Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: aj2k77 on May 28, 2019, 09:00:48 PM
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At times it's been draining. It seems an age since Dr Tony went to Rome in a Ford Mondeo. Ayew and our first away win in a year. Gestede and his big crazy hair. Not looking back in anger.
The Bruce chronicles. Is he or isn't he good enough? Stability. A spending spree that started off with a home hammering at the hands of Barnsley. Winless runs and undefeated runs. Ending in Glenn Whelan administering the Coup de grace and a Cabbage.
Unpaid bills, debts being cashed in on the cheap and winding up orders. Then not one but two saviours riding in with fists full of dollars.
One of us becoming manager, one of us becoming captain. A seemingly endless run of victories, finally those predicting that ''one of these weeks someones going to get a tonking'' got it right. Once the giant gathered momentum it was impossible to stop as Sir Graham had said, or words to that effect.
It's been extremely eventful and barring most 90 minutes under Bruce, never boring. There's lots of memories but it's been bloody stressful and I for one am glad to say thanks and goodbye to the Championship.
It's been fantastic sharing the journey on this great site.
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That Glenn Whelan penalty was the best penalty miss in our history.
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That Glenn Whelan penalty was the best penalty miss in our history.
Why did Glenn take the penalty?
Glorious fate, that’s why.
Reminds me of something I posted in HEITS:
Eddie Halpin.
The older brother of my mates Shay, Eugene and John, part of a lovely Irish-Brummie family. Shay and Eddie were brought up in Aston and supported the Villa, John and Eugene were younger and grew up in Chelmsley after the family moved there, and grew up to be Blues fans. Personally I’m closest to John, the youngest, as he was the leader of my little Chelmsley firm the Seagull Skjns and Mods. Just kids stuff, nothing too sinister, he grew up into a really nice bloke, if a bit dodgy. Here’s what I wrote about him in my review of Carl Chinn’s Peaky Blinders tour: “After a splendid introduction from his assistant Lizzie Halpin, who’s uncle (and my mate) John has been known to keep the odd Peaky Blinder tradition going in the 21st century, Carl delivers a sparkling prelude...”
I met Eddie for the first and only time at Shay’s birthday party a couple of years ago and asked him straight out about Eugene and John’s football allegiance: “What went wrong with this pair of clowns?” - followed by much light-hearted piss-taking.
Anyway, I’ve just bumped into John and he told me about Eddie’s last days. He had been diagnosed with cancer and it had attacked him quickly. On the Sunday before the Preston game, he was in hospital and struggling to breathe. The doctor suggested putting a pipe in his neck.
“What will that do?” asked Eddie.
“It might help with your breathing.”
“Might?” said Eddie. “How am I gonna be able to get around with that in?”
The doctor told him that in all likelihood he would be staying and probably dying in hospital.
“Well... no, I’m going down the Villa on Tuesday night.”
The doctor warned him that if he went he might die at Villa Park, but Eddie decided to take his chances.
John said that for the first time in his life, when Villa got the penalty in the last minute, he wanted us to score and win for his brother. We all know what happened there. John told me he was listening to the radio thinking that maybe all the excitement of the 3-3 draw would finish his brother off!
Eddie never did go back in hospital, he died at home with his family around him. He said “I’m tired now”, turned over, and slipped away. We didn’t win for him but at least he did what he wanted near the end.
RIP Eddie, and commiserations to all your lovely family.
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Ive enjoyed the championship as a whole, its the place we got our act together again and all became one. Being the big fish was enjoyable, seeing the way others reacted to us was comical (spawny, cheating, refs bribed, EFL in our pocket, letters to the FA) and i kind of liked it. Our stay had to come to and end though and as enjoyable as its been, I sincerely hope that we never have to come back.
On a seperate but similar theme, I cant remember a season were by we have had so many wild goal celebrations (limbs as the social media mafia would say) off the top of my head and in a random messed up order...
Hutton away at Hull
Hutton at home to Blues
Jack at home to Blues
Jack away at Blues
Jack volley at home to Derby
Jack Rotherham away
McGinn Sheff Wed home
Albert Sheff Wed away
Tammy Sheff Wed away
El-Ghazi Albion away
Hourihane Abion play off home
Tammy Albion pen shootout
Green Sheff Utd home
Kodjia Brentford home
El-Ghazi Forest home
Hourihane Blackburn away
McGinn Derby away
Albert Stoke away
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That Glenn Whelan penalty was the best penalty miss in our history.
Why did Glenn take the penalty?
Glorious fate, that’s why.
Reminds me of something I posted in HEITS:
The older brother of my mates Shay, Eugene and John, part of a lovely Irish-Brummie family. Shay and Eddie were brought up in Aston and supported the Villa, John and Eugene were younger and grew up in Chelmsley after the family moved there, and grew up to be Blues fans. Personally I’m closest to John, the youngest, as he was the leader of my little Chelmsley firm the Seagull Skjns and Mods. Just kids stuff, nothing too sinister, he grew up into a really nice bloke, if a bit dodgy. Here’s what I wrote about him in my review of Carl Chinn’s Peaky Blinders tour: “After a splendid introduction from his assistant Lizzie Halpin, who’s uncle (and my mate) John has been known to keep the odd Peaky Blinder tradition going in the 21st century, Carl delivers a sparkling prelude...”
I met Eddie for the first and only time at Shay’s birthday party a couple of years ago and asked him straight out about Eugene and John’s football allegiance: “What went wrong with this pair of clowns?” - followed by much light-hearted piss-taking.
Anyway, I’ve just bumped into John and he told me about Eddie’s last days. He had been diagnosed with cancer and it had attacked him quickly. On the Sunday before the Preston game, he was in hospital and struggling to breathe. The doctor suggested putting a pipe in his neck.
“What will that do?” asked Eddie.
“It might help with your breathing.”
“Might?” said Eddie. “How am I gonna be able to get around with that in?”
The doctor told him that in all likelihood he would be staying and probably dying in hospital.
“Well... no, I’m going down the Villa on Tuesday night.”
The doctor warned him that if he went he might die at Villa Park, but Eddie decided to take his chances.
John said that for the first time in his life, when Villa got the penalty in the last minute, he wanted us to score and win for his brother. We all know what happened there. John told me he was listening to the radio thinking that maybe all the excitement of the 3-3 draw would finish his brother off!
Eddie never did go back in hospital, he died at home with his family around him. He said “I’m tired now”, turned over, and slipped away. We didn’t win for him but at least he did what he wanted near the end.
RIP Eddie, and commiserations to all your lovely family.
Blimey.
RIP. Easy to forget what others are going through.