As Villa reminisce about the 1981 First Division title win, Peter Withe fears money-motivated modern players could never taste title glory at Villa Park. MAT KENDRICK reports.
PETER Withe today celebrated the 30th anniversary of Villa’s last top-flight title triumph and grimly admitted his former club will be hard-pressed to repeat the feat.
The 1981 First Division winner fears another championship could be out of Villa’s grasp given the astronomical finances involved in the elite levels of football today.
Ron Saunders’ heroes clinched the title on May 2 1981, despite a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury, as nearest rivals Ipswich were defeated 2-1 at Middlesbrough.
The 59-year-old now lives in Australia but is back in Birmingham to remember the 1981 success, having been the club’s last 20 league goalscorer that season.
And Withe admits he is “sickened” by the modern-day obsession with money rather than medals by players who earn vast multiples of the wages Villa’s former heroes received. Withe famously also helped Villa lift the European Cup the following year with his memorable winning goal against Bayern Munich in the 1-0 final victory in Rotterdam.
“A lot of people talk to me about 82 and winning the European Cup,” said Withe.
“That was great but I always remember the first season I came here and played here.
“I was signed by Ron Saunders and we won the championship.
