Don Taylor wrote: My own special golden moment was during the 1971-72 championship winning season in Division Three, I managed to see all the home fixtures that year as well as travelling to many away fixtures. But the one moment that sticks out in my memory was the away game at Bradford City, what a day that was.

We travelled to the game on Harpers Coaches, from Cannock Chase as the railway workers were on strike so no trains were running. This reduced the tremendous away following we had enjoyed for most of the season, to around 1000. For those of us making our way to the ground, we had to run the gauntlet as many Leeds United supporters had come over to greet us and as I'm sure you can well imagine this was not a friendly exchange of football banter.

When we finally managed to enter the ground we were a somewhat battered bunch to say the least, the police managed to get most of us into the stand, the one that unfortunately burned down some years later.

The game was a very well fought affair, very tight with not many chances made during the first half. The second half followed the in the same vain but as we entered the last half-hour the Villa started to dominate, then that golden moment I remember so well. Villa had a corner on the right, it was partly cleared but our knight in shining armour ran in and directed the ball into the net through a very crowded six yard box, not the greatest goal a Villa player has ever scored but this one won us the game and guaranteed we were going to be promoted.

When we finally arrived back at our coaches having been chased around Bradford for 30 minutes, the reality of that goal began to sink in, let me tell you now I don't think we stopped singing all the way home.

When you think of all the wonderful moments we have had over the years far greater than the one I have described and far to many to list, this one goal always stands out in my mind above all the others. Who, ?you may ask scored that goal that I will remember for the rest of my life, none other than CHARLIE AITKEN.

God bless him.

UP THE VILLA.

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