Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Legion on January 20, 2015, 07:11:21 PM

Title: Darkie
Post by: Legion on January 20, 2015, 07:11:21 PM
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10930908_10153058787497658_458411903744010574_n.jpg?oh=cf564a03108b8f8a4ec513083e60a459&oe=55331ECD&__gda__=1432340391_9fb57e2fd7daeff9dbc6c4d49931c0e0)

Leeg put it up because I couldn't. This is the only photo of Villa's former mascot apart from the one where he's shaking hands with the players. It's also the only mention of him with other supporters and of him being a regular fixture at games.
Title: Re: Sporting Brummies
Post by: Legion on January 20, 2015, 07:12:10 PM
Click on image to enlarge.
Title: Re: Sporting Brummies
Post by: Ron Manager on January 20, 2015, 07:17:34 PM
Excellent Leeg. I would think the pub they are thinking of would have been 'The Crown' which has recently closed.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: Legion on January 20, 2015, 07:23:51 PM
(http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DarkieB-500x436.jpg)
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: Ads on January 21, 2015, 04:41:24 PM
A late 1940's early 50's racist version of Wolfie?
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: Ron Manager on January 21, 2015, 05:16:21 PM
A late 1940's early 50's racist version of Wolfie?

Racist?  A black bloke who supported the Villa and obviously enjoyed being the unofficial mascot for the club. Probably well known amongs't the massive support of the immediate post war years.

No need to use that particular word at all.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: dave.woodhall on January 21, 2015, 05:19:23 PM
A late 1940's early 50's racist version of Wolfie?

Racist?  A black bloke who supported the Villa and obviously enjoyed being the unofficial mascot for the club. Probably well known amongs't the massive support of the immediate post war years.

No need to use that particular word at all.

That's the thing. Nobody knows who he was, where he came from or when he was going to the match. In fact, I've never seen any first hand recollection  of him before that top letter.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: PeterWithesShin on January 21, 2015, 05:23:20 PM
Was he a black fella, as that letter mentions he "blacked up"?
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: dave.woodhall on January 21, 2015, 05:31:27 PM
Was he a black fella, as that letter mentions he "blacked up"?

Looking at the photos I don't think so but as I said, nobody knows anything about him. Unlike his (almost) contemporary Lennie Hands, he's been virtually forgotten.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: Ron Manager on January 21, 2015, 05:34:06 PM
You may be right PWS. It seems he may have been white. Needs some investigation. Its just possible he might still be alive .Be in his late eighties/ early nineties if he is.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: dave shelley on January 21, 2015, 06:50:12 PM
I don't remember this man at all.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: The Laughing Policeman on January 21, 2015, 08:00:34 PM
I first got taken to Villa Park in 1955 and can't remember ever seeing him, maybe he'd packed it in by then.
It'd be nice to know if he's still alive and to hear his story.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: Ads on January 23, 2015, 10:49:25 AM
A late 1940's early 50's racist version of Wolfie?

Racist?  A black bloke who supported the Villa and obviously enjoyed being the unofficial mascot for the club. Probably well known amongs't the massive support of the immediate post war years.

No need to use that particular word at all.

A white bloke blacking himself up with the name Darkie on his back? Seems pretty racist to me.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: not3bad on January 23, 2015, 12:48:12 PM
A late 1940's early 50's racist version of Wolfie?

Racist?  A black bloke who supported the Villa and obviously enjoyed being the unofficial mascot for the club. Probably well known amongs't the massive support of the immediate post war years.

No need to use that particular word at all.

A white bloke blacking himself up with the name Darkie on his back? Seems pretty racist to me.

That probably wouldn't have occurred to anyone at the time though.  Right naive we were. But 'appy.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: saunders_heroes on January 23, 2015, 01:23:03 PM
That photo has 'Rags Mahone' embossed across it. He's a bitter Villa hating nose who likes to post that picture on the Internet in his ongoing mission to prove we are a racist club.  He's a complete tit.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: Des Little on January 23, 2015, 11:12:17 PM
Looks like Papa Lazarou to me.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: dave.woodhall on January 23, 2015, 11:17:13 PM
That photo has 'Rags Mahone' embossed across it. He's a bitter Villa hating nose who likes to post that picture on the Internet in his ongoing mission to prove we are a racist club.  He's a complete tit.

Interesting that he has to be asked permission for use of a photo that someone else owns. I wonder if they know he's claiming copyright?
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: PeterWithe on January 24, 2015, 09:54:15 AM
A late 1940's early 50's racist version of Wolfie?

That reminds me that I saw Wolfie in Sutton last week, reassuring to see he was resplendent in a Villa trackie top after his alleged dalliances with other, inferior, clubs in the region.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: PeterWithesShin on January 24, 2015, 03:33:00 PM
He goes to most, if not all home games. Saw him loads of times on Witton Lane when selling the fanzine.
Title: Re: Darkie
Post by: dave.woodhall on January 24, 2015, 04:28:11 PM
He's been back where he belongs for years.
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