1980–81 Aston Villa F.C. season

Aston Villa
1980–81 season
Chairman Ron Bendall
Manager Ron Saunders
First Division 1st (Champions)
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup Third Round
Top goalscorer League: Peter Withe (20)
All: Peter Withe (21)
Highest home attendance 47,998 vs West Bromwich Albion
(8 April 1981)
Lowest home attendance 23,622 vs Leeds United
(27 August 1980)

This season was something of a "throwback" to the 19th Century. Not only were Aston Villa champions again but they used just 14 players over the course of the campaign, of whom no fewer than seven were ever-present (Jimmy Rimmer, Kenny Swain, Ken McNaught, Dennis Mortimer, Des Bremner, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley). Gary Shaw made 40 appearances, Allan Evans 39 and Peter Withe 36, with Gary Williams (22 appearances) and Colin Gibson (21) contesting the remaining spot in the starting XI. David Geddis and Eamonn Deacy made nine appearances apiece.

Season summary

Villa began the season with three wins and a draw from their opening four League matches. They also beat Leeds United in both legs of the League Cup second round before their unbeaten start ended at Ipswich Town, who would prove to be Villa's main challengers for the title as the season progressed.

Defeat at home to Everton was followed by a 12 match unbeaten run, and although Villa lost three of the next five, a further unbeaten run of 10 matches ensued, including seven straight wins. A key performance during this period was a second v first clash at home to Liverpool, who at the time headed the table on goal difference. Goals from Withe and Mortimer confirmed Villa as genuine contenders as they beat the reigning champions 2–0.

Ron Saunders' team were neck-and-neck with Ipswich when the two clashed at Villa Park in mid-April, and a 2–1 victory for the visitors appeared to swing the destiny of the championship in their favour. However, Ipswich lost their next two matches while Villa beat Nottingham Forest and drew with Stoke City to reclaim the initiative. Victory over Middlesbrough in their final home match left Villa four points ahead with one to play, although Ipswich had a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

At half-time on the final Saturday of the league season, Villa trailed 2–0 at Arsenal, and with Ipswich 1–0 ahead at Middlesbrough, the title was still hanging in the balance. No further goals were added in the second half at Highbury, but the home side scored twice without reply at Ayresome Park, confirming Villa as champions for the first time since 1910.

Peter Withe ended the season as the First Division's joint leading scorer with 20 goals. Withe had previously won championship honours with Forest in 1978 and also played for Southport, Barrow, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Newcastle United before joining Villa in the summer of 1980. During a five-year spell at Villa Park, he scored 74 goals in 182 League games and won 11 caps for England, scoring one goal. He later played for Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town.

Squad

Substitute appearances indicated in brackets
Pos. Nat. Name League League Cup FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG Mark Kendall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GK  ENG Jimmy Rimmer 42 0 3 0 1 0 46 0
GK  ENG Nigel Spink 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  JAM Noel Blake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  IRE Eamonn Deacy 5(4) 0 0(1) 0 0 0 5(5) 0
DF  SCO Allan Evans 39 7 3 0 1 0 43 0
DF  ENG Colin Gibson 19(2) 0 3 0 0 0 22(2) 0
DF  ENG Mark Jones 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  SCO Ken McNaught 42 0 3 0 1 0 46 0
DF  ENG David Mail 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  ENG Brendan Ormsby 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  ENG Mike Pejic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  ENG Kenny Swain 42 0 3 0 1 0 46 0
DF  ENG Gary Williams 21(1) 0 0 0 1 0 22(1) 0
MF  ENG Paul Birch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  SCO Des Bremner 42 2 3 0 1 0 46 2
MF  ENG Terry Bullivant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Gordon Cowans 42 5 3 0 1 0 46 5
MF  SCO Alex Cropley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Pat Heard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Robert Hopkins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Ivor Linton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Dennis Mortimer 42 4 3 0 1 0 46 4
MF  ENG Gary Shelton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Gary Stirland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW  IRE Terry Donovan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG David Geddis 8(1) 4 1 0 0(1) 0 9(2) 4
FW  ENG Brian Little 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG Tony Morley 42 10 3 2 1 0 46 12
FW  ENG Kevin Ready 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG Gary Shaw 40 18 2(1) 2 1 0 43(1) 20
FW  ENG Peter Withe 36 20 3 1 1 0 40 21
FW  SCO Willie Young 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Results

First Division


Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts
1 Aston Villa 42 26 8 8 72 40 +32 60
2 Ipswich Town 42 23 10 9 77 43 +34 56
3 Arsenal 42 19 15 8 61 45 +16 53

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

League Cup

FA Cup


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