Birmingham Mail - Aston Villa Carling Cup Final 2010 - League Cup Nostalgia

1975: When the League Cup returned to Aston Villa

Birmingham Mail — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:49:00 GMT

ASTON Villa won the inaugural League Cup in 1961.

Ray Graydon treasures his Aston Villa memories

Birmingham Mail — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:47:00 GMT

This is the story of a dream.

Aston Villa memories: Gerry Mansfield prepares for 8th final!

Birmingham Mail — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:42:00 GMT

GERRY Mansfield is delighted to have got his hands on tickets for his EIGHTH League Cup final – now all he has to do is remember to take them with him to Wembley!

The Aston Villa team of 1961: Where are they now?

Birmingham Mail — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:35:00 GMT

* John Neal, right-back, born County Durham, aged 77, played for Hull, Swindon, Villa (1959-62), Southend. Made almost 100 appearances for Villa. Managed Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea. Now lives in Wrexham with partner Marjorie but is believed to be in ill health suffering from Alzheimer’s.

1961: When Aston Villa battled Rotherham United to win cup

Birmingham Mail — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:32:00 GMT

IT wasn’t quite the glamour final the Football League had in mind when they launched their new competition.

Aston Villa: Draws were kinder for 1996 cup final

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:51:00 GMT

IF Villa reached the League Cup final the hard way in 1994, two years later the draws were much kinder to them.

Aston Villa: Ian Taylor on why 1995-96 was a vintage season

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:49:00 GMT

FOR Ian Taylor, 1995-96 was a vintage season.

Aston Villa at Wembley: Looking back at 1994 Cup final

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:45:00 GMT

MANCHESTER United were charging along at the top of the Premiership, powered by the likes of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, Paul Ince and Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes. Villa were bobbing along in mid-table and had just lost at home to Oldham.

Aston Villa: Third time lucky for Villa after bore draws - 1977

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:45:00 GMT

“ON behalf of all the players,” said Aston Villa centre-half Chris Nicholl, “I sympathise with the fans.”

Aston Villa: Chris Nicholl on his 1977 wonder goal

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:41:00 GMT

CHRIS Nicholl’s abiding League Cup memory is of team-work rather than personal glory – because he doesn’t want to give his claret and blue colleagues the needle.

Aston Villa: Could O'Neill follow his namesake 50 years later?

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:28:00 GMT

HERE’S some good news and some bad news.

Aston Villa fan: I was the only fan at 1961 cup tie

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:21:00 GMT

VILLA’S ‘No.1 fan’ John Russell could be forgiven for smirking about the frantic scramble for tickets for this weekend’s League Cup final at Wembley.

Aston Villa: Dean Saunders recalls souvenir given to Villa fan

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:37:00 GMT

TO most Villa fans, Wembley’s hallowed turf must have seemed like a million miles away in recent times.