Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Legion on January 07, 2018, 09:26:12 AM

Title: Nigel Sims
Post by: Legion on January 07, 2018, 09:26:12 AM
We have just been informed that Villa's 1957 FA Cup final keeper Nigel Sims has passed away. RIP Nigel.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: TheMalandro on January 07, 2018, 09:34:18 AM
RIP Nigel. Sad news.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Villan For Life on January 07, 2018, 09:36:49 AM
Sad news, RIP Nigel.

It's been an awful start to the year for members of the Villa family.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: mr underhill on January 07, 2018, 09:37:15 AM
saw Nigel at Highbury in 1962 i think, my first game and I think we lost 5-4.  Wonderful memories of him.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: TopDeck113 on January 07, 2018, 09:52:30 AM
Sad news.

How many of the '57 side are still with us?
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Three Spires Villa on January 07, 2018, 09:54:14 AM
That is really sad, worked with his son years ago and he showed me his FA Cup medal. RIP
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: tony scott on January 07, 2018, 10:28:38 AM
Really sad one of my favourite players wanted to be him when I was a kid RIP
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: dave shelley on January 07, 2018, 10:35:17 AM
Oh no! Another hero gone.  A big man in every sense of the word.  Very agile for a man of his stature.  I think there's only Peter McParland left now of that '57 cup winning side.

RIP Nigel.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Confusious says on January 07, 2018, 10:48:51 AM
What a solid keeper was Nigel, I can still smell the embrocation which was plastered on his jersey
when I was standing behind Holte end goal.
God Bless Nigel
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Clampy on January 07, 2018, 10:53:34 AM
Oh no! Another hero gone.  A big man in every sense of the word.  Very agile for a man of his stature.  I think there's only Peter McParland left now of that '57 cup winning side.

RIP Nigel.

I've seen Peter a couple of times this season at the ground and he looks very good for his age.

Sad news.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: BC Villain on January 07, 2018, 10:57:21 AM
RIP Nigel. 
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Woofles The Wonder Dog on January 07, 2018, 11:02:31 AM
It was either he or Geoff Sidebottom in goal when I first started going, so another part of my youth goes.

Thank you for good memories Nigel.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: wittonwarrior on January 07, 2018, 11:12:41 AM
Really sad news puts very thing in perspective
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: PeterWithe on January 07, 2018, 11:41:37 AM
RIP Nigel.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: ROBBO on January 07, 2018, 11:47:42 AM
The defence of Sims-Lyn-Aldis-Baxter will be with me forever
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Villa Lew on January 07, 2018, 12:12:43 PM
Very sad news, along with Jimmy Rimmer, my favourite Villa keeper. When I saw him last May at VP, he did look very frail. Only Peter Mac left of the '57 team.

RIP Nigel
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: thick_mike on January 07, 2018, 12:14:50 PM
Dad talks about him very fondly. A great keeper by all accounts at a time when you had to have a heart of a lion to do the job.

RIP a Villa great.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: andyaston on January 07, 2018, 12:20:19 PM
RIP, another part of our living heritage passes.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: SteveN on January 07, 2018, 01:08:05 PM
A very good keeper and a regular when I first started watching.  I remember Spur's Bobby Smith, a big bully of a centre forward, bouncing of him like a baby when he tried to shoulder charge him.

RIP Nigel, another hero from my childhood sadly gone.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: cdbearsfan on January 07, 2018, 01:16:46 PM
RIP.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: in exile on January 07, 2018, 01:51:06 PM
Rest In Peace Nigel
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: The Left Side on January 07, 2018, 04:24:53 PM
RIP Nigel
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: pooligan on January 07, 2018, 04:40:50 PM
Nigel was the keeper when i first started watching the Villa .To a young lad like me ,he seemed a beast of a man and was a favourite of the crowd R I P Nigel
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: nigel on January 07, 2018, 05:08:29 PM
Was named after Nigel, in 59, so has always been a bit of a hero of mine.
Had the privilege to meet him at his book signing a few years back.

He couldn't understand why I was so pleased to meet him. "I'm just a normal bloke"

RIP, Nigel, you were never 'Just a normal bloke' to me
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on January 07, 2018, 05:25:49 PM
Sad news. RIP Nigel.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Desi on January 08, 2018, 11:36:48 AM
My all-time favourite Villa keeper.

Loved the 'big man'.

RIP
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: JD on January 09, 2018, 07:43:23 AM
RIP Nigel. Very sad.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: brian green on January 09, 2018, 08:21:49 AM
Lovely man.  Great Villa man.

The story I have told of him a number of times typifies his big heart to match his big physique.

He got injured in the days before substitutes so he stayed on the pitch and played centre forward.  Under his green keeper jersey he had a claret and blue shirt that was hanging in tatters.  I imagine he only wore it for luck.  All twenty stones of him charged around after the ball like Incredible Hulk bursting out of his clothes.  I don't think he actually touched the ball but the crowd roared him on.

Sleep on Villa hero.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on January 17, 2018, 02:08:41 PM
just seen this posted on a Villa site:

The arrangements for Nigel Sims funeral;
Mon 5th February, 2.30pm at Morriston Crematorium. The address is 36 Heol Pentre Felen, SA6 6BY.
The family contacted Aston Villa, the club never bothered responding.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Pat McMahon on January 17, 2018, 03:03:32 PM
just seen this posted on a Villa site:

The arrangements for Nigel Sims funeral;
Mon 5th February, 2.30pm at Morriston Crematorium. The address is 36 Heol Pentre Felen, SA6 6BY.
The family contacted Aston Villa, the club never bothered responding.

That is a full month after his death. Why do funerals in England take so long to organise? In Ireland a 2 day turnaround is standard.
Title: Re: Nigel Sims
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on January 17, 2018, 05:10:44 PM
just seen this posted on a Villa site:

The arrangements for Nigel Sims funeral;
Mon 5th February, 2.30pm at Morriston Crematorium. The address is 36 Heol Pentre Felen, SA6 6BY.
The family contacted Aston Villa, the club never bothered responding.

That is a full month after his death. Why do funerals in England take so long to organise? In Ireland a 2 day turnaround is standard.

That's twice as long as over here. It's normally the next day.
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