Peter O'Sullivan kept himself sharp for a top-flight clash at Villa Park by playing for a Sunday League pub side.

The popular winger had a run out with the Rutland from Hove to keep in shape after rejoining the Seagulls from a summer season with San Diego Sockers.

He then came on as sub for Gary Williams in the game which took Villa top of the old first division on their way to the title.

There are so many signs of the times when looking back at that 4-1 defeat for Albion back in October 1980.

The crowd to see Villa go top of what would these days be the Premier League was just 27,367 - well short of the numbers who will watch tomorrow.

Midlands television channel ATV had to abandon plans to film the game for highlights because Albion had the name of sponsors British Caledonian on their shirts.

Villa had just made unwanted headlines when announcing debts of a mind-blowing £2 million and had not long since opened the two-tiered North Stand.

That is the structure away fans and those watching action on screen will see behind the goal to the right, complete with two rows of hospitality boxes.

Denis Mortimer, who went on to play for Albion, scored for Villa.

And teenage striker Andy Ritchie made his debut for the Seagulls. But O’Sullivan, pictured, and his unusual warm-up were the biggest difference between then and now.

The Wales international scored the goal which gave Albion one of their rare points at Villa back in 1972-73.

But he recalls the 4-1 defeat eight years later far better.

The Argus:

O'Sullivan, pictured above, said: “I don’t remember the goal but it was probably left-foot, pinged into the top corner! We went down that year.

“When I got back from San Diego, I was just trying to get my registration finalised back with Brighton.

“I was training on my own, running on the South Downs with my dog.

“I was actually thinking of signing for Portsmouth.

“Anyway, a mate asked if I fancied a game, which I did. He was manager of the Rutland in Hove.

“I went over and had a game – in Eastbourne, I think it was – and we beat this team about 10-0.

“I was fairly good! I was wearing £100 boots back in 1980 on a parks pitch. It was quite easy and I was a better player than them.

“Their manager reported our manager for playing me but I had signed for them with the Sunday League.

“I had the Sunday League chairman on the phone to me saying, ‘You’re a professional, you can’t play in the Sunday League!’ “It was only a week or ten days later that I was sub at Villa and got on.”

As O’Sullivan recalls, boss Alan Mullery was not too worried about his unexpected run out.

He said: “Mullers said nothing. I don’t think he was bothered.”

John Gregory gave Albion the lead against his previous club as he converted Gordon Smith’s cross. Mortimer’s shot deflected and went in off the bar and Villa took the lead just after the break when Kenny Swain set up Peter Withe.

Des Bremner made it 3-1 and, after Jimmy Rimmer turned Gary Stevens’ shot on to the post, Villa countered for Gary Shaw to make it 4-1.

Aston Villa: Rimmer; Swain, McNaught, Evans, Gibson; Cowans, Bremner, Mortimer; Morley, Shaw, Withe.

Albion: Moseley; Stevens, Foster, Lawrenson, Williams (O’Sullivan); Gregory, McHale, Horton; Robinson, Smith, Ritchie.