Tom Ross: Villa, Wolves, Blues, and West Brom are almost together again!
TWENTY eight years of hurt are almost over for West Midland football because, barring a catastrophe of Devon Loch proportions, the area will have four Premier League teams next season – and about time too!
The 1983/84 season boasted Villa, Wolves, Blues, Albion and also Coventry in the top flight.
That year Villa, managed by Tony Barton, reached the semi-final of the League Cup and also continued their European exploits in the UEFA Cup, going out to Spartak Moscow.
Earlier in 1983, Villa had also reached the quarter-final of the European Cup before being knocked out by Juventus.
Blues, with former Villa manager Ron Saunders in charge, reached the quarter-final of the FA Cup before being beaten 1-0 by Watford.
Albion welcomed back Johnny Giles for a second spell as manager and bought European Cup winners Ken McNaught and Tony Morley from Villa, and England international Steve Hunt from Coventry.
Wolves were managed by Graham Hawkins and had a disastrous season, finishing bottom of the table.
They sold Kenny Hibbitt to Coventry and Wayne Clarke to Blues, while John Richards went abroad to Portuguese side Maritimo Funchal.
Now, 28 years on, the West Midlands has a great chance to re-establish itself as a hot-bed of football.
However, despite the 90 minutes being the same, the game has changed beyond all recognition.
The boards of all our clubs need to invest their cash wisely in team strengthening if they are to realise their ambitions.
Those ambitions will be different at each club.
