Sounds good. Looking forward to the chapter on Mark Kinsella.
Does it include a map of how far away from Ireland most of them were born?
I always considered us the "Irish" club of Birmingham, mainly because of my old man and his Irish mates, all of whom followed us despite living in the People's Republic Of Sheldon.I would agree with this. There is one lad in our group of Irish descent who is a bluenose and he grew up a stones throw from The Sty. We accept it as a mitigating factor.
I'm fact I've never never met anyone from Ireland in the City that follows the Rags, I'm sure there are but it doesn't stop me saying "there is no such thing as an Irish Bluenose" on a regular basis.
Good luck with the book Dave.
Does it include a map of how far away from Ireland most of them were born?
You're not mad keen on the Irish, are you, PWS?
Edit: in football. Not accusing you of racism or anything like that.
Does it include a map of how far away from Ireland most of them were born?
Does it include a map of how far away from Ireland most of them were born?
Good point. I imagine if you total the distance of all of them combined who were not born on the island of Britain you’d still be way short of John Barnes’ Jamacia.
Perfectly timed for Villa's St Patrick's Day collection. Maybe the club could do a tie-in...
Trying to remember if you got to interview Eamonn Deacy for your Champions book - it's in my bookcase in Ireland but if memory serves, was there a chapter about each player?
Is today the day?
I always considered us the "Irish" club of Birmingham, mainly because of my old man and his Irish mates, all of whom followed us despite living in the People's Republic Of Sheldon.Sure I have seen the Irish flag at Birmingham games, his parents disowned him/ her I would imagine
I'm fact I've never never met anyone from Ireland in the City that follows the Rags, I'm sure there are but it doesn't stop me saying "there is no such thing as an Irish Bluenose" on a regular basis.
Good luck with the book Dave.
Does it include a map of how far away from Ireland most of them were born?Thought Aston was Irish back in the day
CLARET, BLUE AND GREEN
The story of Aston Villa’s Irish connection
Dave Woodhall
With a foreword by
Radio 5Live’s Pat Murphy
The city of Birmingham has seen waves of immigrants
from over the Irish Sea making their homes and
helping to make the city. They dug canals, built roads and
houses and worked in the factories that made
the region such a vibrant place. Some of them
played for the most illustrious of the city’s
institutions, Aston Villa FC, while others became
lifelong supporters.
In these pages renowned author Dave Woodhall
tells the story of those who were talented, and lucky,
enough to ply their trade in claret and blue.
There are legends, heroes, at least one deity
and unforgettable characters. Players who defined
the word ‘versatile’, who were signed at a railway station
or sat in a hotel kitchen while their future was
decided in the restaurant. There’s the man whose
greatest moment means he hasn’t had to buy a drink
in Ireland for the past three decades, the
international who wasn’t qualified to play for his country
(and it isn’t the one you might think), the player
who was signed twelve years too late
and many more.
“The link between Aston Villa and Ireland is a
long and well-established one that has led to
many of the club’s greatest moments.
With Dave’s deep knowledge of Villa’s history
I can’t think of anyone better
to bring this story to light.”
Matt Maher, Chief Football Writer,
Wolverhampton Express & Star
Why was he called Chick?Perfectly timed for Villa's St Patrick's Day collection. Maybe the club could do a tie-in...
Trying to remember if you got to interview Eamonn Deacy for your Champions book - it's in my bookcase in Ireland but if memory serves, was there a chapter about each player?
I did, there was and he was everything that everyone ever says about him.
Why was he called Chick?Perfectly timed for Villa's St Patrick's Day collection. Maybe the club could do a tie-in...
Trying to remember if you got to interview Eamonn Deacy for your Champions book - it's in my bookcase in Ireland but if memory serves, was there a chapter about each player?
I did, there was and he was everything that everyone ever says about him.
Family Nickname: According to Eamonn's brother, Michael, their father always called him his "little chicken".
Affectionate Origin: His father would often say, "Come on my little chick, we are off to football," as they headed to matches.
The nickname stuck with him throughout his successful career, during which he won a League Championship with Aston Villa (1981) and was part of their European Cup-winning squad in 1982. He is so revered in his native Galway that Terryland Park was renamed Eamonn Deacy Park in his honor after his death in 2012.
Dave, do you have a pic of the cover?
Re being on-sale tomorrow, I presume you've rejected the overtures of the card machine and cash is still king at H&V Towers/North Stand corner.
Link not working?
I always considered us the "Irish" club of Birmingham, mainly because of my old man and his Irish mates, all of whom followed us despite living in the People's Republic Of Sheldon.I would agree with this. There is one lad in our group of Irish descent who is a bluenose and he grew up a stones throw from The Sty. We accept it as a mitigating factor.
I'm fact I've never never met anyone from Ireland in the City that follows the Rags, I'm sure there are but it doesn't stop me saying "there is no such thing as an Irish Bluenose" on a regular basis.
Good luck with the book Dave.
Not sure if I'm missing something but where is the link?
Can you see the left hand column, it’s at the top.
If not, click the small grey button at top right of screen, just below the headers and above <<previous next>>, the left column will then appear.
Can you see the left hand column, it’s at the top.
If not, click the small grey button at top right of screen, just below the headers and above <<previous next>>, the left column will then appear.
And maybe pics of the first 400 pages?Dave, do you have a pic of the cover?
For some reason I can't upload the whole thing but you get the idea.
(https://i.ibb.co/m3wKVRG/IMG-20260321-105910.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m3wKVRG)
Nice one Dave, just purchased a copy. I look forward to reading it.
My copy came today, a present for my Dad, who came to Birmingham in the late 1950’s, he will love it