Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Oscar Arce on September 12, 2012, 12:31:31 PM

Title: John Gidman
Post by: Oscar Arce on September 12, 2012, 12:31:31 PM
Really interesting to hear Giddy on Talk Sport yesterday, talking about his time mainly with the Villa with Keys and Gray.

Great to hear he is getting on OK after his recent health scares and of course the blaze in Costa Del Sol, he reiterated he didn't want to leave Villa but Saunders wanted to give that impression, he also went into details how that wayward firework at Jimmy Cumbes' party nearly ended his career, if not for the intervention of the Doc, David Targett.

Can still see him galloping down the wing and firing crosses in, he has to be my favourite all-time Villa right back, only one England cap but great memories also of him stumbling out of several night clubs in Brum at the time.

Anyone else got any Giddy memories ?
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Ads on September 12, 2012, 01:21:33 PM
Why did so few of our players get an England call up?
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: villan from luton on September 12, 2012, 01:31:31 PM
Was a superb right back and his one cap for England v Luxembourg (I think or was it Cyprus) was a disgrace. He was superb in that game and then never got picked again. When you think that FA Youth Cup winning side had Gidman and Brian Little in the team, what a great set up. Loved the marauding runs down the wing and was a shame to see him go.

As for Villa players around that era, it still amazes me to this day that Sir Dennis never got an England cap, Greenwood was manager around 1977 onwards and sucked up a lot to the press
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: darren woolley on September 12, 2012, 02:52:18 PM
I really enjoy watching John Gidman in action top player.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: nigel on September 12, 2012, 04:01:11 PM
Yes, my number1 right back too. Pushed pretty close by Kenny Swain though.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: SirSteveUK on September 12, 2012, 08:52:43 PM
Sir Dennis = 0 caps
Brian Little = 1 cap
John Gidman = 1 cap

f**king disgraceful
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: villan from luton on September 12, 2012, 09:33:04 PM
Brian Little played 15 minutes at home to Wales, changed the game and never bloody played again. Nigel, agree with you about Kenny Swain, another who never got a look in for England as they had the bloody world class (my backside) Phil Neal
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: SirSteveUK on September 13, 2012, 01:18:50 AM
"John Gidman lays on more balls than Fiona Richmond!" - Wembley banner
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: peter w on September 13, 2012, 07:26:48 AM
One of my earliest Villa idols. Great player, great 70s hair.

Interesting to hear he never wanted to leave as I was gutted when it looked like he was going to go - as it was announced he wanted out well before he did go as I seem to recall. I hoped he wouldn't but then at the end of teh season (I think) he did go and I was absolutely gutted. Hinm and Andy Gray left at the same time didn't they?
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: johnc on September 13, 2012, 09:23:34 AM
When I was at college in Liverpool in the mid 80s he used to walk his dog where we played our games
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: villan from luton on September 13, 2012, 01:14:11 PM
http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/the-crazy-life-and-times-of-aston-villa-and-manchester-uniteds-full-back-john-gidman/

A good read about Giddy
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: russon on September 14, 2012, 06:56:11 PM
http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/the-crazy-life-and-times-of-aston-villa-and-manchester-uniteds-full-back-john-gidman/

A good read about Giddy

cheers, really enjoyed that
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: peter w on September 14, 2012, 07:25:44 PM
loved the Brian Little bit. I always  thought he looked cool with his seventies flowing locks. I can just imagine him busting a few moves to 10CC and the like.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: villan from luton on September 15, 2012, 11:44:59 PM
He has changed a bit looking at him commentating on the man u game when we come back from lads game today, is greyer than me. My older late brother than me was someone who loved the Brian Little grebo look lol
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Bernie on September 17, 2012, 07:39:08 AM
When we went to Antwerp in 1975 and were hanging around the team's hotel like groupies Giddy made a point of joining us in the bar (he had a cup of tea, we had something else) for a chat. A good lad.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on September 23, 2012, 04:07:35 PM
Was a superb right back and his one cap for England v Luxembourg (I think or was it Cyprus) was a disgrace. He was superb in that game and then never got picked again.

The then England manager Don Revie rated Gidman's as the best England debut since Duncan Edwards then never picked him again!
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: villan from luton on September 23, 2012, 06:05:54 PM
I remember that now big Dick Edwards. He was absolutely superb. I think I was blaming Phil Neal earlier in thread, but think that is with Kenny Swain, think Dave Clement of QPR was preferred to Giddy
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: preston28 on September 24, 2012, 07:16:27 PM
Really interesting to hear Giddy on Talk Sport yesterday, talking about his time mainly with the Villa with Keys and Gray.

Great to hear he is getting on OK after his recent health scares and of course the blaze in Costa Del Sol, he reiterated he didn't want to leave Villa but Saunders wanted to give that impression, he also went into details how that wayward firework at Jimmy Cumbes' party nearly ended his career, if not for the intervention of the Doc, David Targett.

Can still see him galloping down the wing and firing crosses in, he has to be my favourite all-time Villa right back, only one England cap but great memories also of him stumbling out of several night clubs in Brum at the time.

Anyone else got any Giddy memories ?

Yes.  He was the first autograph I got (& still have) in 1974 when I attended my first game. Met him the club afterwards that used to be outside the Trinity Road Stand! Gutted when he left the Villa!
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Ian Seddon on November 13, 2012, 08:26:17 PM
John Gidman is attending NEC Sports memorabilia for the first time on the 24.11.12. He will be at NEC between 10am and 1.15pm and then off to villa park. He fly's in from spain. We have obtained copyright on a game played for villa on the 17.4.1976. It will be a 16x12 print. Great gift for christmas! See http://www.memorabilia.co.uk/birmingham/guests/sportsmemorabilia/.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Legion on November 13, 2012, 08:29:37 PM
Yes he is. As your initial post was removed do you think you could ask permission from the site owners before advertising? Thanks.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Broughty-Villian on November 13, 2012, 08:33:59 PM
As a kid, i saw him do one of the longest sliding tackles I have ever seen, took ball then man, and splayed a pass straight to a claret shirt. Met the man a few times since, seems to love the villa and thinks if he's stayed he'd have won the league with Villa.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Ian Seddon on November 13, 2012, 08:36:19 PM
i had not noticed it was removed. neither me, brian or giddy meant to offend you. i will let the guys know and will refrain from posting on that subject.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Legion on November 13, 2012, 08:38:49 PM
i had not noticed it was removed. neither me, brian or giddy meant to offend you. i will let the guys know and will refrain from posting on that subject.

No offence taken at all. Please just ask permission from Mac, Martin or Dave first. If you get no response try any Mod. Cheers and UTV!
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: wittonwarrior on November 13, 2012, 09:37:03 PM
A tremendous full back, if I remember rightly he was quite a modern era one wanting to move forward with the ball.  Another for us old uns the goal at VP against ManUre
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: montague on November 14, 2012, 01:18:09 PM
Now on twitter  @giddy1212
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Flamingo Lane on November 14, 2012, 07:16:30 PM
I remember a moment at West Brom, circa 1976.  A few moments to kick off, Villa were kicking in/warming up at the Smethwick End and a ball goes into the Rainbow Stand full of West Brom.  One of the w*****s hurls the ball at Gidman who is stood by the touchline.  So Gidman puts the ball down, walks back 10 yards, runs full speed at the ball facing the w***** in the stand and aims to fire the ball into the lot of them at full force. Giddie pulls out of the shot at the last second, but the w*****s in the stand have already flung themselves to the floor (to avoid the ball that didn't move). 
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: martin o`who?? on November 18, 2012, 01:12:00 PM
Simply tremendous player, his crossing, full pelt, was an art form in itself, and one of the principal reasons for Andy Grays rise to success at Villa, he`d be worth some SERIOUS money in todays market.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: class_of_82 on November 18, 2012, 05:39:00 PM
to date the best right back we have ever had. to anyone who never seen him play think of kyle walker in full flow but with an end product with giddy at right back we didnt need a right winger. still have him in my head laying on some of the goals that night we played liverpool off the park <5-1> for deehan, gray and little. him being sold still upsets me as much as when andy gray went. yorkie to man utd and alex cropley being butchered by wba that virtually ended his career.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: LeeB on November 18, 2012, 07:51:10 PM
I remember a moment at West Brom, circa 1976.  A few moments to kick off, Villa were kicking in/warming up at the Smethwick End and a ball goes into the Rainbow Stand full of West Brom.  One of the w*****s hurls the ball at Gidman who is stood by the touchline.  So Gidman puts the ball down, walks back 10 yards, runs full speed at the ball facing the w***** in the stand and aims to fire the ball into the lot of them at full force. Giddie pulls out of the shot at the last second, but the w*****s in the stand have already flung themselves to the floor (to avoid the ball that didn't move). 

That's ace.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: Whiney MacWhineface on November 23, 2012, 11:04:05 PM
The wife and I went to see us play Stoke (I think) sometime in 76 (maybe) and we had front row seats in the Witton Lane stand (definitely, as it was one of the only games where I persuaded her not to go in with the away supporters - "more fun"). Mrs Reducer fell immediately in love with him and tried to run onto the pitch to grab him as he flew past us during the game.

There was an unseemly scuffle as I succeeded in restraining the elemental force that was (and still is) Mrs. R.
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: villan from luton on November 24, 2012, 12:34:28 AM
John Gidman was the greatest right back I have ever seen in a Villa shirt, right from the youth cup days. Seems a great guy as well now and still seems to think fondly of Villa
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: richard moore on November 24, 2012, 10:56:32 AM
to date the best right back we have ever had. to anyone who never seen him play think of kyle walker in full flow but with an end product with giddy at right back we didnt need a right winger. still have him in my head laying on some of the goals that night we played liverpool off the park <5-1> for deehan, gray and little. him being sold still upsets me as much as when andy gray went. yorkie to man utd and alex cropley being butchered by wba that virtually ended his career.

Walker doesn't even belong on the same page as John Gidman
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: pooligan on November 24, 2012, 03:07:47 PM
Quite simply the best right back i have ever seen at Villa park in my 50 odd years of supporting the club.Was gutted when Saunders sold him but he was replaced by the second best right back i have ever seen at Villa park,Kenny Swain
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: littlevillain on December 08, 2012, 12:05:15 AM
Giddo Giddo Giddo
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: JD on December 08, 2012, 01:55:11 AM
Quite simply the best right back i have ever seen at Villa park in my 50 odd years of supporting the club.Was gutted when Saunders sold him but he was replaced by the second best right back i have ever seen at Villa park,Kenny Swain

Totally agree pooligan, Gidman was the best right back I've ever seen at Villa, with Swain being not far behind. 
Title: Re: John Gidman
Post by: sid1964 on December 12, 2012, 07:28:32 AM
Gidman was class!! and by the sounds of it a top bloke
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