BIG FAT RON’S CLARET & BLUE ARMY by Chris Nee

ntil their relegation in 2016 Aston Bosnich were directly protected by Paul Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Middles- Villa had enjoyed and endured McGrath and Shaun Teale, for many the brough and Sheffield United were all U perhaps the widest range of best defensive pairing since the club seen off in December 1992 and January fortunes of any of the 's won the First Division in 1981. With 1993, and Ipswich were the next visitors ever-present teams. Steve Staunton and Earl Barrett man- as February began. Yorke scored the ning the flanks Villa's defence weren't first but his effort was overshadowed by In the Championship they were poorly going to allow easy pickings for anyone. a brilliant looping volley by Saunders, a equipped for their own expectations, the real high point for the new signing in his past looming large as they struggled to Kevin Richardson was a fearsome exceptional first year at Villa. come to terms with the fact that suc- leader in the middle of the park and was cess - real success - requires oligarch- ably assisted by , while The unbeaten home run also took in a level spending. record signing and his memorable 2-0 win over Wednesday in frequently injured strike partner Dalian a game that peaked early thanks to In among the unthinking demands for Atkinson became known as the Deadly Yorke's finishing touch at the end of an owner Randy Lerner to sell to some- Duo thanks to their goalscoring exploits excellent passing move just minutes body, anybody, who's richer than he is, in the laced-collar strip of the West into the game. there remained a large section of the Midlands' most storied club. Villa support who weren't really sure Every outfield player except Teale what they even wanted anymore. Garry Parker and Dwight Yorke were touched the ball but more telling was Then, two owners later, they were back also useful contributors, with a trusty the statement of intent from a team that in the top flight, ahead of schedule and stable of support players available to was, by now, back in first place and almost by accident, the fifth best team Atkinson when the need arose. going all out for the title. The Holte End in the second division suddenly thrust was at its very finest - loud, rowdy and into the first once more. Despite the optimism, Villa toiled early throbbing - hailing its table-topping on and were clearly in need of the goals players at the top of its lungs. The Premier League, ratified by the that eventually arrived with Saunders in Football Association in 1992 after Bert September 1992. They didn't win until It was a bold but ultimately unrequited Millichip spied an opportunity to under- their fifth outing of the season and it display of faith. Villa's run-in began to mine the Football League after taking wasn't until a memorable 4-2 win go wrong with a defeat against Norwich against the tone of its post-Hillsborough against Liverpool that Atkinson's team as United's grip on the trophy started to blueprint for the game, is a frequent really got going. Saunders scored twice tighten. target for football's traditionalists and against his old club on his home debut Villa supporters number heavily within but the headlines belonged to Ronny Three wins and a draw followed the loss those ranks. Rosenthal, the unfortunate Reds player at Carrow Road but defeats to Black- responsible for one of the sport's all- burn Rovers, Oldham Athletic and It might have been very different had time great missed sitters that afternoon. Queens Park Rangers ensured that the first season had a different conclu- Atkinson and Villa ended the season sion. Villa kicked off the 1992/93 sea- Saunders scored six goals in four staring at a Premier League table son knowing that quiet Saturday after- games and Villa grew. An unbeaten whose ten-point gap between United in noons would be few and far between. spell of ten games eased them from first and Villa in second did nothing to Larger than life manager Ron Atkinson, early September into mid-November reflect how close it really was. formerly of West Bromwich Albion and and six of those games were won to Manchester United, had joined Villa leave Atkinson the manager's men in The nadir of Villa's collapse was the from Sheffield Wednesday and had a third position. loss at home to Oldham, whose victory season under his belt before the begin- that day was the result of a single Nick ning of the inaugural Premier League The highlight of that spell was a sensa- Henry goal and became part of their campaign. tional solo goal by Atkinson the player own Premier League story as they at Selhurst Park, topped off by an battled to avoid relegation. For Villa, it Atkinson has latterly been publicly umbrella-laden celebration after the was the day that reality bit and the shunned because of despicable words former Ipswich Town and Sheffield challenge died. The mood around Villa that were at odds with a long history of Wednesday man had weaved his way Park was as disbelieving as it was enlightened actions, but in 1992 he was through the Wimbledon team and distraught, the silence punctuated by just Big Ron. Weighed down by gold chipped the goalkeeper in the rain. knowing glances between shocked and shaded from the spotlight by status Villa's title challenge was consolidated supporters: this had been their chance. sunglasses, he was a true believer during the winter by their superb home Villa and Doug Ellis went on to miss whose confidence and preference for form. more opportunities to push on in the exciting football were infectious as the 1990s. new league got underway. Seven consecutive home victories became a run of eleven home games The money that flooded into the top Atkinson had a formidable side at his unbeaten and provided the foundations level of the game in the years that disposal. If a reliable spine is an indica- for what became a stern test for eventu- followed left Villa, a club rendered tor of a great team then it's little sur- al champions Manchester United. In- unambitious and occasionally rudder- prise that Villa challenged at the top of deed, Villa briefly went top in January less by its chairman, trying to swim up a the table. and again in February as they and the waterfall. Red Devils, under more than a little European Cup-winning goalkeeper Nigel pressure from Norwich City, battled for It got worse. But Big Ron's Villa in Spink and his flamboyant deputy Mark the top spot. 1992/93; now that was football.