History of Aston Villa - The Story Part 3.
The Story of Aston Villa - Part 1.
The Story of Aston Villa - Part 2.
The Story of Aston Villa - Part 3.
Introduction To The Premier League
The 1980's marked a very low point in English football. English clubs were banned from european competitions following the events that took place in Heysal in 1985. Stadiums were becoming dated and were no longer being able to serve the purpose they were build for - The fans. And of course English football was full on hooliganism.
Following a hugely successfully world cup campaign in 1990 from the English national team, reaching the Semi-Finals, Uefa lifted the european ban on English football teams and issued the 'Taylor Report' on stadium safety. This now meant all football stadiums had to be upgraded to all seater stadiums.
The premier league was formed in 1992 and consisted at first of 22 teams. The reason for this new league being established was due to the rising attendances at top clubs and the new money invested in English football.
Big fat Ron's Claret & Blue army
Ron Atkinson spent a lot of money, bringing in expensive new players to the club which included Earl Barrett, Dean Saunders, Andy Townsend, Kevin Richardson, Dalian Atkinson and Shaun Teale. The money spent nearly paid off in the first premier league season when Villa finished as runners-up, losing out to Manchester United. The partnership of Atkinson and Saunders was one that was feared by all premier league team defences and they were a massive hit with the Villa Faithful.
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Villa managed to gain revenge over Manchester United with a 3-1 league cup final victory over them the following season in 1994. This prevented Manchester United completing a domestic treble.
Goals from Dalian Atkinson, and two from Dean Saunders cancelled out Mark Hughes goal.
Villa went on to finish tenth that season. But managed to get into europe because of the league cup victory. The following season 'Big Fat Ron' was sacked after a poor start to the season. |
Brian Little
Villa legend Brian Little was the replacement for Ron Atkinson, after recently leaving his managerial post at Leicester City. He then went on to keep Villa in the premiership that season.
In the summer on 1995 he reshaped the whole team, selling on the older players and bringing in newer younger players. New arrivals included Alan Wright, Savo Milosevic, Gareth Southgate and Tommy Johnson. Dwight Yorke and Ugo Ehiogu were also coming through the youth ranks.
In the 1995-1996 season villa made huge progress under Little. |
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They won the league cup, with a 3-0 victory over Leeds United. Ian Taylor, Dwight Yorke and a stunning goal from Savo Milosevic completed the win for Villa. That season Villa also reached FA Cup Semi-Finals and finished fourth in the league. Dwight Yorke was a established premiership striker and Southgate and Ehiogu were getting recognized at International level.
In 1996-97 season Villa finished fifth but still managed to qualify for the Uefa Cup. Brian Little then left Villa park in February 1998 with Villa in 15th Position.
John Gregory
John Gregory took over Brian Little as Villa's new manager, leaving Wycombe Wanderers. He changed the clubs fortunes and Villa managed to finish seventh that season and once again qualify for the Uefa Cup.
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In August 1998, Gregory sold star striker Dwight Yorke to Manchester United for £12.6million. He replaced him with new signings Paul Merson and Dion Dublin. By the half way stage of the 1998-1999 season Villa were leading the premiership and the two new signings were proving worth every penny.
Villa's form dipped later in the season and ended up finishing sixth, not even enough for a place in the Uefa Cup.
Gregory lead Villa to the 2000 FA Cup Final the following season, the last ever cup final game to be held at the old Wembley Stadium. |
They went on to lose 1-0 to Chelsea in a very poor game. They also finished eighth in the league that season and only qualified for Europe through success in the Inter Toto Cup. Gregory quit in January 2002 sitting in a mid-table position after stating that the board didn't match his ambitions for the club.
The return of Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor was a surprise appointment and returned to Villa Park for a second time. His spell didn't last too long at Villa Park this time round though. He finished his first season in charge in Eighth position. But it was the following season that trouble set in, he only managed to finish sixteenth and two defeats to arch-rivals Birmingham City was enough for the fans to want him out. Taylor then went on to resign that summer.
David O'Leary
With lots of pressure from the fans, Doug Ellis had to name a high profile manager. That's when he appointed former Leeds Manager David O'leary. The appointment was met with mixed reaction from the clubs fans. Some excited and others worried with the way he left Leeds - in serious financial debt.
O'leary began to win some of those fans over after a good season which sore Villa look like possibly qualifying for the Champions League, only to lose on the final day of the season 2-0 to Manchester United and they finished sixth. Record signing Juan Pablo Angel being a big success this season.
O'leary failed to build on early success and only managed a tenth place finish in 2004-05. The following season the form dipped further and Villa battled bravely against relegation and finished sixteenth, with the worst points total in there premiership history. |
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Once again frustrated fans began to express there disappointment and after a meeting with the board O'leary and Aston Villa parted company. David O'leary has yet to be considered for another role in management.
The new beginning
The same summer, Martin O'Neill was unveiled as the new manager of Aston Villa. Few weeks later American business tycoon Randy Lerner purchased the club from Doug Ellis. There was new belief amongst the fans as the new manager and chairman promised to bring back success to Villa Park.
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