Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of what I reckon is one of the most memorable matches in Notts ‘ history. Unfortunately it was one that we lost.

Notts had made an impressive start to life back in Division 3 after the Championship winning season of 1970-1, and Villa were also flying high in their second season at this level. Over 37,000 turned up, despite a bus strike in Birmingham.

I watched the match from what was then an open terrace at the Witton End. Villa won thanks to a first half goal by Ray Graydon, but that was only half the story. Notts played some brilliant attacking football, hit the woodwork, and saw the ball cleared off the Villa goal line 5 or 6 times. And then, about 10 minutes from the end, missed a penalty - Don Masson’s tame shot being saved by goalkeeper Tommy Hughes, who had made numerous other saves.

All in all, I think it was one of the unluckiest defeats I ever saw. I can remember that one of the quality Sunday papers the following day carried a report which referred to it as one of the best games anywhere so far that season. And it was also on Match of the Day, which enabled fans everywhere to see the quality of football Notts were playing at that time.

The season ended in disappointment. Villa went up as Champions, Notts finished 4th (but went up the following season). In the 46 League games played that season, Notts failed to score in only three, including the return game with Villa at Meadow Lane, where the attendance was over 34,000.

Notts team: Brown, Brindley, Needham, Stubbs,Worthington, Carlin, Masson, Nixon, Bradd, Hateley, Cozens (Sub: Jones)