It is a night when fans can almost reach out and touch the legacy of 1982, and at the same time, witness a new chapter in Villa’s rich history unfold before their eyes.

Aston Villa had a similarly convincing win in their tournament opener, defeating Young Boys 3-0 on the road. They have picked up where they left off last season, chasing a top-four finish in the Premier League as they currently have 13 points in six games, and are only two points behind the top of the table.

A star-studded line-up shows the esteem in which Barton was held. The link with Petersfield came in part because Barton lived in Hampshire: a former Portsmouth player, he had served as assistant manager at Southampton to the ex-Villa defender Chris Nicholl and then returned to Fratton Park.