Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Smirker on January 16, 2014, 03:21:56 AM
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Can anyone recommend any good books regarding the history of our club, particularly the early years and Villa Park? Or just books you think are a must read?
Appreciate it.
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Children of the the Revolution is then obvious one although that only covers the seventies.
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I've got, 'The Aston Villa miscellany' by Dave Woodhalll, foreword by Gordon Cowans.
I recommend starting with that.
ISBN. 13: 978-1-905326-50-1
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Children of the the Revolution is then obvious one although that only covers the seventies.
Cheers, doesn't matter particularly was just going through old pictures of Villa Park and the development of it and thought I'd like to get some books from that period.
You got a link to it?
I've got, 'The Aston Villa miscellany' by Dave Woodhalll, foreword by Gordon Cowans.
I recommend starting with that.
ISBN. 13: 978-1-905326-50-1
Ta. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aston-Villa-Miscellany-Dave-Woodhall/dp/1907637737/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389846442&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Aston+Villa+miscellany
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Villa Park: 100 Years
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Villa-Park-Years-Simon-Inglis/dp/0946866430
Children of the Revolution is the best book I have read about the Villa.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Revolution-Richard-Whitehead/dp/0946866511/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1389859817&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=children+of+the+revolution+richard+whitehouse
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Aston Villa The First Hundred Years by Peter Morris is very good if you can find a copy that is.
Aston Villa 1874-1998 Graham McColl is very good too.
and any book by Dave of course!
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"Aston Villa, A Great Football Club" by Peter Morriss was the best I've read, but it may be out of print by now.
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I agree with all in regard 'Children of the Revolution' - superb book but very difficult to get a copy, you would have to pay a fair old premium to get one.
Also John Lerwill's ''Aston Villa : The first Superclub''
'Volumes 1 & 2 of The Aston Villa Chronicles also by John Lerwill.
I also particularly like the pictorial history that is : Terry Weir's ''The Weir and the Wonderful''
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I agree with all in regard 'Children of the Revolution' - superb book but very difficult to get a copy, you would have to pay a fair old premium to get one.
Not even a chance of a five finger discount from torrent sites?
Also John Lerwill's ''Aston Villa : The first Superclub''
'Volumes 1 & 2 of The Aston Villa Chronicles also by John Lerwill.
I also particularly like the pictorial history that is : Terry Weir's ''The Weir and the Wonderful''
These look interesting.
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Villa Park: The First 100 years and The Football Grounds of Great Britain (both by Simon Inglis) contain plenty of history about our early years at VP.
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Lerwill's books are very detailed but heavy going. Peter Morris' contain some of the most evocative writing you'll ever see but are often inaccurate and he has a very deferential style.
Simon Inglis' Villa Park Story is fantastic and Simon Page's Perry Barr Pets is a good record of 1897. CotR isn't about the early days but it's the best book ever written about a football club.
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I'm very fond of The Aston Villa Story published in 1993 and written by Anton.....somebody. Its well out of date now but the photos are v nice and very rare in some cases. Mr Woodhall's From One Season to the Next is my other favourite detailing something like 1976-2004 ish.
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The Aston Villa Story published in 1993 and written by Anton.....somebody
Rippon
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The Aston Villa Story published in 1993 and written by Anton.....somebody
Rippon
That's the fella. It had Deano and Dalian on the cover scoring against Man City in 1993. Its on my bookcase somewhere. The best Villa book I've had recently was the 2010 edition of the Complete Record. Quality and does away with all the mistakes of the late 80s edition. I also like the individual yearly review books, 1993-98ish in particular.
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A few others are, including another:
The Aston Villa Story by Ian Johnson - goes up to us winning the league in 1981.
Forever Villa by David Instone published in 2005 (My name in the scroll of honour at the back- i don't remember that)
Aston Villa - The Complete Record by Rob Bishop & Frank Holt
Images of Sport - Aston Villa by Tony Matthews Published in 03......
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Get Simon inglis' football stadium book,a lot on VP in and a top read all round.
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Don't buy Lerwill's books. Painfully jeavy going and he is an arse.
Don't buy Villa For England either. I haven't read it but for no other reason than that the writer is a fucking tool of the most unimaginable order.
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Images of Sport - Aston Villa by Tony Matthews Published in 03......
Are you insane? That has to be the worst, most badly-researched, error-strewn book ever.
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"Aston Villa, A Great Football Club" by Peter Morriss was the best I've read, but it may be out of print by now.
Its on Amazon Smirker. Page2 of Villa Books about £6 with the postage.
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Don't buy Lerwill's books. Painfully jeavy going and he is an arse.
He's reviewed his own books on Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A4UNB6CRKLGEZ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
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Images of Sport - Aston Villa by Tony Matthews Published in 03......
Are you insane? That has to be the worst, most badly-researched, error-strewn book ever.
Dave - i didn't say it was any good....Smirker asking about Villa books and i just went through a few of those on my book shelves to give him an indication of whats about!!!!
I don't think i have ever read it actually haveing flicked through it a few minutes ago......but i will now!!!!
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Another vote for Simon Inglis "Villa Park 100 Years", a great read.
Bryan Sheppard "Aston Villa: Friendlies Tours & Testimonials" is a recent purchase and is fascinating, covers well known areas like pre-war Germany, Santos and Rangers, but also games and tours I have never heard of - Castle Blues, Yugoslavia, Africa, Central America...
Kitty Aldridge "Pop" fiction, set in 1975 Birmingham, has a chapter or 2 on Villa, the chapter where Pop takes Maggie to her first match opens 'He had a surprise he said, for her. A gift for life.'
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Kitty Aldridge "Pop" fiction, set in 1975 Birmingham, has a chapter or 2 on Villa, the chapter where Pop takes Maggie to her first match opens 'He had a surprise he said, for her. A gift for life.'
Daughter of H&V writer Peter Aldridge and wife of Mark Knopfler.
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Peter Morris, the first 100 years. When I am pissed off with results, I often dip into it to remember, that we are Aston Villa.
From his last entry, Epllouge to a century. Legion upon Legion of them on parade now. filling the feild with claret and blue....the century of pride.
Cue, tears in eyes
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Agree with you all about "Children of the Revolution" and Simon Inglis's "Villa Park 100 years" being must-haves, as is a copy of Peter Morris's "First 100 Years" Centenary book.
When I was a youngster and desperate to learn more about the club I'd fallen in love with it was hard work finding anything to read. I probably learnt more from historical items in the programme than anything else, but can still remember how thrilled I was to find "Aston Villa" by Peter Morris in the library. At a time (late 60s/early 70s) when every football book and magazine I was ever bought was full of Chelsea, Liverpool, Leeds, ManU, Arsenal & Spurs it was a godsend to come across this book all about MY club – I must have read it over and over before having to return it.
Then when I was 14 the Centenary version came out and, being updated from the original, it included players and games I'd actually seen. Fantastic, and now with great pictures too.
As with everything nowadays kids are spoilt for choice but I've made a point of buying Dave's "Miscellany" books for my sons, nephews and friends kids when I think they've been ready to learn more about our wonderful club (early teens). I always think how much I would have loved to have a book like that when I was their age. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book for fans of all ages, but the short story/snippet style makes it ideal to pick up and put down in between playing bloody FIFA or watching yet another live game on tele.
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Hey, DeKuip, your second paragraph above was exactly the same for me - Langley library, in my case.
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Don't buy Lerwill's books. Painfully jeavy going and he is an arse.
Don't buy Villa For England either. I haven't read it but for no other reason than that the writer is a fucking tool of the most unimaginable order.
What's wrong about Lerwill and his books? I've been reading The First Superclub book and the first third was rather nice, although I haven't read other books about the early era.
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition. What a bargain.
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition. What a bargain.
Whatever you do, don't take it to bed tonight intending to just read chapter one. Before you know it dawn will be breaking and it'll be time to get up.
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition. What a bargain.
Whatever you do, don't take it to bed tonight intending to just read chapter one. Before you know it dawn will be breaking and it'll be time to get up.
Dave, that is so true, once you start it you cannot put it down.....
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I've just bought Memories Made in Aston. No idea what its like. Anyone read it?
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I've just bought Memories Made in Aston. No idea what its like. Anyone read it?
Ask Leeg....
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition. What a bargain.
Whatever you do, don't take it to bed tonight intending to just read chapter one. Before you know it dawn will be breaking and it'll be time to get up.
Dave, that is so true, once you start it you cannot put it down.....
Dead right, my copy delivered yesterday, really good condition for £0.01p!!
Its going to be a fantastic read!
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I've just bought Memories Made in Aston. No idea what its like. Anyone read it?
this arrived yesterday, looks ok
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition. What a bargain.
Whatever you do, don't take it to bed tonight intending to just read chapter one. Before you know it dawn will be breaking and it'll be time to get up.
Dave, that is so true, once you start it you cannot put it down.....
Dead right, my copy delivered yesterday, really good condition for £0.01p!!
Its going to be a fantastic read!
What did you think?
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(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s532/villajk/22c4e286f6622e0e098c22b65983d4b7_zps9d8b0c95.jpg)
Looks like a cracker!
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Posted this on the villa in the 70s thread.
Picked up a brand new copy still in the cellophane of children of the revolution from a book shop (lion books) in Kidderminster. Owner told me he purchased the whole lot off Richard whitehead when he was trying to fund a trip to oz to see the ashes. Met him in motorway service station and took everything he had all copies never been touched £30 absolute bargain.
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I read in my son's programme yesterday that Kenny Swain has an autobiography out. I always wondered why we hadn't seen books from the '80-'83 squad.
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I read in my son's programme yesterday that Kenny Swain has an autobiography out. I always wondered why we hadn't seen books from the '80-'83 squad.
Finished reading it last week. Not the most enthralling book I've read. Only 26 pages on his time at 'The Villa' but 54 on his time at Nottm Forest.
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(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s532/villajk/22c4e286f6622e0e098c22b65983d4b7_zps9d8b0c95.jpg)
Looks like a cracker!
Where did you get it from ?
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(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s532/villajk/22c4e286f6622e0e098c22b65983d4b7_zps9d8b0c95.jpg)
Looks like a cracker!
Where did you get it from ?
I haven't received it yet. Launch is the morning of the Southampton game in the Academy. 1030-1230. Author is Colin Abbot - 07762 753759.
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
cheapest one on there now is £26.85
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Its only one chapter, eleven pages long but one of my favourite pieces of writing about the Villa comes from a book called 'Saturdays Boys' which is a compilation of twenty one chapters by twenty one different authors written about a variety of clubs. The one about Villa is written by Simon Inglis and it begins and ends 'Yippee ya yayhhh, yippee ya yohhh...' It makes me smile every time I read it.
1p on amazon at the moment.
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Its only one chapter, eleven pages long but one of my favourite pieces of writing about the Villa comes from a book called 'Saturdays Boys' which is a compilation of twenty one chapters by twenty one different authors written about a variety of clubs. The one about Villa is written by Simon Inglis and it begins and ends 'Yippee ya yayhhh, yippee ya yohhh...' It makes me smile every time I read it.
1p on amazon at the moment.
There's some good stuff in that book. I liked the bit about the Sunday team who played in Argentina's colours because of the "dove grey stockings."
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Are any Villa player's (auto)biographies worth reading?
The only recent-ish one I've read is Paul McGrath's.
I think the last one I read before that, was probably Andy Gray's "Shades of Gray".
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I enjoyed the Gerry Hitchens one. Last time I checked it was in The Works at a decent price.
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Are any Villa player's (auto)biographies worth reading?
The only recent-ish one I've read is Paul McGrath's.
I think the last one I read before that, was probably Andy Gray's "Shades of Gray".
I would say after McGrath's the next best is Cascarino's. The ones by Burridge and Merson are very good too. Woody and Nord is also a good book. The stories of Gareth Southgate and his best mate at Palace as one became a wealthy international footballer and the other a lower league journeyman.
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Its only one chapter, eleven pages long but one of my favourite pieces of writing about the Villa comes from a book called 'Saturdays Boys' which is a compilation of twenty one chapters by twenty one different authors written about a variety of clubs. The one about Villa is written by Simon Inglis and it begins and ends 'Yippee ya yayhhh, yippee ya yohhh...' It makes me smile every time I read it.
1p on amazon at the moment.
There's some good stuff in that book. I liked the bit about the Sunday team who played in Argentina's colours because of the "dove grey stockings."
Agreed. That's a great piece of writing by Simon Inglis, captures that 1960's period of Villa supporting to a tee. The lone voice during a Villa Park silence in a mindnumbing match "Has anyone got a Paracetemol" ?. Great stuff
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I enjoyed the Gerry Hitchens one. Last time I checked it was in The Works at a decent price.
Actually, I do have the Gerry Hitchens biography on my Kindle, and I read the first few chapters. I couldn't really get into it though - he was well before my time as a player, and seemed like a fairly dry read.
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"Playing football in Italy was like being in the bloody Army", or something like that.
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I've just finished reading " Encounters of the Third Kind" by Colin Abbott, the story of our third division days. It is a really good read with a lot of interviews with players of the time, match reports and photos not often seen all contained in a narrative which covers the slump right up to promotion. As a bonus it covers the 72 Youth cup in detail along with a history of our development in the competition. Some typos but bought home the bond between team and supporters which was created at that time. A different world but great to revisit! 238 pages, hardback -well worth the £17 price.
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I know its going way back in the history of Aston Villa but 'I lead the Attack' by our great Welsh international centre forward Trefor (Trevor) Ford is a very good read. He was the fifties version of Alan Shearer with far more aggression! Goalkeepers and opposition supporters hated
the Welsh Battering Ram with a vengence. He once sued Gil Merrick the England goalkeeper for insinuating that Ford treated him less than fairly!
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Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.
Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition. What a bargain.
Whatever you do, don't take it to bed tonight intending to just read chapter one. Before you know it dawn will be breaking and it'll be time to get up.
Dave, that is so true, once you start it you cannot put it down.....
Dead right, my copy delivered yesterday, really good condition for £0.01p!!
Its going to be a fantastic read!
What did you think?
A bit late...but yes, everything I hoped it would be...brings it all back just couldn't get enough.all the pictures of faces etched in my memory
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A bit late...but yes, everything I hoped it would be...brings it all back just couldn't get enough.all the pictures of faces etched in my memory
The best football book ever written.
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It is a great work, and though it may sound soft it's brought a tear to my eye on a few occasions.