Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: russon on June 07, 2010, 06:15:59 AM
-
Paul McGrath - flying back heels
Mark Bosnich - when the ball was up the other end you'd see him stretching his arms out to the side and to the sky like Mad Lizzie off breakfast telly
-
McGrath doing that little pointy thing with both hands at his hips whenever he made a row-Z clearance that went over the old one-tier Witton Lane stand.
-
Gordon Cowans pose when he took a free-kick. One leg trailing behind and pointing down to the floor.
Dean Saunders running with his tongue out all the time.
Shaun Teale making a fantastic challenge then hobbling about for the next two minutes.
-
McGrath doing that little pointy thing with both hands at his hips whenever he made a row-Z clearance that went over the old one-tier Witton Lane stand.
I cant believe that McGrath played when the old Witten stand was there?
-
Petrov stumbling and looking like he's going to fall flat on his face but just manages to stay on his feet.
-
Peter Withe and his bag of sweets from the lady in the Witton Lane stand.
and his sweat bands
And running around after whatever defender had upset him, giving him the finger
Sid's turn - where he'd drag the ball round behind him changing feet and beating his marker
Brian Little never having his shirt tucked in.
-
Savo using his right leg only for standing.
-
Angel's bandana.
-
John Gregory and his lollipop.
-
When we'd conceded a corner John Gidman running to his post, raising both hands to his head and pulling his hair out of his eyes.
-
Ray Houghton taking tiny little steps when he ran...
-
Paul McGrath - flying back heels
Exactly the picture that comes to mind when I think of him. All so effortless.
Peter Withe and his bag of sweets from the lady in the Witton Lane stand.
Jimmy Rimmer used to get a bag of sweets every game off an old dear when he was at Arsenal. These days they'd be laced with something - does Emile get given any?
For me it's the great waft of liniment that came from Colin Withers as he approached the Holte End. And Les Sealey screaming obscenities.
-
Dwight Yorke running up the length of the pitch towards the tunnel after every pre-match warm up with the ball balanced on his head.
-
Petrov tackling from behind and getting booked all the while.
-
Ashley Young looking like he's about to cry whenever he's awarded a free kick.
Stiliyan Petrov passing the ball five yards when he intended to trap it.
Steve Sidwell trying to tackle by doing a one-man haka.
Julian Joachim not having a neck.
-
Dalian atkinson sleeping on the half way line.
Spinks tounge in his chin when he was concentrating!
-
McGrath doing that little pointy thing with both hands at his hips whenever he made a row-Z clearance that went over the old one-tier Witton Lane stand.
I cant believe that McGrath played when the old Witten stand was there?
McGrath was with us in 1989 which from memory was at least 4 years before the old Witton lane stand came down
-
Mortimer shooting over the bar nine times out of ten
-
Nigel Spink doing a "banana" kick. That is kicking the ball completely out of play unintentionally when kicking out of his hands.
Thank God the back pass hadn't been outlawed then, he had terrible ball control.
-
The claret and blue Mini Metro that used to drive around the perimeter of the pitch at half time.
Jimmy Rimmer illegally "marking" his six-yard area before the start of each half.
Alpay receiving a hero's reception at the end of each game, bowing to all 4 corners of Villa Park.
-
Kevin Richardson hammering penalties over the bar in shoot-outs.
-
Ashley Youngs hands on both knee's, wincing in pain then hobbling around after he has been fouled.
-
Andy Lochhead, penalty spot, back to goal in front of the Holte.
Silly buggar attempted a 'bicycle kick'. (copyright -Sir. D. Ellis)
He slipped, missed the ball, and landed on his back with the ball balanced on his stomach.
-
Who was that scruffy long haired clown who, in the early seventies, would escape the stewards and run to the centre circle before every kick off to shake hands with the captains and ref to chants of "Greebo, Greeeeeebo". ?
-
Tony Daley with a bit of space belting it up the Trinity Road byline and the whole of the Stand jumping out of their seats.
-
Dwight Yorkes chipped pen at Sheffield Utd, standing there and thinking has he really done that!
-
Our werewolf.
-
And Tarzan
-
Bear with me here mental block on the surname, Alan .... the midget from Blackburn ...dropping to his knees on the touchline to chest a ball that was shin high to most players then bouncing straight back up.
The wonders of a low centre of gravity.
Oh and remember that goal Deano scored by bouncing the ball off the keepers back as he ran back to goal from the touchline to play himself on after they had both raced out there to be first to the ball. Class improv.
-
Bear with me here mental block on the surname, Alan .... the midget from Blackburn ...dropping to his knees on the touchline to chest a ball that was shin high to most players then bouncing straight back up.
The wonders of a low centre of gravity.
Oh and remember that goal Deano scored by bouncing the ball off the keepers back as he ran back to goal from the touchline to play himself on after they had both raced out there to be first to the ball. Class improv.
Wright
-
I give you the winner Eamonn Deacey!
-
What about Charlie Athersmith, scampering up and down the wing - and scoring a goal - whilst carrying an umbrella?
-
What about Charlie Athersmith, scampering up and down the wing - and scoring a goal - whilst carrying an umbrella?
No he didn't.
-
Who was that scruffy long haired clown who, in the early seventies, would escape the stewards and run to the centre circle before every kick off to shake hands with the captains and ref to chants of "Greebo, Greeeeeebo". ?
There was also a small black lad in a crombie who used to run into the penalty area as the players came out and dance about a bit before diving back into the Holte.
-
Colin Withers' favourite green jersey that he wore every week. He wore it until it was washed almost white, at which point he was told he had to replace it as it wasn't regulation colour anymore.
-
What about Charlie Athersmith, scampering up and down the wing - and scoring a goal - whilst carrying an umbrella?
No he didn't.
Unless anyone can prove he didn't, I'm sticking with the story.
"23 CHARLIE ATHERSMITH
(1891-1901) 311 apps, 86 goals
Like "Who shot JFK?", the question of whether or not Charlie Athersmith really spent part of one Villa game under an umbrella will now probably never be solved............."
-
There was also a small black lad in a crombie who used to run into the penalty area as the players came out and dance about a bit before diving back into the Holte.
"Mascot!" (clap clap clap!)
With abundant woolly hair. He too sometimes made it to the centre circle and exchanged pleasantries with the captains and the ref with little more than a finger-wagging from the rozzers.
He finally came unstuck up at Wrexham where he was pursued by a large policeman and frogmarched off in spite of protests from the the Villa captain - Rioch I think.
-
Dwight's collar turned up
Dalian wagging his fingers when he scored as he ran off towards the corner flag
Gary Shaw's non-celebration of goals
Ugo's loping giraffe like stride
-
The claret and blue Mini Metro that used to drive around the perimeter of the pitch at half time.
Jimmy Rimmer illegally "marking" his six-yard area before the start of each half.
Alpay receiving a hero's reception at the end of each game, bowing to all 4 corners of Villa Park.
UNtil he wanted to leave.
-
Southgate's fist of triumph when we won a game.
-
Didn't Peter Withe used to get a bag of sweets off some old dear in the Holte?
-
Not aimed at a specific player, this, but many random players being sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. WTF was that, by the way?
-
Not aimed at a specific player, this, but many random players being sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. WTF was that, by the way?
It was a ferry operator. Travelled from Liverpool to Risso's personal boat house
-
Ruskin Hall, Aston Hall, Trinity Rd Enclosure, AV floodlights, 4 different stands, Brian Little, Andy Gray, Ron Saunders, The Motor Club, Terry Rutter, 0-2 v Luton, 2-2 v QPR, titles, triumphs, Bosko, Rotterdam, Spink, relegation, Sir Graham, Tranmere, Big Ron, Doug out, Doug going, Randy, MON.
-
Didn't Peter Withe used to get a bag of sweets off some old dear in the Holte?
.....good one. I think she was in the old Witton Lane stand though?
-
The 'Jumbo' hot dog bloke.
-
Con Martin - centre half or goalkeeper.
Fred Potter - inside forward who turned to goalkeeping.
-
Allan Evans' vaseline strip above both eyebrows
-
The style of numbers 1- 12 on the 1980/81 AV strip...used for that one season only I believe...a defining moment of individuality
-
Mellbergs mazy dribble as he ran off from his warm up
Parker & Saunders pot shotting the Evans Halshaw demo cars
Les Sealeys chicken dance
Isiah Ozzy staring at his feet whilst in possession
Stauntons out swingers into the Trinity
MONs bowing handshake
-
'We will rock you' playing and hands clapping on the scoreboard, before kick-off, 1994-ish.
-
Tony Morleys gestures to Ron Saunders after scoring. Flicking the Vs?
-
The lettered scoreboard.
The Trinity Clock.
The dummy/step over McGrath, and then Ugo, used to always do when ball was heading for a Goal Kick.
Bozzie tapping the top of the cross bar before a corner was taken.
-
When we defended a corner Brian Little would stand hand on hips in the centre circle with his marker.
The idea was to clear any near post balls down the right wing. Little would time his run out wide so that as the ball bounced he could back heel it over his left shoulder with his right foot. This quick change of direction usually flummoxed the marker and left Little with a clear run at the goal. He got quite few goals this way.
I've never seen anyone else do anything similar.
-
Overpriced forwards coming to us and struggling for a large part of their time at the club (though I guess a few sides can probably say that).
Taking any kind of interest in the goings on at BCFC, when the rest of the footballing world thinks they are an irrelevance.
-
Sid Cowans always made sure he had the last ball to kick out of touch, usually a 40 yard screamer, just before kick off.
-
John Carew walking like he's shit himself.
-
The curse of Millichip. The seemingly endless stream of away draws in the cups early/mid 90s.
-
Hi there, I am the author of 'The Gerry Hitchens Story' and 'The Bobby Thomson Story' and I am Currently compiling a major book project which will consist of fans memories of everything Villa and it is due to be published in October. I hope to include some current and ex-players and celeb Villa fans. Some of the postings are brilliant and I was wondering if you have any objection in me using yours in my book?
My email address is simongoodyear@soccerbiographies.com
Please let me know if this is ok?
Regards,
Simon
-
The way Cuellar holds out his hand in a limp-wristed fashion when he's passing the ball. Drives me mad, does anyone notice this?
-
I give you the winner Eamonn Deacey!
What about him?
-
I used to always see a bloke at away games a few years back who wore a Coventry top under his Villa top as he supported both teams and would tell anybody unfortunate enough to be with-in a few yards of him that he supported both teams, sat next to him at Albion when Dion missed a penalty and the steward recognised him from a previous visit with Coventry
-
Winning games. Ah, winning games. Life was so innocent back then.
-
Because of the proximity of the road, the angle of the old Holte End on the Trinity rd side meaning the floodlight pylon was positioned on the terrace, whereas the Witton lane side it was alongside the terrace.
Hurricane Smith - Theme from an unmade silent movie.
During the 80's, noses in the Witton Lane stand (amongst all the pensioners) thinking they were hard.
-
Peter Withe used to throw his wristbands into the Holte after every game I think?
Running up the steps into the light in the old Holte hoping to get your usual spot at 2:55.
Terry Weir running around the pitch at half time towards the Holte.
The half time penalty kicks for the kids.
I could go on and on...
-
Applauding the opposition goalkeeper as he ran to the Holte with an immediate change as soon as he set foot in the penalty area
Tiswas/Swap Shop
Hanging around at the end of a game to hear the results from other games then rushing back to whichever car you'd come in to listen to the radio 2 sports report at 5pm
No grass down the middle of the pitch from late October until the end of the season
-
Mark Delaney's sideburns.
-
The double row of executive boxes in the North Stand (since copied by Spurs).
The old Trinity Road Stand.
The way the divisions between each tier on every stand at Villa Park are claret and blue!
-
More of a memory than an idiosyncrasy I expect, but in the '70's & 80's I used to sit just behind the press box (although enclosure would be a better description) in the old Trinity. There was an old guy who sat in the front row of the press box who rested two pads with the numbers one to ten each on separate pages on the balustrade in a position where all the journalists could see it. It was his job to flip the number every minute, so if the journo's were writing about an interesting piece of play, or maybe a goal, they would know what minute it occurred.
Strange really, because I'm almost certain clocks had been invented by then.
-
Mark Draper being incapable of passing the ball forwards
-
Nigel Spink running out and having a 'shot' at the Holte end goal and the resulting cheer if it went in or ooooh's if it went wide before Spink applauded the fans with hands above his head.
-
Tiny Alan Wright receiving a ball 2feet high wide on the touchline by dropping to his knees, chesting it down and springing back up.
-
Nigel Spink running out and having a 'shot' at the Holte end goal and the resulting cheer if it went in or ooooh's if it went wide before Spink applauded the fans with hands above his head.
My old man would tell me that if Spink missed we weren't going to have a good day, you would hear the Holte groan on the odd occasion he missed.
-
Jimmy Rimmer always running out last.
-
Gary Charles' inexplicably tight shorts
Steve Watson warming up in a flimsy tee-shirt, no matter what the temperature or weather
Ivo Stas' inability to play
-
Trying to get a smile from the old bugger who sold the programmes at the bottom of the Holte on the left side.
Standing in the Villa shop for hours watching the videos they play on the tv's.
Trying to get a smile from any one of the miserable old ticket office staff!
-
Gary Shaw being completely understated and often miserable when he scored (example: see Champions video of the 80/81 season against Leicester at home).
Nigel Spink pressing his tongue into the bottom of his mouth.
The regular 'we know what your doing' whistle on the Holte End during the 80s.
-
John Gidman flicking the ball over his head with the back of his heel whilst warming up.
I still try that in the garden now when playing with my 7 year old. The kids today call it a "rainbow" apparently.
-
Darius Vassell DIY toe surgery!
-
Shaun Teale Man of Steel cutting his hand on a fish tank ruling himself out of BFR's last few matches 1994 although by then he'd lost his place to Ehiogu anyway. Sir Brian wisely reinstated Teale to the team and he proved invaluable in the relegation battle that season.
-
David Platt standing win the penalty area waiting for a corner to be delivered with his hands sort of hanging from his weak wrists in a very camp sort of way. I could never understand why he did this. ???
-
Steve Fosters headband, the A V floodlights, the sky blue fence, the old bowling green,the old lions club. a Wille anderson penalty. John robson sideburns, the villa times paper, the hill at the back of the Witton end,golden goal tickets,rosettes and the holte and witton end scoreboards
-
David Platt thinking up new and ingenious ways to pass back to Nigel Spink.
-
Shaun Teale Man of Steel cutting his hand on a fish tank ruling himself out of BFR's last few matches 1994 although by then he'd lost his place to Ehiogu anyway. Sir Brian wisely reinstated Teale to the team and he proved invaluable in the relegation battle that season.
I'm sure I read somewhere (BFR's book I think) that he was unavailable at the start of that season because against the wishes of the club but under pressure from his wife he'd had a nose job done.
-
Andy Townsend spending about ten mins of a league cup game on the sideline trying to put his contact lens back in. And if I remember correctly, still won man of the match, although I'm open to correction on that one
-
Andy Townsend spending about ten mins of a league cup game on the sideline trying to put his contact lens back in. And if I remember correctly, still won man of the match, although I'm open to correction on that one
League Cup Semi Final 2nd leg in 1996 v Arsenal.
-
Probably not really a fit for this topic but one of my fav memories of Paul McGrath is from the first villa match I saw on the day I became a fan (2-1 win at home to Arsenal 1989). Was live on Irish Tv. McGrath does a completely uncharacteristic run from the halfway line and does an equally uncharacteristic dribble around the last defender, not realising the final whistle was blown seconds earlier ;D. Always gives me a laugh anyway....
-
I loved McGrath's cheeky back heel kicks to clear the ball that would always get a cheer from the Holte, he seemed to do one in every game but that could be age catching up with me!
-
The old bloke at the back of the Trinity Road stand in the late 60s who every so often would startle everyone by bellowing out "WAKEY WAKEY".
-
Carlos running like a girl, or am I the only one to think this?
-
I always thought Olof had a strange run
-
Chico Hamilton long flowing hair .
-
There was also a small black lad in a crombie who used to run into the penalty area as the players came out and dance about a bit before diving back into the Holte.
"Mascot!" (clap clap clap!)
With abundant woolly hair. He too sometimes made it to the centre circle and exchanged pleasantries with the captains and the ref with little more than a finger-wagging from the rozzers.
He finally came unstuck up at Wrexham where he was pursued by a large policeman and frogmarched off in spite of protests from the the Villa captain - Rioch I think.
I think that may have been 'Shoff'. Sorry I can't remember his proper name. If it's the same lad I remember going to a midweek match on the train with him to Pompey in the old Div 2 days. I think the score was 4-1 to the Villa. Of course we hadn't bothered about train times to get us back home until we arrived in Pompey where we found out that there was no way to get back that night. So after the match we went round the three or four coaches trying to blag a lift back and in the end one group of fans intimidated the driver into allowing us on to their coach. Happy days. ;D
-
The Fence down the middle of The Holte.......The Fence Must Go! The Fence Must Go!
John Gregory whistling at the players like a demented shepherd trying to get his dog to heel.
Sir Dennis's pirate beard.
Andy Lochead's uncanny ability to always seem to be running in slow motion.
-
The old Witton Lane stand - All wooden seats, apart from 100 or so blue plastic ones down the front.
Eamonn Deacy leaving Villa to run a green grocers in Ireland
Bernie Gallacher - surely the ultimate football anomaly.
Graham Taylor buying Lee Turnbull and selling him a week later.
Steve Hodge's back pass against Norwich
Andy Gray's (mark 2) miss against Ipswich in the League Cup
Outrage at the price of the Anderlecht programme in the European Cup Semi Final. It was 50p
A parachutist crashing into the Trinity, then crashing to the floor, suffering multiple injuries.
Dave Chance's bizarre rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Despite hardly ever playing, David Geddis and Terry Donavan always had a canny knack of scoring.
Not playing for months in early 1982, because of the weather.
Beating Blues at Villa Park on a quagmire pitch. The winning goal from Withe as he ran on to a ball that got stuck in the water, just before it reached the goalkeeper Tony Coton.
The bells are ringing fiasco
The actions of the board over the last week.
-
The actions of the board over the last week.
Why? I would say the only idiosyncratic behaviour has been our own supporters and certain aspects of the media. Whether you like the appointment or not, our board have acted with the same professionalism as normal.
-
Being located beside a Jacobean mansion house with its grounds and gardens.
Actually that isnt idiosyncratic, just very classy.
-
Being located beside a Jacobean mansion house with its grounds and gardens.
Actually that isnt idiosyncratic, just very classy.
Yes it is. Unique too.
There's no walk to ground view that compares with a walk towards the Holte in May. Sun shining, Aston Hall to your left with the church on the right fronted by Cherry Blossom in full bloom. The Holt Hotel straight ahead bringing the two together. It's just wonderful.
-
The actions of the board over the last week.
Why? I would say the only idiosyncratic behaviour has been our own supporters and certain aspects of the media. Whether you like the appointment or not, our board have acted with the same professionalism as normal.
Point taken.
-
Bosnich tapping the crossbar before each opposition corner was taken.
-
David Platt thinking up new and ingenious ways to pass back to Nigel Spink.
That 'chest then volley' from the left-back position against Inter Milan is still probably the best pass back I've ever seen.
-
The dreadful years when the Trinity Road 'Balcony' was covered with cheap advertising boards.
Almost every new signing being 'not match fit yet' or quickly sustaining a mysterious pelvic strain at Bodymoor Heath.
The dried up pies that used to be sold in the old Holte End.
The one ground that can be deathly silent throughout a match but, with the same amount of people inside it, can become a cacophony of noise.
-
The 70's AV carpet in the North Stand.
-
David Platt thinking up new and ingenious ways to pass back to Nigel Spink.
That 'chest then volley' from the left-back position against Inter Milan is still probably the best pass back I've ever seen.
I remember that! At the Holte End, and from bang on the touchline, bent with the outside of his right boot straight into the keeper's arms above a crowd of players.
-
The old scoreboards at the corner of the Holte end and Witton ends
The allyway at the back of the Holte end
The blue railings around the ground
The Villa Times
The rosette sellers outside the ground
The Lions Club
The AV floodlights
Getting a argus outside the ground about 5 45pm
Pirate programmes
Crash Barriers to lean on
Getting soaked if at the Witton End