1980–81 Aston Villa F.C. season
The 1980–81 season was Aston Villa's 81st in the Football League and their sixth consecutive season in the top division. They finished as league champions for the seventh time in their history, using 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 starts, Allan Evans 39 and Peter Withe 36, with Gary Williams (21 starts) and Colin Gibson (19) contesting the remaining spot in the starting XI. David Geddis and Eamonn Deacy made eight and five starts respectively.
| 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) | ||
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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 latter 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 | 7 |
| 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
| 16 August 1980 1 | Leeds United | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Leeds |
Stevenson  2' (pen.) |
Morley 44' Shaw 59' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 23,401 |
| 20 August 1980 2 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Norwich City | Birmingham |
| Shaw 76' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 25,970 |
| 23 August 1980 3 | Manchester City | 2–2 | Aston Villa | Manchester |
| Tueart 83' (pen.) Ranson 88' |
Withe 9' 76' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 30,017 |
| 30 August 1980 4 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Coventry City | Birmingham |
| Shaw 65' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 26,050 |
| 6 September 1980 5 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Ipswich |
| Thijssen 56' |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 23,192 |
| 13 September 1980 6 | Aston Villa | 0–2 | Everton | Birmingham |
| Lyons 32' Eastoe 36' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 25,673 |
| 20 September 1980 7 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Birmingham |
| Hughes 4' (o.g.) Geddis 84' |
Eves 69' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 26,181 |
| 27 September 1980 8 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Aston Villa | London |
| Shaw 85' |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 18,398 |
| 4 October 1980 9 | Aston Villa | 4–0 | Sunderland | Birmingham |
| Evans 45' 84' Morley 59'Shaw 76' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 26,914 |
| 8 October 1980 10 | Manchester United | 3–3 | Aston Villa | Manchester |
| McIlroy 35' (pen.) 57' Coppell 36' |
Withe 15' Cowans 55' (pen.)Shaw 67' |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 38,831 |
| 11 October 1980 11 | Birmingham City | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Birmingham |
| Worthington 49' (pen.) |
Cowans 35' (pen.) Evans 84' |
Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 33,879 |
| 18 October 1980 12 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | Birmingham |
| Morley 39' 46' Withe 82' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 30,940 |
| 22 October 1980 13 | Aston Villa | 4–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Birmingham |
| Mortimer 39' Withe 47'Bremner 55'Shaw 60' |
Gregory 27' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 27,367 |
| 25 October 1980 14 | Southampton | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Southampton |
| Moran 59' |
Morley 13' Withe 69' |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 21,249 |
| 1 November 1980 15 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Leicester City | Birmingham |
| Shaw 65' Cowans 69' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 29,953 |
| 8 November 1980 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–0 | Aston Villa | West Bromwich |
| Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 34,195 |
| 12 November 1980 17 | Norwich City | 1–3 | Aston Villa | Norwich |
| Paddon 25' |
Shaw 61' 84' Evans 86' |
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 17,050 |
| 15 November 1980 18 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Leeds United | Birmingham |
| Shaw 36' |
Sabella 10' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 29,106 |
| 22 November 1980 19 | Liverpool | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
| Dalglish 65' 89' |
Evans 78' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 48,114 |
| 29 November 1980 20 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham |
| Morley 57' |
Talbot 73' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 30,140 |
| 6 December 1980 21 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Middlesbrough |
| Johnston 84' Shearer 88' |
Shaw 86' |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,597 |
| 13 December 1980 22 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Birmingham City | Birmingham |
| Geddis 64' 83' Shaw 77' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 41,101 |
| 20 December 1980 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Hove |
| Robinson 15' |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 16,425 |
| 26 December 1980 24 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Stoke City | Birmingham |
| Withe 38' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 34,658 |
| 27 December 1980 25 | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | Aston Villa | Nottingham |
| Francis 41' O'Neill 86' |
Lloyd 16' (o.g.) Shaw 68' |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 33,930 |
| 10 January 1981 26 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Liverpool | Birmingham |
| Withe 19' Mortimer 82' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 47,960 |
| 17 January 1981 27 | Coventry City | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Coventry |
| Hateley 71' |
Morley 55' Withe 65' |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 27,020 |
| 31 January 1981 28 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Manchester City | Birmingham |
| Shaw 2' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 33,682 |
| 7 February 1981 29 | Everton | 1–3 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
| Ross 35' (pen.) |
Morley 3' Mortimer 42'Cowans 71' (pen.) |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 31,434 |
| 21 February 1981 30 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Crystal Palace | Birmingham |
| Withe 4' 70' |
Hinshelwood 71' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 27,203 |
| 28 February 1981 31 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Aston Villa | Wolverhampton |
| Withe 83' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 34,693 |
| 7 March 1981 32 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Sunderland |
| Hinnigan 68' |
Evans 2' Mortimer 19' |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 27,278 |
| 14 March 1981 33 | Aston Villa | 3–3 | Manchester United | Birmingham |
| Withe 16' 28' Shaw 68' |
Jordan 46' 66' McIlroy 88' (pen.) |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 42,182 |
| 21 March 1981 34 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Aston Villa | London |
| Crooks 41' Archibald 73' |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 35,091 |
| 23 March 1981 35 | Aston Villa | 2–1 | Southampton | Birmingham |
| Morley 43' Geddis 45' |
Evans 11' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 32,467 |
| 4 April 1981 36 | Leicester City | 2–4 | Aston Villa | Leicester |
| Lynex 15' (pen.) 44' |
Withe 24' 49' Bremner 33'Morley 55' |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 26,032 |
| 8 April 1981 37 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | West Bromwich Albion | Birmingham |
| Withe 88' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 47,998 |
| 14 April 1981 38 | Aston Villa | 1–2 | Ipswich Town | Birmingham |
| Shaw 84' |
Brazil 4' Gates 79' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 47,495 |
| 18 April 1981 39 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | Birmingham |
| Cowans 29' (pen.) Withe 45' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 34,707 |
| 20 April 1981 40 | Stoke City | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Stoke-on-Trent |
| O'Callaghan 25' |
Withe 22' |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 23,511 |
| 25 April 1981 41 | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Middlesbrough | Birmingham |
| Shaw 23' Withe 51'Evans 80' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 38,018 |
League standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aston Villa (C) | 42 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 72 | 40 | +32 | 60 | Qualified for European Cup |
| 2 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 77 | 43 | +34 | 56 | Qualified for UEFA Cup |
| 3 | Arsenal | 42 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 61 | 45 | +16 | 53 | |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 52 | |
| 5 | Liverpool | 42 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 51 | Qualified for European Cup[lower-alpha 1] |
(C) Champion.
Notes:
- Liverpool won the European Cup this year, and thus qualified for the following season's competition as defending champions. They also won the League Cup this year.
League Cup
| 27 August 1980 R2, 1st Leg | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Leeds United | Birmingham |
| Morley 9' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 23,622 |
| 3 September 1980 R2, 2nd Leg | Leeds United | 1–3 | Aston Villa | Leeds |
| Graham 13' |
Withe 6' Shaw 45' 72' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 12,236 |
| 23 September 1980 R2, 2nd Leg | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Cambridge |
| Finney 8' Spriggs 17' |
Morley 6' |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 7,608 |
FA Cup
| 3 January 1981 R3 | Ipswich Town | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Ipswich |
| Mariner 12' |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 27,721 |