Posted this before but I feel it gives a real sense of the excitement The Doc created in those first few months after years of decline under the old board with crowds having dropped to 13,000.
Revolution, revival, wheels come off, relegation. What a whirlwind time !
It's a brilliant photo...in the days before hi-tech training gear, they all had different kits on, black boots, and Tommy Docherty with an armful of Villa shirts that probably were the same ones they wore for games!I'm sure everyone knows but my identification of the players are, from left:Top: Neil Rioch, Dave Rudge, Freddie Mwila, Keith BradleyMiddle: John Griffiths, Arthur Cox, Emment Kapengwe, Pat McMahon, Dave Simmons, Brian Tiler, Bruce Rioch, Geoff Crudgington, Willie Anderson, Lionel Martin, Vic Crowe, Tommy Docherty.Kneeling: Chico Hamilton, Barry Lynch, Micky Wright.The Doc briefly brought us back from the brink and woke the sleeping lion...his importance in Villa's history cannot be underestimated!
The notable absentees from this picture are Barrie Hole, Mike Ferguson, and Dick Edwards.All three had fell out with The Doc and were seen by him as the old guard and cause of dressing room discontent resulting in such a spectacularly abysmal start to the 69/70 season when we had been seen as favourites to go up.Chico Hamilton(40k?), Pat McMahon(20k?), and Bruce Rioch(100k) were the big money pre-season signings who were going to take us back to the 1st division. As it was they were regulars in a team that took us down to division three. In the end all three proved to be very successful signings for us in the post Doc years.
You're right; PM was a free transfer from Celtic.
Quote from: Oscar Arce on November 22, 2017, 04:35:51 PMIt's a brilliant photo...in the days before hi-tech training gear, they all had different kits on, black boots, and Tommy Docherty with an armful of Villa shirts that probably were the same ones they wore for games!I'm sure everyone knows but my identification of the players are, from left:Top: Neil Rioch, Dave Rudge, Freddie Mwila, Keith BradleyMiddle: John Griffiths, Arthur Cox, Emment Kapengwe, Pat McMahon, Dave Simmons, Brian Tiler, Bruce Rioch, Geoff Crudgington, Willie Anderson, Lionel Martin, Vic Crowe, Tommy Docherty.Kneeling: Chico Hamilton, Barry Lynch, Micky Wright.The Doc briefly brought us back from the brink and woke the sleeping lion...his importance in Villa's history cannot be underestimated!The shirts that Tommy Doc is holding are the shirts that he had taken off the washing line after the 20000 of us had gone home as the shirts were now dry!!!Some on here will remember what i'm on about.