Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979

[Charlie8182]

Thank goodness this didn’t happen, the first clip has no audio.

https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-04071979-brian-little-transfer


https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-06071979-brian-littles-transfer-falls-through

[Damo70]

I think he failed the medical due to a back injury. Our excellent front three of the seventies could have all ended up at local rivals. Gray to Wolves (relatively successful), Little to Small Heath and Deehan to Albion (who flopped and ended up playing at centre half or in the reserves).

[wittonwarrior]

It almost went unnoticed at the time as well

[dave shelley]

I was out at Bodymoor not long after that watching them train, and I remember SBL helping another player to move the portable goal and shouting out ' Oi, I'm supposed to have a bad back!'  Very witty given the circumstances.

[olaftab]

Very pleased that Brian was not stained.

[Damo70]

I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

[Charlie8182]

It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!

[Damo70]

It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!

He fell out with Ron Saunders. As did John Gidman and Andy Gray. Also I think Small Heath were paying decent wages at the time. They signed Rioch, Worthington, Todd and Gemmill and paid them a fortune. Add to that they doubled Saunders wages to take him off us and that is why they were skint by 1983.

[Brend'Watkins]

It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!

He fell out with Ron Saunders. As did John Gidman and Andy Gray. Also I think Small Heath were paying decent wages at the time. They signed Rioch, Worthington, Todd and Gemmill and paid them a fortune. Add to that they doubled Saunders wages to take him off us and that is why they were skint by 1983.

So that's our fault as well. 

[Rudy65]

I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

[ez]

I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.

[Damo70]

I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.

As an eleven year old I loved the fact that he scored spectacular goals and after two of his best against Everton and Dynamo Berlin he flicked the V sign at Ron Saunders. A rebel who scores great goals, what was not to love? I met him at a charity football game in Yardley about fifteen years ago and offered to give £100 to the charity if I could have his shirt. It was the Villa shirt of the time with his name and number eleven on the back but it was sponsored on the front by Floors To Go who sponsored the Villa legends at the time. Neil Rioch was in charge of the Villa legends/old boys at the time and told Tony Morley he wasn't allowed to give me the shirt as they couldn't spare one. Tony Morley called Neil Rioch a miserable so and so (or words to that effect) and made sure that I got the shirt. He arranged to meet me at a school in Chelmsley Wood where he was doing some coaching to give me the shirt and we had a couple of photos taken together. I actually had Tony Morley's phone number on my mobile phone for a while.

[dave.woodhall]

I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.

As an eleven year old I loved the fact that he scored spectacular goals and after two of his best against Everton and Dynamo Berlin he flicked the V sign at Ron Saunders. A rebel who scores great goals, what was not to love? I met him at a charity football game in Yardley about fifteen years ago and offered to give £100 to the charity if I could have his shirt. It was the Villa shirt of the time with his name and number eleven on the back but it was sponsored on the front by Floors To Go who sponsored the Villa legends at the time. Neil Rioch was in charge of the Villa legends/old boys at the time and told Tony Morley he wasn't allowed to give me the shirt as they couldn't spare one. Tony Morley called Neil Rioch a miserable so and so (or words to that effect) and made sure that I got the shirt. He arranged to meet me at a school in Chelmsley Wood where he was doing some coaching to give me the shirt and we had a couple of photos taken together. I actually had Tony Morley's phone number on my mobile phone for a while.

You as well?

/namedrop

[Damo70]

I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.

As an eleven year old I loved the fact that he scored spectacular goals and after two of his best against Everton and Dynamo Berlin he flicked the V sign at Ron Saunders. A rebel who scores great goals, what was not to love? I met him at a charity football game in Yardley about fifteen years ago and offered to give £100 to the charity if I could have his shirt. It was the Villa shirt of the time with his name and number eleven on the back but it was sponsored on the front by Floors To Go who sponsored the Villa legends at the time. Neil Rioch was in charge of the Villa legends/old boys at the time and told Tony Morley he wasn't allowed to give me the shirt as they couldn't spare one. Tony Morley called Neil Rioch a miserable so and so (or words to that effect) and made sure that I got the shirt. He arranged to meet me at a school in Chelmsley Wood where he was doing some coaching to give me the shirt and we had a couple of photos taken together. I actually had Tony Morley's phone number on my mobile phone for a while.

You as well?

/namedrop

My reason was for a charitable cause.

Not because I wanted him to write a forward for my book. 

[ez]

Just a quick heads up, Brian Little's book, A Little Is Enough, is 99p on Amazon kindle for 6 more days