Only the Real Thing Aston Villa & The Coca Cola Cup 1993–1996

by McDouall, Ivan

• ISBN13: 9781801509404
• ISBN10: 1801509409
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2025-07-08
• Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

Summary

Relive the glory years of Aston Villa's last two major trophy triumphs with this celebration of the Coca-Cola Cup wins of 1994 and 1996.

This engrossing book:

• Takes a deep dive into the 1993/94 Coca-Cola Cup campaign and victory achieved under Ron Atkinson, followed by a second win in 1995/96 under Brian Little
• Explores the style of both managers and the culture they instilled and developed
• Examines the players and squads and how they changed in the 1993–96 period while telling a wider story of the transitionary shift towards modern football
• Reveals what the cup campaigns tell us about Aston Villa’s transition into the new Premier League world
• Places the cup wins in a wider context to help the reader to understand Villa’s status and progress since that time

Essential reading for all Aston Villa fans, this is an inspirational tale of a pivotal moment in the club’s modern history.

Author Biography

Ivan McDouall first set foot in Villa Park at the age of nine and witnessed both the 1994 and 1996 Coca-Cola Cup wins at Wembley. Ivan has seen everything that has unfolded since and is well placed to explore the legacy of these triumphant years. Ivan’s writing has appeared in These Football Times, Turnstiles Magazine and on the Under a Gaslit Lamp podcast. He has appeared on the UTV Podcast and writes extensively for their website.