Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Steve kirk on April 05, 2014, 11:52:15 AM

Title: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Steve kirk on April 05, 2014, 11:52:15 AM
Heard that Gordon Smith who played 79 games at right back for the Villa between 1976 and 1978 has passed away, always makes me very sad when we lose one of ours, god bless Gordon.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Witton Warrior on April 05, 2014, 11:59:33 AM
Will always remember him as a good. solid player.
Best memory is him was swearing profusely at Brian Little for losing the ball in a League Cup match, such language!

Thanks Gordon and hope your family know that Villans everywhere will be thinking of you.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: cdbearsfan on April 05, 2014, 12:03:01 PM
RIP.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: pooligan on April 05, 2014, 12:25:05 PM
Very sad to hear the death of Gordon Smith, i liked Gordon .RIP
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Pat McMahon on April 05, 2014, 02:25:30 PM
Really sad to hear this. A solid player, not spectacular. I remember him being good mates with Andy Gray.

I also remember a photo of him in the programme wearing a really awful multi coloured kipper tie that I also owned- from C&A or somewhere similar. Imagine a footballer now owning the same tie as a 15 year old boy (or shopping at C&A)?
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on April 05, 2014, 02:30:51 PM
Bloody hell, that's shocking news.

59 is no age but after a quick search apparently he died from throat cancer.

Apart from being a very useful player, Gordon was a lovely bloke. He lived just around the corner from my folks and he'd always answer the door to us school kids wanting his autograph. One lucky mate called round there and Gordon having signed asked my mate if he wanted Ray Graydon's too. Just like magic, up pops Ray and he ends up having a chat with Gordon and Ray on the doorstep about all things Villa.

There's a lovely photo of 77 League Cup 2nd replay with Gordon celebrating, winners tankard in hand. Not only was it one of my favourite ever games, it was due to so many injuries, a game on paper we really shouldn't have won but thanks to the likes of players like Gordon Smith, we fought the odds and came out deservedly the victors.

RIP Gordon. A true 110%er.

Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: The Left Side on April 05, 2014, 02:41:55 PM
RIP Gordon
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: steamer on April 05, 2014, 02:57:07 PM
Hard to believe, great guy. Solid fullback.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: manic-road on April 05, 2014, 02:57:22 PM
RIP Gordon indeed, way to young.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on April 05, 2014, 03:00:57 PM
Wasn't it Gordon's cross for Little' winner in that League Cup Final?
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on April 05, 2014, 08:48:30 PM
Wasn't it Gordon's cross for Little' winner in that League Cup Final?

Yes.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: ChicagoLion on April 05, 2014, 08:53:36 PM
Thanks Gordon RIP
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Leighton on April 06, 2014, 01:16:17 AM
I always hear great things about the 76 side. I was only born in 75 so couldn't get to many games on my own because the buses were a bit shit coming from the Shelfield area, but it sounds to me that the  76 side are held in such very high esteem. I know my big brother always says they were possibly more entertaining than the championship winning team of five years later.

If so, then Gordon Smith must have been a very worthy and proud member of a great Villa era. RIP.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 06, 2014, 01:18:54 AM
RIP Smudger. A player I only vaguely remember, but would have been in the team when I started going to VP.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: villan from luton on April 06, 2014, 01:26:38 AM
I remember Gordon Smiths first appearance in a Villa shirt at start of 76/77 season ans he was superb in a 4-0 victory v West Ham, made him my MOTM. He was more right footed, but played left back and was a great member of what I consider the most exciting Villa team of my lifetime. May you RIP Villan
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: puppyfeat on April 06, 2014, 02:14:51 AM
Incredibly sad news. Thanks Gordon for the part you played in my favourite Villa era and on that unforgettable night at Old Trafford. RIP
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Des Little on April 06, 2014, 10:40:44 AM
God bless you Gordon
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: class_of_82 on April 06, 2014, 11:54:15 AM
R.i.p. Gordon thanks for the memories
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Bernie on April 06, 2014, 12:32:20 PM
That one really has shocked me. An important member of one of the better teams in our history- RIP Gordon
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: richard moore on April 06, 2014, 12:34:52 PM
A memory of a player, lovely man and great times which just serve to taunt me even further in all this bloody misery. Someone's got a shit sense of humour 
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: pbavfckuwait on April 06, 2014, 12:57:10 PM
RIP Gordon rest with the Holte Enders in the sky
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Flamingo Lane on April 06, 2014, 01:15:37 PM
Damn good player, and very much part of a team and an era that we remember so fondly.

Rather bizarrely, and if it lightens the mood slightly, Tony Matthews in his Who's Who of Villa players summed up Gordon as "a hard tackling full back who got good length on his clearances."

RIP Gordon Smith.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Tayls_7 on April 06, 2014, 04:08:14 PM
Always very sad news.

Gordon comes from a generation of Villains that I first started following as a nipper. I remember collecting him on one of those thick football cards that used to come replete with a slab of pink bubble gum the same dimensions as the cards.

RIP.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: dave shelley on April 06, 2014, 06:46:03 PM
This is too sad a thread so please forgive me for using it to post this but, the Ron Saunders era was the best football I ever saw in all my long years of supporting the Villa.  At times some of the football they produced was absolutely scintillating and never got the amount of silverware and recognition it deserved.  Gordon Smith was part of that and his family can be proud.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: brian green on April 06, 2014, 06:57:41 PM
Those wonderful long gone days when there were no seniors banished to training with the kids and no bomb squad, just honest to goodness players like Gordon putting in a shift for Villa.   Sleep well Gordon.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Simon Ward on April 07, 2014, 10:44:01 AM
RIP indeed.
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: not3bad on April 07, 2014, 10:44:53 AM
One of my earliest Villa heroes. RIP
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Simon Ward on April 07, 2014, 11:26:17 AM
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3753715,00.html

Club acknowledgement
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Villandan on April 07, 2014, 01:26:28 PM
RIP Gordon, a true Villa legend.

I was 8 years old at the time and I was taken to Bodymoor Heath to see my heroes train. I was overwhelmed. I will never forget that day. Gordon Smith invited me onto the training pitch and we passed the ball to each other. He didn't have to do that. He wasn't asked to do it, he did it of his own accord. That would never happen today.

A lovely guy. RIP........ UTV
Title: Re: Gordon Smith RIP
Post by: Louzie0 on April 08, 2014, 01:56:38 AM
RIP Gordon, a true Villa legend.

I was 8 years old at the time and I was taken to Bodymoor Heath to see my heroes train. I was overwhelmed. I will never forget that day. Gordon Smith invited me onto the training pitch and we passed the ball to each other. He didn't have to do that. He wasn't asked to do it, he did it of his own accord. That would never happen today.

A lovely guy. RIP........ UTV
What a lovely memory of a man who holds a very special place in our hearts. UTV.


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