Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Holte Enders in the Sky => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on May 31, 2011, 01:23:40 PM

Title: Frank Upton
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 31, 2011, 01:23:40 PM

I don't think this has been mentioned elsewhere, but Frank died recently. He had a long career in football and was notable for being Villa youth team coach from 1970-77 which means he brought through Brian Little, John Gidman, Gordon Cowans, John Deehan, Gary Shaw and Colin Gibson amongst others. We could do with his like today. 

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 31, 2011, 01:27:10 PM

RIP.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 31, 2011, 01:29:14 PM

RIP.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Damo70 on May 31, 2011, 01:40:07 PM

Didn't he take charge of us at Old Trafford on the last day after we'd been relegated and Billy McNeil had been sacked in 1987? RIP Frank.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: not3bad on May 31, 2011, 01:42:42 PM

Quote from: dave.woodhall on May 31, 2011, 01:23:40 PM

He had a long career in football and was notable for being Villa youth team coach from 1970-77 which means he brought through Brian Little, John Gidman, Gordon Cowans, John Deehan, Gary Shaw and Colin Gibson amongst others. We could do with his like today. 

What a record!

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: villasjf on May 31, 2011, 02:54:16 PM

We owe him a lot.
RIP

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: flybo on May 31, 2011, 03:14:14 PM

RIP.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Salsa Party Animal on May 31, 2011, 03:14:34 PM

RIP

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Jonathan Collett on May 31, 2011, 04:33:12 PM

Local man from Nuneaton and Villa supporter. Good playing record with Nuneaton Borough, later Chelsea and Derby. Knew his brother. RIP

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: sfx412 on May 31, 2011, 04:41:45 PM

Sad, the Holte End in the Sky has some remarkable people in it.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Flamingo Lane on May 31, 2011, 05:35:50 PM

A great Villa man.  In Peter Morris' book of the Villa he says "the Villa lads [who won the Youth Cup in 1972] scored 31 goals and conceded only 7 - a remarkable reflection of attacking strength and defensive soundness - a tribute to coach frank Upton and, one hopes, only the first of many achievements by Villa's young footballers in the seasons to come."

There's also a great photo in the book of the team in the communal bath after winning the cup, with Frank in there also, holding the cup aloft.

RIP.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: gervilla on May 31, 2011, 05:37:35 PM

RIP

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Nev on May 31, 2011, 05:40:47 PM

Brian Little spoke very highly of him on the radio last week.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: darren woolley on May 31, 2011, 05:45:08 PM

RIP

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Dave Cooper please on May 31, 2011, 05:46:02 PM

I remember him briefly being involved with Burton Albion, must have been about 1990 or 91, recognised the name in the programme and sought him out in their clubhouse to shake his hand.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: PeterWithesShin on May 31, 2011, 06:06:01 PM

RIP

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on May 31, 2011, 09:18:28 PM

Brings back memories of that 1972 youth cup team, Brian and Alan Little, Giddy, Bob Mac, Jake Findlay, Tony Betts etc.
The interest in the youth team and the crowds really took off, from a couple of thousand in the 1st round against Boldmere they were getting crowds over 10,000 in later rounds and double that by the time we played Blues with Francis and Burns in the semis.
Frank Upton set the standard for Villa youth development, while he was there and for years afterwards.

RIP.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: Lizz on May 31, 2011, 11:28:30 PM

It's difficult not to be repetitive on these threads, but can't think of anything else that hasn't been said other than to repeat RIP.

Title: Re: Frank Upton
Post by: pooligan on June 02, 2011, 05:40:21 PM

Sad to hear of his death. In my youth i was great friends of Bobby Mcdonald, Mike Brady, Jake Findlay and Jimmy Brown when they were living in digs in the Erdington area. They use to be terrified of him but never had a bad word to say about him  RIP