2–2 | Aston Villa | Manchester |
Tueart ![]() Ranson ![]() |
Withe ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 30,017 |
30 August 1980 4 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Coventry City | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 26,050 |
6 September 1980 5 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Ipswich |
Thijssen ![]() |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 23,192 |
13 September 1980 6 | Aston Villa | 0–2 | Everton | Birmingham |
Lyons ![]() Eastoe ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 25,673 |
20 September 1980 7 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Birmingham |
Hughes ![]() Geddis ![]() |
Eves ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 26,181 |
27 September 1980 8 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Aston Villa | London |
Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 18,398 |
4 October 1980 9 | Aston Villa | 4–0 | Sunderland | Birmingham |
Evans ![]() ![]() Morley ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 26,914 |
8 October 1980 10 | Manchester United | 3–3 | Aston Villa | Manchester |
McIlroy ![]() ![]() Coppell ![]() |
Withe ![]() Cowans ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 38,831 |
11 October 1980 11 | Birmingham City | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Birmingham |
Worthington ![]() |
Cowans ![]() Evans ![]() |
Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 33,879 |
18 October 1980 12 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | Birmingham |
Morley ![]() ![]() Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 30,940 |
22 October 1980 13 | Aston Villa | 4–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Birmingham |
Mortimer ![]() Withe ![]() Bremner ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Gregory ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 27,367 |
25 October 1980 14 | Southampton | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Southampton |
Moran ![]() |
Morley ![]() Withe ![]() |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 21,249 |
1 November 1980 15 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Leicester City | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() Cowans ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 29,953 |
8 November 1980 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–0 | Aston Villa | West Bromwich |
Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 34,195 |
12 November 1980 17 | Norwich City | 1–3 | Aston Villa | Norwich |
Paddon ![]() |
Shaw ![]() ![]() Evans ![]() |
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 17,050 |
15 November 1980 18 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Leeds United | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() |
Sabella ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 29,106 |
22 November 1980 19 | Liverpool | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
Dalglish ![]() ![]() |
Evans ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 48,114 |
29 November 1980 20 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
Morley ![]() |
Talbot ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 30,140 |
6 December 1980 21 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Middlesbrough |
Johnston ![]() Shearer ![]() |
Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,597 |
13 December 1980 22 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Birmingham City | Birmingham |
Geddis ![]() ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 41,101 |
20 December 1980 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Hove |
Robinson ![]() |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 16,425 |
26 December 1980 24 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Stoke City | Birmingham |
Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 34,658 |
27 December 1980 25 | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | Aston Villa | Nottingham |
Francis ![]() O'Neill ![]() |
Lloyd ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 33,930 |
10 January 1981 26 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Liverpool | Birmingham |
Withe ![]() Mortimer ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 47,960 |
17 January 1981 27 | Coventry City | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Coventry |
Hateley ![]() |
Morley ![]() Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 27,020 |
31 January 1981 28 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Manchester City | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 33,682 |
7 February 1981 29 | Everton | 1–3 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
Ross ![]() |
Morley ![]() Mortimer ![]() Cowans ![]() |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 31,434 |
21 February 1981 30 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Crystal Palace | Birmingham |
Withe ![]() ![]() |
Hinshelwood ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 27,203 |
28 February 1981 31 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Aston Villa | Wolverhampton |
Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 34,693 |
7 March 1981 32 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Sunderland |
Hinnigan ![]() |
Evans ![]() Mortimer ![]() |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 27,278 |
14 March 1981 33 | Aston Villa | 3–3 | Manchester United | Birmingham |
Withe ![]() ![]() Shaw ![]() |
Jordan ![]() ![]() McIlroy ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 42,182 |
21 March 1981 34 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Aston Villa | London |
Crooks ![]() Archibald ![]() |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 35,091 |
23 March 1981 35 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Southampton | Birmingham |
Morley ![]() Geddis ![]() |
Evans ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 32,467 |
4 April 1981 36 | Leicester City | 2–4 | Aston Villa | Leicester |
Lynex ![]() ![]() |
Withe ![]() ![]() Bremner ![]() Morley ![]() |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 26,032 |
8 April 1981 37 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | West Bromwich Albion | Birmingham |
Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 47,998 |
14 April 1981 38 | Aston Villa | 1–2 | Ipswich Town | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() |
Brazil ![]() Gates ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 47,495 |
18 April 1981 39 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | Birmingham |
Cowans ![]() Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 34,707 |
20 April 1981 40 | Stoke City | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Stoke-on-Trent |
O'Callaghan ![]() |
Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 23,511 |
25 April 1981 41 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Middlesbrough | Birmingham |
Shaw ![]() Withe ![]() Evans ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 38,018 |
27 August 1980 R2, 1st Leg | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Leeds United | Birmingham |
Morley ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 23,622 |
3 September 1980 R2, 2nd Leg | Leeds United | 1–3 | Aston Villa | Leeds |
Graham ![]() |
Withe ![]() Shaw ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 12,236 |
23 September 1980 R3 | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Cambridge |
Finney ![]() Spriggs ![]() |
Morley ![]() |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 7,608 |
3 January 1981 R3 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Ipswich |
Mariner ![]() |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 27,721 |
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