Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on December 06, 2011, 07:14:39 PM
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“Villa have been a great club, are still a great club, and always will be a great club.” - Frederick Rinder, 1936.
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"Finance is important, but we should never forget that we are not talking about a mere business. This is the Aston Villa football club, and it deserves nothing short of the best." - Frederick Rinder
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"Do you want to bet against us?" - Ron Saunders
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"I invented the bicycle kick" - Doug Ellis
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"Do you want to bet against us?" - Ron Saunders
I love that quote, it's a shame that at the moment the answer is probably yes. Pity how times change.
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“Villa have been a great club, are still a great club, and always will be a great club.” - Frederick Rinder, 1936.
and me at 19.25 6 December 2011
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"Do you want to bet against us?" - Ron Saunders
If you are aware of the context and the tone, this is brilliant...
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"Proud history, bright future"
**Runs**
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"Were not fickle, we just don't like you"
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Tha manager has my full support - Doug (many times)
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"If there is a club in the country which deserves to be dubbed the greatest (and the matter is one of some delicacy) few will deny the right of Aston Villa to share the highest niche of fame with even the most historic of other aspirants. For brilliancy and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found."
William McGregor
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"Aston Villa - a name to conjure with, a name to inspire world wide affection, a name to admire and revere."
Peter Morris - The First 100 Years
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"Villa have amazing support. If you hung 11 Villa shirts on a washing line five thousand fans would turn up to watch them!"
Tommy Docherty
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OK, I know I quote this at every opportunity, but I still find it very moving:
The door to the lavishly appointed Guest Room at Villa Park was open and out in the corridor the little boys, dodging the commissionaire, were calling for Brian Little and John Gidman. Quite rightly, they took no notice of myself and the elderly bald-headed man, bespectacled, stooping a little, who was quietly finishing his tea. He looked at them for a moment, a whimsical look, and moved to the long windows overlooking the now deserted playing pitch.
“Every time you come back here it must bring back memories Pongo” I said. He stared out for a long while. I thought he’d forgotten I was there. “Aye,” he said suddenly, “aye, they’re a great club…the greatest.” I stood and looked with him, this old man whose goals had set the Villa crowds roaring so long ago. It was not quite dusk on that March afternoon and I saw them too…they were out again, the old ghosts…Jack Hughes, scorer just about one hundred years earlier of Aston Villa’s first goal (perhaps to the very day)…George Ramsay…the Hunter brothers…Willie McGregor…Denny Hodgetts…legion upon legion of them on parade now, filling the field with claret and blue…the century with pride.
Peter Morris: “Aston Villa – the First 100 Years”
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"If I had had a gun I'd have shot him"
John Gregory
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something i remember reading in either a villa programme or the evening mail in 1984 was a quote from Graham Turner in about march of the 84/85 season urging the squad to "think europe" as a motivation for finishing strongly. This after having been european champions less than 3 seasons prior and a team in decline due to Doug Ellis and him.
"think europe"
that manager was a twat.
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something i remember reading in either a villa programme or the evening mail in 1984 was a quote from Graham Turner in about march of the 84/85 season urging the squad to "think europe" as a motivation for finishing strongly. This after having been european champions less than 3 seasons prior and a team in decline due to Doug Ellis and him.
"think europe"
that manager was a twat.
Good old Doug, eh?
You can imagine him thinking " Hmmm, let's get rid of Tony Barton, he's only won us the European Cup and the European Super Cup. I'll bring in that unproven chap from Shrewsbury in the 4th Division" :o
Wasn't only the manager who was a twat!!
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A selection from the Tom Hanks/Jonathan Ross show...
Ross asked him, “Who is the manager of Aston Villa? What is the name of their ground? How many players have they got?”
To which the American star could only reply: “I have no idea... Sparky O’Rourke?
“Their home ground is the Villa Dome... and the Aston Villa team is made up of 723 c*** footballers.”
And when asked why he chose to support them, Hanks explained: “It’s so goofy and everybody asks me.
“The first time I came to London I was watching the scores go by one day before I had to go off and do something.
“And I think Blacksworth Upon Twixby beat Aston Villa by 4-0 and I thought Aston Villa, that sounds like a lovely little place. I think I’d like to go there.
“I’ve since met folks from the team. I’ve met the lady who runs it and been invited and I will go as soon as I can figure out where Aston Villa is.
“It’s in Birmingham? Well thank you very much. I think it’s grand. I just go by name.
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Never again will one man own Aston Villa or words to that effect.
Doug Ellis circa 1968
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John Barnes, this week after the Man u game:
"You can play that kind of football at Birmingham, but not at a Club like Aston Villa"
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I used to have a little pocket book of Villa quotes that someone bought me as a stocking filler one year. I'll have to dig it out and post a few.
One that springs to mind, and I'm paraphrasing here, is:-
"Birmingham is a great place to live and play your football"
- David Ginola (just after we signed him)
"Will this city ever run out of grey paint?"
- David Ginola (just before we sold him)
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"If there is a club in the country which deserves to be dubbed the greatest (and the matter is one of some delicacy) few will deny the right of Aston Villa to share the highest niche of fame with even the most historic of other aspirants. For brilliancy and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found."
William McGregor
Just goes to prove nothing is permanent in football.
I dare say when he made that comment nobody argued it with him. You can imagine Fergie making a similar comment about Utd now or Paisley making one about Liverpool in the mid-80s. Who would have thought Liverpool would go over 20 years without winning the title again in 1990?
It is this that gives you hope that we may one day be deserving of a comment like this again.
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I would like to finish as high in the table as we can, and I do honestly believe that that's possible.
David O'Leary
I am sure one day a Villa team can beat United, and I've got to believe it can be us."
Alex McLeish
I'd like to play for an Italian club like Barcelona.
Mark Draper
Allegations are all very well but I would like to know who these alligators are.
Ron Saunders
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Not long after Bill Shankly had retired, Villa went to Anfield and after 70 mins or so were drawing 0-0. We eventually lost 3-0. Ron Saunders said he would have been happy for the game to have ended after 70 mins. Bill Shankly being interviewed on MOTD said that it did.
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Probably not that famous but during the ITV coverage of Villa v Everton November 1989, we were possibly winning 5 or 6-0 at this particular point (can't remember exactly) when the pitch side reporter asked Graham Taylor 'How do you see the game going now Graham?"
The answer: "Well I don't think we'll lose."
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"This place is a shambles" - Graham Taylor shortly after taking over in 1987.
Gary Newbon interviewing Ron Saunders a few hours after we won the league. "Are you going to smile now Ron"? "Football's not all about laughing Gary. It's a serious business. It's a job." And I don't think he did smile until the civic reception the following day!
May 1991. Blues win the Leyland Daf cup and a few weeks later BFR is doing a BRMB phone-in a few hours after being confirmed manager. Caller asks "Are you gonna win us a trophy like the blues Ron"? BFR replies "I hope I don't win you the Leyland Daf trophy"!
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"Aston Villa are an inferior team to us and we'll clearly show that this weekend"
- Walter Pandiani October 2005.
.....Small Heath 0 Villa 1 (Pandiani substituted at half time).
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You heard that booing at the end? I started it - BFR after a home defeat to Oldham 1994
At least we were consistent - useless in defence, useless in midfield and crap up front - BFR again, Boxing Day 1992 after a tanking at Coventry where he gave unused sub Nigel Spink the man of the march
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Another one from BFR when before the game with Coventry he was asked what reception he would get on the way to the away dug-out on his return to Villa Park. "Your not allowed to use the term Doug out at Villa Park".
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"I was thinking of buying Collymore, now it's cauliflowers." BFR after he was sacked.
Always good for a quip was our Ron.
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You heard that booing at the end? I started it - BFR after a home defeat to Oldham 1994
At least we were consistent - useless in defence, useless in midfield and crap up front - BFR again, Boxing Day 1992 after a tanking at Coventry where he gave unused sub Nigel Spink the man of the march
Think it was Bosnich who got man of the match, sure he was the unused sub.
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"There was only one team in it tonight and they lost!" - Ron Atkinson
Sunderland 1 Villa 4
Roker Park 1993
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BFR was talking to the press after a Villa v Albion game in the late seventies. Ron Saunders walked in and asked "Are you giving the press your usual load of old bull Ron"!? BFR replied "Yep, I was just telling them what a great manager I think you are"!
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Well it's famous in my family, anyway:
"I hope Villa win, 66-0"
My mum's been saying this to me before every game since my dad took me to my first match in 1966. She's 82 now and had to give up her season ticket last year having fallen and broken her hip. I'm 53 now but she said it, yet again, on the telephone to me earlier before my trip to Bolton tomorrow with my two sons.
Ever the optimist!!
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Well it's famous in my family, anyway:
"I hope Villa win, 66-0"
My mum's been saying this to me before every game since my dad took me to my first match in 1966. She's 82 now and had to give up her season ticket last year having fallen and broken her hip. I'm 53 now but she said it, yet again, on the telephone to me earlier before my trip to Bolton tomorrow with my two sons.
Ever the optimist!!
I love this, great story, reminds me of my dad just before kick off every week saying 'come on boys, just this once', as far back as I can remember he's been saying it.
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"They're a bunch of ******, I hate them!" Olof Mellberg...... Or words to that effect.
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I was up at Sunderland Poly and watched Villa- Everton 6-1(ITV) with a scouser (Liverpool) and some other lads.Remember a lull in the commentary and the dulcet tones of a Brummie from the Witton Lane Stand utter the words "Brian Moore you twat" Made me homesick
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More BFR:
After a defeat at West Ham in 1994 - "Our Bulgarian players were on show today - Wouldov, Couldov and Shouldov."
After a defeat at Blackburn just before the Inter match in 1994 - "I dont know what the Inter spies made of us, probably as confused as we were."
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My favourite BFR-related quote was by his former colleague Dennis Jackson. "I played with Ron in 100 reserve games. And according to Ron he was man of the match in at least 99 of them."
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Not sure if these are genuine BFR quotes or myths I've heard repeated over the years from his press conference when he took over at United in 1981.
"Gentlemen, you are welcome to have my home phone number but please don't call me during The Sweeney"
"Martin Edwards offered me a Rover, I told him I had a Mercedes at Albion and all he was offering me was a dog."
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"My proudest moment in football ? Fielding a team of youngsters against what was effectively the Russian national side in a friendly in Kiev. We beat them 1-0."
- Joe Mercer, a few years after winning the League, FA cup, League Cup and Cup Winners Cup with Manchester city.
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BFR: "Both off and on the pitch Dalian and Deano hit it off like... well, like fish and chips if you will."
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To a Manure scout....."There's only one club I want to play for" a young Gary Shaw.
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Another one from BFR when before the game with Coventry he was asked what reception he would get on the way to the away dug-out on his return to Villa Park. "Your not allowed to use the term Doug out at Villa Park".
Hadn't heard that one before - classic!
He was on the now cancelled They Think It's All Over comedy sports quiz in I think the late 90s. Rory McGrath (no relation!) is a big gunners fan and asked Ron if he had ever managed Arsenal as the lead up top a joke/piss take, to which he replied "Only every time I've played them."
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Bumped and moved to HD. The club are interested in getting a selection of quotes both historical and current from fans and others printed around the ground. It would be appreciated if the above could be added to. A sort of 'Hairs standing on necks' approach.
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Mortimer, Shaw, Williams... prepared to adventure down the left. There's a good ball played in for Tony Morley. Oh, it must be... and it is! Peter Withe! Villa in the lead!
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We'll be bigger than the Villa in five years.
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"Whoa whoa whoa! £2! I paid by fucking cash!" - villa supporter 13/14
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A few from Graham Taylor on Doug Ellis:
“Well, it’s a love-hate relationship and he loves me.”
"He should take credit for an excellent stadium - no doubt about that at all. Should he be blamed for it not being filled?"
"There are fundamental problems at Aston Villa, a club run by Doug Ellis, for Doug Ellis and for the benefit of Doug Ellis."
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"I sometimes think you love The Villa more than me"
"I love the Blues more than I love you"
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There was an insert programme Football review or something in the 1971 Wembley programme, they had an article written by a someone i have forgotten at the end of the article he closed with "someone has shaken the tail of a slumbering Lion and i forsee the Lion plundering all the major trophies within the next 10 years"
I am sure someone maybe able to dig out the actual article , I remember crying on the train home from Wembley as a heartbroken 10 year old , suddenley there was a whip round from the Villa fans around me , i got 7 quid they said use the money to go down the Villa , they also gave me loads of badges , hats and scarves , my Dad was a Leeds fan , he became a Villa fan that day as did my mum
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There was an insert programme Football review or something in the 1971 Wembley programme, they had an article written by a someone i have forgotten at the end of the article he closed with "someone has shaken the tail of a slumbering Lion and i forsee the Lion plundering all the major trophies within the next 10 years"
I am sure someone maybe able to dig out the actual article , I remember crying on the train home from Wembley as a heartbroken 10 year old , suddenley there was a whip round from the Villa fans around me , i got 7 quid they said use the money to go down the Villa , they also gave me loads of badges , hats and scarves , my Dad was a Leeds fan , he became a Villa fan that day as did my mum
Beautiful.
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*End of Thread* No topping that.
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I always liked the Dean Saunders one to the effect that Aston Villa are just as big as Liverpool, it's just they don't realise it....or words to that effect. Someone will know the exact quote I'm sure
Frank's reminder of the Peter Morris one is very moving and reminds me of all my dearly departed relatives for whom Pongo Waring and the like were their heroes. I grew up hearing stories about him and so many others...
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I used to have a little pocket book of Villa quotes that someone bought me as a stocking filler one year. I'll have to dig it out and post a few.
One that springs to mind, and I'm paraphrasing here, is:-
"Birmingham is a great place to live and play your football"
- David Ginola (just after we signed him)
"Will this city ever run out of grey paint?"
- David Ginola (just before we sold him)
Bless you my child.
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There was an insert programme Football review or something in the 1971 Wembley programme, they had an article written by a someone i have forgotten at the end of the article he closed with "someone has shaken the tail of a slumbering Lion and i forsee the Lion plundering all the major trophies within the next 10 years"
I am sure someone maybe able to dig out the actual article , I remember crying on the train home from Wembley as a heartbroken 10 year old , suddenley there was a whip round from the Villa fans around me , i got 7 quid they said use the money to go down the Villa , they also gave me loads of badges , hats and scarves , my Dad was a Leeds fan , he became a Villa fan that day as did my mum
I nearly shed a tear reading this post. Wonderful.
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" Come on yew Villa Babbys" Nameless fat bloke next to me on the Holte every game at kick off 1968-94 and at the final whistle v Liverpool May 1994.
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" Come on yew Villa Babbys" Nameless fat bloke next to me on the Holte every game at kick off 1968-94 and at the final whistle v Liverpool May 1994.
I thought Chico owned the copyright to that exhortation.
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"You don't change the curtains if you're selling the house"
David O'Leary
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You forgot:
"I don't pay much attention to fickle sugarbags who don't respect the Charltons and Boltons of the world".
And: "Just cos Villa won the cup in the 80's or something, people think we should be one of the favourites"
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'Them all bloody villains' ... H&V sellers' all time favourite comment. They love it really
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'I learnt to sing on the holte end' - Ozzy Osbourne
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Saunders : I'd like a pay rise
Atkinson : No
Saunders : but I was player of the year last season
Atkinson : I didn't vote for you
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"you support Aston Villa ? now that is a proper football club"
Fred, a 89 year old QPR supporter.
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"It is all behind us now" - Stefan Postma's agent.
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''let's be honest, Villa have a different agenda to us, and they're a better side than us''.
TSM - 20/04/08
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John Gregory
There's an aura about this club, a sense of history and tradition. Even the name is beautifully symmetrical, with five letters in each word
Johnny Dixon
It was the name Aston Villa that made me write to the club for a trial. Nothing to do with anything else, just the name.
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Not famous, but one I've never forgotten. The scene - Trinity Road enclosure, mid 1980s. A freezing cold day, the second half of a crap match (goaless draw against Middlesbrough or suchlike). A little lad, about eight or nine years old, looking like he'd desperately prefer to be somewhere warmer, and less boring, turns to his father and says "How long to go, Dad?". An old bloke in the row behind, aged about 80, leans forward and says ruefully "About 70 f*cking years, son."
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"you support Aston Villa ? now that is a proper football club"
Fred, a 89 year old QPR supporter.
Almost the words a Polish barman said to me last week in Szczecin. Except he said "they are an original club".
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"you support Aston Villa ? now that is a proper football club"
Fred, a 89 year old QPR supporter.
Almost the words a Polish barman said to me last week in Szczecin. Except he said "they are an original club".
I get this quite a lot, comments about us being a proper club, if I'm out in a Villa shirt up here in Huddersfield. I spot other Villa fans fairly regularly too, surprisingly. A greeting of "Up the Villa" always seems to be appreciated.
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There was an insert programme Football review or something in the 1971 Wembley programme, they had an article written by a someone i have forgotten at the end of the article he closed with "someone has shaken the tail of a slumbering Lion and i forsee the Lion plundering all the major trophies within the next 10 years"
I am sure someone maybe able to dig out the actual article , I remember crying on the train home from Wembley as a heartbroken 10 year old , suddenley there was a whip round from the Villa fans around me , i got 7 quid they said use the money to go down the Villa , they also gave me loads of badges , hats and scarves , my Dad was a Leeds fan , he became a Villa fan that day as did my mum
Beautiful.
Indeed. £7 back in 1971 was a fair amount of money too. Sunny could have bought 350 Mars bars with the money. It's roughly equivalent to over £200 today.
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Not famous, but one I've never forgotten. The scene - Trinity Road enclosure, mid 1980s. A freezing cold day, the second half of a crap match (goaless draw against Middlesbrough or suchlike). A little lad, about eight or nine years old, looking like he'd desperately prefer to be somewhere warmer, and less boring, turns to his father and says "How long to go, Dad?". An old bloke in the row behind, aged about 80, leans forward and says ruefully "About 70 f*cking years, son."
Brilliant. And oh so true.
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There was an insert programme Football review or something in the 1971 Wembley programme, they had an article written by a someone i have forgotten at the end of the article he closed with "someone has shaken the tail of a slumbering Lion and i forsee the Lion plundering all the major trophies within the next 10 years"
I am sure someone maybe able to dig out the actual article , I remember crying on the train home from Wembley as a heartbroken 10 year old , suddenley there was a whip round from the Villa fans around me , i got 7 quid they said use the money to go down the Villa , they also gave me loads of badges , hats and scarves , my Dad was a Leeds fan , he became a Villa fan that day as did my mum
Beautiful.
Indeed. £7 back in 1971 was a fair amount of money too. Sunny could have bought 350 Mars bars with the money. It's roughly equivalent to over £200 today.
I seem to remember 10 bob notes and some shiny new 50ps, tanners , and loads of two bobs , some thruppeny bits which I loved but may not of been legal tender and two pound notes which came from two old irish fellas who came from Monaghan where my mum was born
i remember my Mum was worried as they looked a rum crowd , my Dad was more relaxed , they broke upen the beer and all was good the sing song was fantastic , fell asleep by Rugby as there was loads of nips for the little un ! my stash was apparently discarded for a big hand knitted scarf and a worn old flag .
Mt Dad was quite a conservative chap , but he loved it and still remembers the trip .
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Not famous, but one I've never forgotten. The scene - Trinity Road enclosure, mid 1980s. A freezing cold day, the second half of a crap match (goaless draw against Middlesbrough or suchlike). A little lad, about eight or nine years old, looking like he'd desperately prefer to be somewhere warmer, and less boring, turns to his father and says "How long to go, Dad?". An old bloke in the row behind, aged about 80, leans forward and says ruefully "About 70 f*cking years, son."
Excellent.
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There was an insert programme Football review or something in the 1971 Wembley programme, they had an article written by a someone i have forgotten at the end of the article he closed with "someone has shaken the tail of a slumbering Lion and i forsee the Lion plundering all the major trophies within the next 10 years"
I am sure someone maybe able to dig out the actual article , I remember crying on the train home from Wembley as a heartbroken 10 year old , suddenley there was a whip round from the Villa fans around me , i got 7 quid they said use the money to go down the Villa , they also gave me loads of badges , hats and scarves , my Dad was a Leeds fan , he became a Villa fan that day as did my mum
Beautiful.
Indeed. £7 back in 1971 was a fair amount of money too. Sunny could have bought 350 Mars bars with the money. It's roughly equivalent to over £200 today.
I seem to remember 10 bob notes and some shiny new 50ps, tanners , and loads of two bobs , some thruppeny bits which I loved but may not of been legal tender and two pound notes which came from two old irish fellas who came from Monaghan where my mum was born
i remember my Mum was worried as they looked a rum crowd , my Dad was more relaxed , they broke upen the beer and all was good the sing song was fantastic , fell asleep by Rugby as there was loads of nips for the little un ! my stash was apparently discarded for a big hand knitted scarf and a worn old flag .
Mt Dad was quite a conservative chap , but he loved it and still remembers the trip .
I remember my first (junior) season ticket was £11.25 in 1980/1. The best value for money ever!
My Dad always used to shout "come on you Villa boys!" just as they kick off. I have adopted it as a family heirloom.
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'Come on you Villa boys' is what I shout on the rare occasions I am there for kick-off.
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There was a quote from the press office not too long ago which I can't remember in full but ended something like: " ...but we can't think of anything that would reflect terribly well upon us". Something to do with the Noses I think. It deserves to be included.
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'Come on you Villa boys' is what I shout on the rare occasions I am there for kick-off.
I used to shout the same as the noise built up as they kicked off. In the 60's and 70's, I think it was the terrace response to the wealthy people in the upper Trinity drumming their feet on the timber floor.
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'Come on you Villa boys' is what I shout on the rare occasions I am there for kick-off.
I still yell that out religiously. Along with "Come on you Lions".
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Dave S. It was when Gold had served up his latest nonsense I think and we retorted about thinking hard as to how to respond but... And then your quote.
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Thanks CL, I remember now, actually one of the best putdowns of all time in any sphere.
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Here you go Dave...
ASTON Villa officials have dismissed an outburst by former Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan who claimed he was treated “appallingly” on his last visit to Villa Park.
Sullivan, now at the helm of West Ham United alongside fellow former Blues’ director David Gold, criticised hospitality offered to visiting directors at the ground.
He said he suffered abuse over his links with the St Andrew’s club from fellow guests at the fixture in 2010 which Villa won 3-0.
In a national newspaper tirade Sullivan, who sold Blues to Carson Yeung in 2009 for a reported £81 million, said the new breed of foreign owners failed to appreciate boardroom traditions.
He said: “In the old days it was lovely. But the new brigade, you don’t see.
“The worst is Aston Villa, because they put the visiting directors in a room with the corporate home fans.
‘‘We got loads of abuse because we were the former owners of Birmingham. We were treated appallingly. I nearly did it to them in retaliation but I wasn’t prepared to stoop to their level.”
However, the claims have mystified staff at Villa Park. It is understood both club owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner met Mr Sullivan’s party when they last attended Villa Park more than two years ago.
A club insider said the West Ham directors appeared to enjoy the day at Villa, which has won a host of matchday hospitality accolades.
These include Best Hospitality Experience in all Leagues and National Stadia and also the Premier League Match Day Hospitality prize. The club also Chef Team of the Year, and other prizes for its treatment of the media.
Sex-shop boss Sullivan said he had mixed-feelings about the influx of owners from abroad.
He fumed: “There are good examples of foreign ownership, Man City and Chelsea are terrific. But Randy Lerner is here to make money.”
An Aston Villa spokesman said: “As regards the specific comments made by Mr Sullivan, we have tried but can’t seem to come up with a response that reflects terribly well on us.”
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Thanks Leighton, I'm going to save that and have a read of it whenever I feel like cheering myself up.
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Couldn't that quote be equally taken as an admission of being in the wrong?
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Olof's quote
"I could never think about playing for Birmingham City. That’s not an option, I dont like Birmingham City at all"
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No, its them saying 'shut-up you prick'.
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I love the description "sex shop boss Sullivan".
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"Fight for it Villa"
Usually saved for a midfield scrap when it was 50-50
Haven't heard it for ages though
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Nice dig from Sullivan about Randy being in it for the money. I think him and Gold are the only owners ever to make a profit buying and selling the noses.
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Can't remember the exact wording, but the response to Charles Green's comment about us being useless was quite amusing
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Doug: So, you're back for pre-season then?
Balaban: Yes, Mister Chairman. I didn't think you would recognise me.
Doug: The money I spent on you, boy, I don't think I will be forgetting you in a hurry. Have you put on weight over the summer? You have...
Bosko: So have you.
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Not famous, but one I've never forgotten. The scene - Trinity Road enclosure, mid 1980s. A freezing cold day, the second half of a crap match (goaless draw against Middlesbrough or suchlike). A little lad, about eight or nine years old, looking like he'd desperately prefer to be somewhere warmer, and less boring, turns to his father and says "How long to go, Dad?". An old bloke in the row behind, aged about 80, leans forward and says ruefully "About 70 f*cking years, son."
Earlier this year a colleague's 20 year old lad was taking part in a 48 football thing to raise money for charity and he came into our place to promote it. He got to the end of his presentation and said "after all, 48 hours is an awful long time to play football" and (I apologised afterwards) it just came out: "48 hours? You wanna try 55 years down Villa Park mate, it's fu**in' agony!"
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'Come on you Villa boys' is what I shout on the rare occasions I am there for kick-off.
I still yell that out religiously. Along with "Come on you Lions".
It must be an "era" thing - my mate and I still shout exactly these two. And did yesterday against Malaga.
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Aston Villa doesn't realise just how big it is- Dean Saunders.
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'Come on you Villa boys' is what I shout on the rare occasions I am there for kick-off.
I still yell that out religiously. Along with "Come on you Lions".
It must be an "era" thing - my mate and I still shout exactly these two. And did yesterday against Malaga.
"Come on me babbies" has always been my preferred greeting to the team at KO.
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Wembley train station 1994 after the league cup final.
walking (elated) on to the platform and this Man U fan comes running at us. Aye up I thought get ready..
He stops and says: 'What the F*** happened there? This was the one we were counting on!'
(If you remember this was the first leg of the treble they were going for)
Just completed a perfect day.
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It was BFR to Deano I think when trying to sign him. "Do you want to sign for a club that is going to win lots of trophies, or do you want to play for me at the Villa?"
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It was BFR to Deano I think when trying to sign him. "Do you want to sign for a club that is going to win lots of trophies, or do you want to play for me at the Villa?"
I don't think they'll be putting that one up somehow.
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Why not?!!
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Panicking copper on his radio while trying to control Villa fans at Leeds in the Cup in '88: "there's only about seventy of 'em but they're as hard as nails".
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Isn't there one about Herbert Chapman taking Arsenal on a European Tour and complaining that wherever he went, people only wanted to talk about Aston Villa?
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Isn't there one about Herbert Chapman taking Arsenal on a European Tour and complaining that wherever he went, people only wanted to talk about Aston Villa?
Nah, some bloke called Drake talking about some goals he scored once.
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"it was the manner of the defeat " HDE after the 0-6 drubbing at Forest and sacking Turner .
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Still not seen the General's comment
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Chico's Mervyn King thread reminded me of this one:
“Supporting Aston Villa is much more stressful than being Governor of the Bank of England”
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'I learnt to sing on the holte end' - Ozzy Osbourne
Where have you read/heard that?
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'I learnt to sing on the holte end' - Ozzy Osbourne
Where have you read/heard that?
I was a bit dubious about that quote so I googled it and as I suspected it is down to some very dodgy journalism.
In an article titled "Ozzy owes it all to the Holte End." the first line reads "ROCKER Ozzy Osbourne has revealed where he learnt to sing - on the Holte End at Aston Villa." The article then goes on to quote Ozzy, who doesn't actually say anything like that. Here's the rest of the article:
"Me and mates used to hang around Villa Park on match days," said the Black Sabbath legend.
"We'd look after cars for a few bob, make sure no-one nicked or scratched them.
"I remember standing on the Holte End a few times. It was always f****** great fun.
"I had some favourite players - Peter McParland, Jimmy MacEwan, Alan Deakin. I had their posters on me wall as a kid.
"But I was never as big a fan as one our bassist Geezer Butler.
"When Villa lost, he'd lock himself in his room for a day, turn out the lights and draw down the blinds.
"He'd be in a depression for ages."
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I like David Platts quote when asked what as a player what ambitions he had to which he replied
" to make a run that Sid Cowans doesn't spot" or words to that effect.
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I still love BFR's quote in a BRMB phone in on the evening of the day he took over in 1991. Caller: "The blues have just won a trophy. Are you gonna win us one?" BFR: "I hope I don't win you the Leyland Daf cup!"
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'we go again'
'I just do'
P Lambert 2012/13
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'we go again'
'I just do'
That needs to be hung on a banner from the holte.
P Lambert 2012/13
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run in to the title, and seemingly the dressing room felt that M'boro were a bogey team for the villa. Withe told the dressing room "I always score against them and never lost to them".
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Brilliant job done. Looked really good on the walk to the ground today. Not too sure about the Tom Hanks one, though.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/994568_697902513570643_224281297_n.jpg)
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I saw them walking to catch the 7 back into town. As Tony the Tiger would say, they're grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat.
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For me BFR king of the quotes. Favourite one that makes me smile every time I hear it happened during a game when one of our players was laid out following a heavy challenge. BFR says to the physio, "how is he?" Physio replies, "not great boss, he doesn't know who he is". To which BFR replies, " well stick him back on and tell him he's Pele!"
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That's not Big Ron, that story is as old as Bobby Robson's nan, have heard it attributed to about twenty different managers. Urban myth, I reckon. A good 'un though.