Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: villa `cross the mersey on June 12, 2012, 03:45:19 PM
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I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport) and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.
I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.
As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.
As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.
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I met Shaun Teale when he was managing Burscough and he was great.
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I used to play for Bromsgrove Rovers in the very early 90's and Tony Grealish was there who I had spent time with when I was playing in the reserves/youth team at Walsall. Top bloke. Anyway, at training one night who waltzes in but Tony Morley. Imagine my dismay when he came across as an arrogant, big headed tw@t of a bloke, especially when I used to idolise him as a kid. Have met many villa players since but that stands out as the one time I wished I hadn't
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Bumped into a few in town, mainly shit ones like Cuellar, Knight and Delfouneso.
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I used to play for Bromsgrove Rovers in the very early 90's and Tony Grealish was there who I had spent time with when I was playing in the reserves/youth team at Walsall. Top bloke. Anyway, at training one night who waltzes in but Tony Morley. Imagine my dismay when he came across as an arrogant, big headed tw@t of a bloke, especially when I used to idolise him as a kid. Have met many villa players since but that stands out as the one time I wished I hadn't
That's a real surprise because he's always been one of the best of the lot.
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Morley is sound, in fact, good company.
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i have met most of the legends clan as part of andy blairs evenings that he puts on for wayne at the britannia pub in wollaston.
my experience of them all is great. They are down to earth guys who are very humble in their achievements.
Had a couple of pints with Jimmy Rimmer, bought Ken Mcnaught a pint of IPA and Gary Shaw a pint of lager! All the players are willing to sign stuff that you take along.
These primadonnas of the modern age dont appreciate or deserve your adulation. We havent got many who wear our shirt with pride. I was bursting with pride last night with Mellberg on the pitch instead of that pretender olsen from the boggies.
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Never meet your hero & go drinking with him. I tried that with McGrath in 1994 on my honeymoon, needless to say it was an incredible evening, I just wish I could remember more about it.
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Morley is sound, in fact, good company.
well i met Sid a few times and he refused to be blood brothers with me and be my new best friend I think he was scared of me ???
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Steve Staunton is a dick. I went to see his comeback from serious injury against York reserves and at the end he said he would come back out to sign autographs and chat to the children - he legged it and left lots of disappointed kids.
I knew he'd do it too. Fuck wit.
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Met Ian Taylor at the friendly v Derby last season, happy to sign any autographs and have photos taken as well as chat about the Villa.
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
i've never met any of the golden era personaly
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I first met up with my childhood Villa hero Tony Morley about six years ago in connection with a charity and getting a shirt off him. He went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to his time and effort. In conversations with him he was friendly, polite, patient, modest and good fun. Top bloke. I also met Steve McMahon at an end of season awards when he was Swindon manager and my girlfriend at the time had a brother playing for their youth team. After introducing myself as a Villa fan who was a fan of his in his time at the club I can confirm that he is a man of few words and didn't seem inclined to chat about the Villa.
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Although i never saw him play, I was a tad bit nervous when Sir Brian signed me copy of 'Return of the Little Villian' in Smiths in town many moons ago. He was my brother's favourite player so it meant a lot just to get to meet him. He was great though, a really nice chap.
Sir Graham walked past me after a forum he did (if memory served me right, it was'nt long after he took over as England manager) but i've never said hello to the bloke as much as I'd like to.
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It was great to meet Des Bremner, Tony Morley and Pat Heard recently at our local...really nice guys with some interesting insights into their days of league and European Cup wins.
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Malandro you are correct about Staunton. He is a proper prick. He was most certainly not my hero, but i remember getting Paul McGrath to sign a book just as the team were off to Barnsley in 1997 ish for an FA Cup match. I said to Staunton C'mon Steve lets bring the Cup back home this season as we havent won it for 40 years. He replied in his irish teang ..."we won a cup last year" and jumped on the coach!
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Just rememberd meeting Paul Mcgrath at the villa store in the pavillions when he was book signing. I clammed up and only said"my Mum used to live not far from you in Dublin, on Arbour Hill, You know by the prison". Paul Smiled and said yeah i know it, shook my hand and laughed!
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I met Sir Graham twice in the promotion season when I was only 16/17. Me and a couple of mates waited for him and the team to come out after the first game at Ipswich and then I met him a few months later at a forum for Nigel Spink's testimonial. It probably won't shock you to know that he was friendly, patient and basically just a quality bloke. Class.
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Malandro you are correct about Staunton. He is a proper prick. He was most certainly not my hero, but i remember getting Paul McGrath to sign a book just as the team were off to Barnsley in 1997 ish for an FA Cup match. I said to Staunton C'mon Steve lets bring the Cup back home this season as we havent won it for 40 years. He replied in his irish teang ..."we won a cup last year" and jumped on the coach!
and then fucked off back to Liverpool a year or so later, great manager though did really well COUGH !!! ::)
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My old man met John Carew at the Fort shopping centre a few years ago, very polite and humble apparently. Curtis Davies once came inches away from running me over.
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Just rememberd meeting Paul Mcgrath at the villa store in the pavillions when he was book signing. I clammed up and only said"my Mum used to live not far from you in Dublin, on Arbour Hill, You know by the prison". Paul Smiled and said yeah i know it, shook my hand and laughed!
My mate tried to buy him a pint in the players bar when it was all free once, he still had one with us mind pure class
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My old man met John Carew at the Fort shopping centre a few years ago, very polite and humble apparently. Curtis Davies once came inches away from running me over.
he did tend to miss a lot of things ;)
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
i've never met any of the golden era personaly
I've met a few of them and generally managed to mumble "hello" to them i'm so awe.
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Malandro you are correct about Staunton. He is a proper prick. He was most certainly not my hero, but i remember getting Paul McGrath to sign a book just as the team were off to Barnsley in 1997 ish for an FA Cup match. I said to Staunton C'mon Steve lets bring the Cup back home this season as we havent won it for 40 years. He replied in his irish teang ..."we won a cup last year" and jumped on the coach!
and then fucked off back to Liverpool a year or so later, great manager though did really well COUGH !!! ::)
I met him as well. Didn't leave a good impression.
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When I first started regularly going to Villa park as a teenager I spent many an hour with programmes and autograph book waiting at the railings behind the old club shop (in front of the Trinity Road stand). I met all the players in the 1980 - 82 era and all were happy to sign autographs inc some opposition players - Brooking/Keegan etc.
I met Ron Saunders (along with the league champions trophy) at a charity do at a Wake Green FC and he was a lovely chap posing for photos etc.
I have also met plenty of the recent squads and some more than others were willing to sign stuff (Petrov stands out, as he parked his Bentley and got out to sign and pose for photos with my kids). One of the most miserable buggers was Marlon Harewood as he just stropped through the group of fans with a sulky face.
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
i was much the same when i met peterwithesshin
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
i was much the same when i met peterwithesshin
Meet Legion and you're likely to be lightning-struck.
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
i was much the same when i met peterwithesshin
Meet Legion and you're likely to be lightning-struck.
we are FB friends, thats as close as i dare get
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I met Shaun Teale when he was managing Burscough and he was great.
I talk to him on FB. He responds back to all. Top man.
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
i was much the same when i met peterwithesshin
Meet Legion and you're likely to be lightning-struck.
we are FB friends, thats as close as i dare get
You know all those times your computer plays up or you can't get on the internet?
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
i was much the same when i met peterwithesshin
Meet Legion and you're likely to be lightning-struck.
Or hit by a reversing police van.
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Well he’s not my hero but he is a man I have a lot of respect for… Doug. I’ve met him a few times over the last 25 years and each time he has been a pure gent.
The firs time was when I was about 13 years old and me and a few of my mates caught the train from Walsall and went to Villa Park so that a few of us could buy our season tickets. Obviously this was during the summer, so we didn’t expect much activity in way of seeing players or collecting autographs. We wondered around the North Stand and entered the old ticket office, brought our season tickets and all had huge smiles on our faces as this was the first time we were all able to pay for the tickets ourselves as a result of saving up our paper-round wages.
As we cam out of the ticket office we saw Doug, entering the main entrance with his hands full of boxes. He was first to say hello and we all felt a little unsure of what to say, so we told him that we had just brought our season tickets out of our paper round money. He obviously knew he was dealing with future entrepreneurs and he went into a little speech about how we have all learnt the value of earning our own money and that our parents should be proud. Then he asked us if we would like to help him to take some more boxes up to his office, and led us to his car to fetch them.
He didn’t give us anything, he didn’t offer us a discount- he just made four young lads feel really important for a few minutes and gave us all a memory that we will all remember. In reality we were skivvies for a few minutes.
A few years later, when I was about 21, he nearly ran me over after he failed to stop at the zebra crossing just under the bridge by Witton train station. I should have been mad, but if I was to be splattered to death by a car then the AV1 wouldn’t be a bad car to be splattered by.
When I was 30 I had the chance to have a good chat with him at function at Villa Park, where Nobby Stiles and Norman Hunter were doing an after dinner speech. I even had a good conversation with him that night in the toilets when we were standing next to each other at the urinals, Ahhh memories…
Most recent meeting with him though was my favourite. It was immediately after the day we thrashed Small Heath Alliance in the 5-1 rout. My brother and I stayed behind at Villa Park that day to hang around the gates by the player’s entrance. Mainly to give the lads a massive cheer and absorb as much atmosphere from the day as we could, and partly to mock the Bluenose’s Gold, Sullivan and Brady.
I was on the phone to my Dad just as a number of the players started appearing and coming over to the gates to sign autographs. Gareth Barry was right in front of me and I asked him to say hello to George (my Dad) and he duly obliged, exchanging some fairly basic pleasantries over the phone. Then Doug appeared, with the biggest smile on his face and feeling more popular than he has ever done as a result of selling to Randy. I asked Doug to say hello to George too, and he had a solid two minute conversation with him. He made my Dads day, and he made mine and my brothers day even more memorable than we thought possible.
Yes he’s got his faults, but for me Doug is a rare breed of gentleman and a Villa man to his core.
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As I've posted on here before; in 1994 myself and a mate brought a group of u16's on a football trip to Brum. Part of the itinerary was a trip to Bodymoor where we were excellently treated by the club, given special priveleges and brought over to the edge of the pitch where the first team squad were training. After training all the kids that wanted them got autographs but I got to meet Nigel Spink, who gave me the impression that he was a very unassuming man and was very pleased to pose with me for a photograph. I'm too old to be star-struck by anyone but this is one of my favourite pieces of Villa memories. Special mention for Dalian Atkinson that day; he never left the field until everyone who wanted one got an autograph or 'photo, that included the general public as well as our group. Top man.
This was the Friday on the eve of the 1994-5 season and Villa were away to Everton the next day and we had tickets to take the kids up for the match. On the way back we stopped at a service station on the M6 and met Steve Staunton and Dean Saunders. Deano was more than happy to talk to the kids but Staunton, as has been stated on this thread was a miserable fcuker and couldn't wait to get away.
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if i was ever to sit down for a pint with Shaw, Morley, Bremner etc, i honestly dont think i would be able to talk
Same here. Thirty years later and I would still be star struck.
i was much the same when i met peterwithesshin
Meet Legion and you're likely to be lightning-struck.
we are FB friends, thats as close as i dare get
You know all those times your computer plays up or you can't get on the internet?
so thats a not porn virus then ?
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Wow. It looks like Staunton's people skills are up there with his management skills.
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I've never met Staunton but it doesn't surprise me in the least that it seems he's a cock.
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Went to see Villa v Derby at Pride Park in the late 90s and Ian Taylor (who was injured I think) was sat a couple of rows in front of me. Was more than happy to chat to fans around him, although perhaps not surprising as he was being showered with adoration at the time.
Also met Andy Townsend at Tamworth train station. He was very nice, gave my then girlfriend (now dead to me) an autograph.
And although not Villa related, but worth mentioning for its surprising outcome, I once met Mark E Smith at one of those ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’ things. He bought my friends and me a round of drinks and was thoroughly charming!!!
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Re-Staunton; I never mentioned in my post that we were on a trip over from Ireland and all the kids (except my two) were, naturally Irish so you would have thought he would have been more than pleased to give them a bit of his time especially as the mother of one kid was a neighbour of Stauntons up in Co Louth and knows him personally. Tosser, even though he played for Villa.
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Ref. Staunton, do you think it's because we all royally booed him on his Liverpool return to Villa Park when he got sent off?
If i recall correctly, it was never a sending off in a million years. But one of the funniest things I've witnessed as he stormed off down the tunnel to all four stands jeering and mocking him.
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Went to play golf at gleneagles solely to meet Ken Mc and he was a true gent, told him i was a villa fan when we met,and he was excellent all day.
Met Elvis Costello in NYC on our honeymoon, and was surprisingly chatty. He was staying in out hotel and kept picking up our tab for us. what a man!
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I've met Steve Staunton. He happily shook my hand and had his photograph taken with me at an Old Stars event a few years ago.
I got extremely tongue-tied indeed when our erstwhile editor got Gary Shaw to come and say hello to me whilst selling H&V one time.
Tony Morley and all associated with the FPA have been absolute gents when I've met them.
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my all time sporting hero is Sir Ian Botham,
i've seen him in one of those talk night things with Viv Richards but never met him one to one,
i bet he's a top bloke though
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Met several players over the years but my favorite 'sighting' was Nigel Spink who sat with us (well a couple of rows in front) for the League Cup Semi (1st leg) in '96 at Highbury. I thought that was class.
As a side note, I recall that game being played on Valentines day, my wife (at the time) wasn't happy as I told her I was taking her to London for the day with her not realising we were Highbury bound on the evening!!
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Met Nigel Spink in Carrefore as it was in Minworth now bloody Asda in 1987 just before my 18th I was with my mom and dad at the time and had a good chat over the frozen chips. Top bloke and it got better because unbeknown to me my mom had a word and on the doorstep on my 18th was a signed card from the whole Villa team, still have that card.
Also met SGT, Tony Daley and Stuart Gray at the old HMV on New st they were signing copies of the season review VHS video made my day when SGT said I looked like Platty who at the time was my hero. Fortunately time has been better on me
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Ive had the pleasure of having a pint with Tony Morley and Sid.. both fantastic company and proper gents. Morley was in The Ads a couple of seasons back he loved the attention.
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I also had the pleasure of dinner with Peter McParland at Perry Barr Greyhound stadium at another FPA charity event. A real gentleman.
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Met several players over the years but my favorite 'sighting' was Nigel Spink who sat with us (well a couple of rows in front) for the League Cup Semi (1st leg) in '96 at Highbury. I thought that was class.
As a side note, I recall that game being played on Valentines day, my wife (at the time) wasn't happy as I told her I was taking her to London for the day with her not realising we were Highbury bound on the evening!!
HERO!
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I also had the pleasure of dinner with Peter McParland at Perry Barr Greyhound stadium at another FPA charity event. A real gentleman.
Sat with him on two occasions, lovely bloke.
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Charlie Aitken was my manager for one match. An unforgettable experience.
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I was on my honeymoon (a cruise round the med) and Rambo was on board.A big unit who didn't mind sharing his cigars with a fellow Villain.
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my all time sporting hero is Sir Ian Botham,
i've seen him in one of those talk night things with Viv Richards but never met him one to one,
i bet he's a top bloke though
i have met Sir Ian at Russells hall hospital, he opened the georgina ward where leukaemia patients are treated. I called him Mr Botham to which he responded, you sound like you are talking to my Dad, I am Ian to you Mark! Top Man!
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I remember meeting all the players at BMH when I was 8. Completely star struck. Andy Townsend was my fav back then along with God and got to mumble some words at them.
I vividly remember haing taken along as much Vilala stuff for them to multiply sign as possible. I've still got a villa panini sticker album signed by the whole squad somewhere
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I think the only footballer I met when I was a kid was Alan Cork, can't believe I'm admitting I was star struck by him! (Not that he played for Villa, just that he was a real player)
He signed an autograph and had a kick about!
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I met Shaun Teale when he was managing Burscough and he was great.
I talk to him on FB. He responds back to all. Top man.
Thought you were on about Legion for a minute. (Who is all the above too :O) )
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Does meeting Legion count ?
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When I moved to Harborne seven years ago I was sitting in the garden one day and one of my neighbours daughters walked past and spotted that I was wearing the 82/83 Champions Of Europe shirt, she started chatting to me about my support for the Villa and then asked me if I'd met Gary Shaw. I said no. She said she was a friend of his and she'd ask him if he'd come to meet me.
I thought no more of it and a couple of days later there was a knock at my door, when I opened it she was there with Gary. To say I was awestruck would be an understatement.
We sat out in the garden talking about his time as a player, he'd bought a photo of himself and Tony Morley in Rotterdam with the European Cup which he signed, he sat chatting to me for about an hour and as he was about to leave he asked me for the photo back and said he'd get Tony Morley to sign it as well. Sure enough about a week later he was at my door with the photo duly signed.
Since that time we have become friends and I've had many a pint or three with him in my local, trouble is nine times out of ten he'll ask me a question about some really obscure part of the clubs history and when I can't answer he says "you're not a real Villa fan."
Another friend of mine asked him to sign her European Cup Final shirt, he did so and then offered to take it away and get as many of the team as he could to sign it. About a month later the shirt was returned fully signed apart from Peter Withe who was living in Australia.
The man is a true gent.
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I met Mellberg, Laursen & (Sorenson as well, but meh) on the tube once.
It will please everyone to know that Mellberg hated DOL and was more than happy to chat and came across as a good guy all round.
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Currently looking at house prices in Harborne...
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When I moved to Harborne seven years ago I was sitting in the garden one day and one of my neighbours daughters walked past and spotted that I was wearing the 82/83 Champions Of Europe shirt, she started chatting to me about my support for the Villa and then asked me if I'd met Gary Shaw. I said no. She said she was a friend of his and she'd ask him if he'd come to meet me.
I thought no more of it and a couple of days later there was a knock at my door, when I opened it she was there with Gary. To say I was awestruck would be an understatement.
We sat out in the garden talking about his time as a player, he'd bought a photo of himself and Tony Morley in Rotterdam with the European Cup which he signed, he sat chatting to me for about an hour and as he was about to leave he asked me for the photo back and said he'd get Tony Morley to sign it as well. Sure enough about a week later he was at my door with the photo duly signed.
Since that time we have become friends and I've had many a pint or three with him in my local, trouble is nine times out of ten he'll ask me a question about some really obscure part of the clubs history and when I can't answer he says "you're not a real Villa fan."
Another friend of mine asked him to sign her European Cup Final shirt, he did so and then offered to take it away and get as many of the team as he could to sign it. About a month later the shirt was returned fully signed apart from Peter Withe who was living in Australia.
The man is a true gent.
Great story. I idolised Shaw as a kid. Glad to hear he's a top bloke.
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Les Smith, 1957 FA cup winner for us, was of all things Bingo Caller at my uncles club, in Pool Lane, Clent for many years before his death.
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When I moved to Harborne seven years ago I was sitting in the garden one day and one of my neighbours daughters walked past and spotted that I was wearing the 82/83 Champions Of Europe shirt, she started chatting to me about my support for the Villa and then asked me if I'd met Gary Shaw. I said no. She said she was a friend of his and she'd ask him if he'd come to meet me.
I thought no more of it and a couple of days later there was a knock at my door, when I opened it she was there with Gary. To say I was awestruck would be an understatement.
We sat out in the garden talking about his time as a player, he'd bought a photo of himself and Tony Morley in Rotterdam with the European Cup which he signed, he sat chatting to me for about an hour and as he was about to leave he asked me for the photo back and said he'd get Tony Morley to sign it as well. Sure enough about a week later he was at my door with the photo duly signed.
Since that time we have become friends and I've had many a pint or three with him in my local, trouble is nine times out of ten he'll ask me a question about some really obscure part of the clubs history and when I can't answer he says "you're not a real Villa fan."
Another friend of mine asked him to sign her European Cup Final shirt, he did so and then offered to take it away and get as many of the team as he could to sign it. About a month later the shirt was returned fully signed apart from Peter Withe who was living in Australia.
The man is a true gent.
Great story. I idolised Shaw as a kid. Glad to hear he's a top bloke.
I wondered why I'd seen him in B&Q Halesowen. Didn't realise he was that local.
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I won a signed shirt in the Hospitality sweet in the Witton End and it was presented by Alan Wright. I think he was surprised he was giving the shirt to a chap actually smaller than him. He probably had a good inch on me.
Doug gave a speech that afternoon too which was quite good to be fair. Mind you it was a free bar all day and I was pretty drunk by then.
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Had an amusing text off a mate (a Wolves fan) the other day who found himself sat next to Deadly Doug on a flight back from Majorca last week and chatted to him all the way home.
I asked what they spoke about and he replied (amongst other things); all his business interests, his brewery in Aston, his cider farm in Devon, then an in depth chat about how he created the package holiday, all the managers he's hired and fired. He then said, interesting chap, but he kept repeating many of these things again and again!
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Five pages and no mention of Andy Gray & AsDa?
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I also had the pleasure of dinner with Peter McParland at Perry Barr Greyhound stadium at another FPA charity event. A real gentleman.
Peter came into the Lions Club about 2/3 times last season. I spoke to him for a few minutes and found him to be a lovely bloke.
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I also had the pleasure of dinner with Peter McParland at Perry Barr Greyhound stadium at another FPA charity event. A real gentleman.
Peter came into the Lions Club about 2/3 times last season. I spoke to him for a few minutes and found him to be a lovely bloke.
I've seen Gary Shaw and Gordon Cowans queue for his autograph. That's the very definition of a legend.
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Had an amusing text off a mate (a Wolves fan) the other day who found himself sat next to Deadly Doug on a flight back from Majorca last week and chatted to him all the way home.
I asked what they spoke about and he replied (amongst other things); all his business interests, his brewery in Aston, his cider farm in Devon, then an in depth chat about how he created the package holiday, all the managers he's hired and fired. He then said, interesting chap, but he kept repeating many of these things again and again!
Doug. The Man. The Myth. The Ego.
Surprised he's not bored himself telling the same stories for the last 40 years.
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Circa 1978 I was lucky enough to chat with Dennis Mortimer (and his wife) in the bar of the Birmingham Odeon before a Rod Stewart concert. We'd lost to Blues the night before. A great chap.
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When we played Ipswich in the Youth Cup, I spoke to Sammy Morgan, who was with them, about the two epic Arsenal cup ties in which he featured. He was either taking the piss or had forgotten all about them. Mind you, I had the same when I spoke to Dennis Mortimer about that great goal he scored against Liverpool at Villa Park when he took the ball from not far off the half way line.
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When I moved to Harborne seven years ago I was sitting in the garden one day and one of my neighbours daughters walked past and spotted that I was wearing the 82/83 Champions Of Europe shirt, she started chatting to me about my support for the Villa and then asked me if I'd met Gary Shaw. I said no. She said she was a friend of his and she'd ask him if he'd come to meet me.
I thought no more of it and a couple of days later there was a knock at my door, when I opened it she was there with Gary. To say I was awestruck would be an understatement.
We sat out in the garden talking about his time as a player, he'd bought a photo of himself and Tony Morley in Rotterdam with the European Cup which he signed, he sat chatting to me for about an hour and as he was about to leave he asked me for the photo back and said he'd get Tony Morley to sign it as well. Sure enough about a week later he was at my door with the photo duly signed.
Since that time we have become friends and I've had many a pint or three with him in my local, trouble is nine times out of ten he'll ask me a question about some really obscure part of the clubs history and when I can't answer he says "you're not a real Villa fan."
Another friend of mine asked him to sign her European Cup Final shirt, he did so and then offered to take it away and get as many of the team as he could to sign it. About a month later the shirt was returned fully signed apart from Peter Withe who was living in Australia.
The man is a true gent.
What a story tlp,you've made my night,as hes the reason I support us. UTV.
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I sympathise with players in some respects. Catch someone on a vaguely bad day and suddenly you're reported as being a tool to the world.
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my all time sporting hero is Sir Ian Botham,
i've seen him in one of those talk night things with Viv Richards but never met him one to one,
i bet he's a top bloke though
I've sat in a pavilion with Martin Crowe, Ian Botham and Viv Richards.
Villa-wise I've met Ron Saunders, Gary Shaw, Ugo Ehiogu, Des Bremner, Dwight Yorke, Martin Carruthers and Bryan Small. All top blokes.
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Ref. Staunton, do you think it's because we all royally booed him on his Liverpool return to Villa Park when he got sent off?
If i recall correctly, it was never a sending off in a million years. But one of the funniest things I've witnessed as he stormed off down the tunnel to all four stands jeering and mocking him.
My uncle plays golf with him now and then and we met up with Staunton in a bar in town. He was on his own drinking in his Liverpool jacket. I had a decent enough conversation with him whilst also pretending to be young player with some old bird. Didn't work though.
Anyway, my dad has met him several times and been drinking with him when we bump into him at Villa Park. He would use a different entrance to the players. Dad say hello, he ignores and walks right past. I pissed myself laughing!
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In Staunton's defence, I've been told that his father was a policeman close to the border during the Troubles, and this may have made him wary of talking to strangers, hence his standoffishness.
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Having spent a fair amount of time in Louth, Staunton's home county, I can report he's not unusual. They're all miserable buggers.
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Tony Morley is a top man - his lad plays football at the same club as mine also at a five-a-side club. Comes to the games, talks to everyone and on presentation nights always happy to lend a hand if asked.
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For my Dad's 70th Birthday I sent a card via the club for Peter McParland to sign, with a letter jokingly asking him to my Dad's birthday party. A couple of weeks later the phone rang and it was Peter McParland! He said he was sorry that he couldn't make the party but that he would give my dad a ring on his Birthday if I gave him the number.
On the day it was a nightmare trying to make sure my Dad was in the house for the call whilst keeping it as a surprise, but sure enough he did call and they chatted for about 20 minutes, and then arranged to go out for a drink!
They are still in touch.
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For my Dad's 70th Birthday I sent a card via the club for Peter McParland to sign, with a letter jokingly asking him to my Dad's birthday party. A couple of weeks later the phone rang and it was Peter McParland! He said he was sorry that he couldn't make the party but that he would give my dad a ring on his Birthday if I gave him the number.
On the day it was a nightmare trying to make sure my Dad was in the house for the call whilst keeping it as a surprise, but sure enough he did call and they chatted for about 20 minutes, and then arranged to go out for a drink!
They are still in touch.
thats an amazing story
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Currently looking at house prices in Harborne...
Just a bit cheaper than next door Edgbaston.
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I was a big fan of Juan Pablo Angel. I was staying in the Radisson in Liverpool back in 2005 I think. Liverpool had a champions league game against Galatasaray and they were also in the same hotel. Whilst sitting in the lobby about 10.30/1045 I started talking to an Australian chap. His company make the ice suits that players wear after the ice bath. He told me tha JPA is here as he is a very good friend of Turkish' teams Colombian goalkeeper. About 10 mins later a coach arrived and players started entering milling around the lobby. I spotted JP standing there talking to someone. I normally never do this but this time I went up to him and said something like "hi I am a Villa fan and really pleased to meet you" and stuck my hand out to hopefully shake his. The wanker just stood still arms folded and than turned away and started talking to another player. Since than I have stuck to my policy as normally my attitude is yeah they are there ...fine.
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Currently looking at house prices in Harborne...
Just a bit cheaper than next door Edgbaston.
Not the bit of Edgbaston I live in it ain't.
Mind you it's strange round here, property prices go up in a one mile line something like this smethwick,bearwood (which is smethwick ),Edgbaston (where I live) ,harborne and back to Edgbaston( the posh bit by the Botanical Gardens).
I live 800 yards from Sandwell on a new build estate.My bit of the estate is in Edgbaston, an identical house to mine built at the same time 4 years ago but in Sandwell 40k less.
I think schooling is one of the big reasons
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For my Dad's 70th Birthday I sent a card via the club for Peter McParland to sign, with a letter jokingly asking him to my Dad's birthday party. A couple of weeks later the phone rang and it was Peter McParland! He said he was sorry that he couldn't make the party but that he would give my dad a ring on his Birthday if I gave him the number.
On the day it was a nightmare trying to make sure my Dad was in the house for the call whilst keeping it as a surprise, but sure enough he did call and they chatted for about 20 minutes, and then arranged to go out for a drink!
They are still in touch.
Fantastic. I guess Peter is from an era when footballers were a little closer to common fan.
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I met Chico in the Holte Pub before a Villa game a few years ago - had my picture taken with him, bought him a pint of cider.
I was so nervous that the only thing I could think to say to him was " Our cat is called Chico Hamilton". What a complete dick I must have looked. Then he said to me " Dudley Zoo had a polar bear called Chico Hamilton in 1976"
How mad, of all the things you could talk about with your heroes and I end up discussing cats and zoo creatures with Chico.
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I met Sid Cowans and Tony Morley in a bar after the 6 a side Masters at Coventry a few years ago. In fairness to them, neither appeared to be too awestruck when meeting me although I did have to turn down Mr Morley's generous offer of a pint of lager.
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Not the bit of Edgbaston I live in it ain't.
Mind you it's strange round here, property prices go up in a one mile line something like this smethwick,bearwood (which is smethwick ),Edgbaston (where I live) ,harborne and back to Edgbaston( the posh bit by the Botanical Gardens).
I live 800 yards from Sandwell on a new build estate.My bit of the estate is in Edgbaston, an identical house to mine built at the same time 4 years ago but in Sandwell 40k less.
I think schooling is one of the big reasons
It's really Winson Green ... Isn't it?
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A few of us met up with Doug, Steve Stride and Mark Ansell in a bar in Northern Spain the night before a pre season game or inter toto can't remember, pretty sure it was Vigo.
Any way they were drinking with the Air hostesses from the charter jet that took the team over ( I wander what they saw in those 3 eh) so we rock up and buy them a drink, the directors of Villa that is not the trolley dollies, and get into a conversation with Doug. Which was memorable for 2 reasons:
He asked us our opinion on David Ginola, as his wages would be very expensive and would the fans like him. We signed him after they got back so you can thank us for that.
Then in a classic Doug 'in touch with the common man' moment he offered us a lift back to Brum on the chartered plane. We declined on the basis that our cars were at Gatwick. His response.....' just send a driver to collect them'
The night was also notable for the sight of our now former director Mark Ansell falling off his bar stool backwards totally pissed covering himself in his beer in the process. Oh for a smart phone back then.
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[/quote]
It's really Winson Green ... Isn't it?
If I was buying yes ! Selling no !
I can't actually get resolution on the issue, the main thing when we purchased the place was it had to be in Brum, subsequently though we've voted in Ladywood for the council elections and also Harborne bizarrely. I get newsletters from the North West Edgbaston neighbourhood people, my parish church is Edgbaston, and the council roads department classify us as Edgbaston. Royal Mail call us just Birmingham B16.
I go on the fact that my grandparents lived about a mile away (closer to Winson Green in fact) and it was always Edgbaston then. I would say Winson Green starts at the junction of City Road/Dudley Road. Strangely as well George Dixon school is in Harborne these days as well.
If anyone is familiar with the area my house is virtually opposite the gates of the old Mitchell and Butlers footy pitches on City Road (Edgbaston or Winson Green or Ladywood but absolutely under no circumstances Smethwick, Sandwellshire)
[/quote]
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was in Bilbao in 1997 for our UEFA cup match, sitting in one of the bars well before the game with my lad who was only 9 at the time.
along came Jim walker, he sat down had a chat for a good 15 minuets, no rush, he even thanked us for coming like you do to your guests at a wedding,
like i said before i havent met many Villa players or staff personaly, but i dont think any would come any nicer than Jim,
sadly now the late Jim Walker
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I've met a lot of Villa players Gareth Barry bought me a pint in London I've met Dean Saunders, and Ian Taylor and a lot of other Villa players but the one that made me starstruck was meeting Paul McGrath really top top man I had my picture taken with him and got his autograph really nice man.
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I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport) and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.
I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.
As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.
As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.
I'm sure that when McMahon left Everton and came to us, we beat Liverpool for his signature, which is strange given that he went there from us after.
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I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport) and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.
I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.
As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.
As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.
I'm sure that when McMahon left Everton and came to us, we beat Liverpool for his signature, which is strange given that he went there from us after.
Everton wouldn't sell him to them so I suppose he only ever thought of us as a temporary arrangement.
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TLP and Amfy's stories are brilliant. Dissapointed by Aftabs on Angel though, I still idolise him
The closest I've got to meeting a Villa player was seeing Dion Dublin in Stratford Tesco's and my dad not wanting me to pester him, can still see him walking around now. Someone sang Dion Dublin in the air to him which he laughed and said thanks too. Know a few people who know him/drink with him and he sounds like a brilliant bloke
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I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport) and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.
I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.
As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.
As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.
I'm sure that when McMahon left Everton and came to us, we beat Liverpool for his signature, which is strange given that he went there from us after.
Everton wouldn't sell him to them so I suppose he only ever thought of us as a temporary arrangement.
Yes quite so - players very rarely "crossed Stanley Park" directly
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Yes quite so - players very rarely "crossed Stanley Park" directly
Neither did many sensible away supporters in those days.
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I once had a pleasant chance encounter with someone who no one on here would call a hero.
Three or four years ago I was in town and on my way to catch the bus home I dropped into the Wellington for a swift pint. It was lunchtime and the place was busy I found a seat at a table and sat down opposite a bloke who seemed strangely familiar but I couldn't think why. After a few minutes my curiosity got the better of me and I said to the bloke "Excuse me but I think I know you from somewhere." He asked me if I was a Blues fan and I said no I'm Villa. At that he gave me a big grin and said well you probably gave me loads of abuse from the Holte End. He offered me his hand and said "I'm Mark Dennis".
Those of you on here of a certain age will remember him from the late 70's early 80's, he made Ron Harris look like an angel.
We got talking about those days and he regaled me with tales about Kenny Burns, Beelzebub, the Latchfords etc. and my swift pint became three more. He came across as a very engaging guy, and when I as tactfully as possible mentioned that he was a bit of an animal in his playing days he said that he wasn't exactly blessed with great skill so he had to make up for it by putting himself about.
All in all not a bad guy for a nose. ;)
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I sympathise with players in some respects. Catch someone on a vaguely bad day and suddenly you're reported as being a tool to the world.
Precisely. I've met Staunton twice and both times he was a gentleman. The times I've met Gary Shaw though I found him to be quite aloof. I still love him though. ;-)
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Is Mark Dennis the rapist, or is that Van Den Hauwe?
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Malandro you are correct about Staunton. He is a proper prick. He was most certainly not my hero, but i remember getting Paul McGrath to sign a book just as the team were off to Barnsley in 1997 ish for an FA Cup match. I said to Staunton C'mon Steve lets bring the Cup back home this season as we havent won it for 40 years. He replied in his irish teang ..."we won a cup last year" and jumped on the coach!
and then fucked off back to Liverpool a year or so later, great manager though did really well COUGH !!! ::)
I met him as well. Didn't leave a good impression.
He's a regular in Lichfield Tescos, always seems to be looking around like he wants the attention but is a dick when he gets it!!
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Is Mark Dennis the rapist, or is that Van Den Hauwe?
Wasn't Van Den Hauwe the one who wore Mandy Smith's knickers?
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I did a few charity events last year and one of those involved Gary Shaw doing a Q&A in front of a packed local pub.
It was going superbly, until Gary got there, absolutely trolleyed.
He begged me to sit next to him on stage, which i was proud to do and every question he looked at me for support.
I drank with him, all night, on the stage and me too ended up wasted. Towards the end he was begging me to meet him the next day, at his house for a few more beers. He then fell over and was taken out.
He was good fun.
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Makes me realise every time i want to quit my role at VP just how lucky i am that i have often spent time chatting to ex and current villa players and many other well known celebs
A lot of the modern day players are either very ignorant or just plain thick (mainly the UK ones that are thick) The only time i have ever had the feeling of being star stuck is when i spoke to Marco Van Basten in the tunnel, he was a real hero of mine and i must admit Mr Beckham - as much as i could not stand the bloke when he played for United he really is the genuine article as a person and how he conducts himself whilst under the media spotlight all the time is unreal.
If you think players can be arrogant - bloody hell you want to get close to some of the refs
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Makes me realise every time i want to quit my role at VP just how lucky i am that i have often spent time chatting to ex and current villa players and many other well known celebs
A lot of the modern day players are either very ignorant or just plain thick (mainly the UK ones that are thick) The only time i have ever had the feeling of being star stuck is when i spoke to Marco Van Basten in the tunnel, he was a real hero of mine and i must admit Mr Beckham - as much as i could not stand the bloke when he played for United he really is the genuine article as a person and how he conducts himself whilst under the media spotlight all the time is unreal.
If you think players can be arrogant - bloody hell you want to get close to some of the refs
To take some of the crap they put up with I imagine you would have to be that kind of person I am afraid :-\
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Yes quite so - players very rarely "crossed Stanley Park" directly
Neither did many sensible away supporters in those days.
I remember the season we beat Everton 2 - 0 with Little getting that brilliant goal. It was my first visit to Goodison and with a few friends we went up on a coach organized by the local pub. We parked near Stanley Park and were informed how potentially dangerous it was by a senior member of the coach. He also pointed out that you shouldn't show any colours as you'd get picked off. We departed the coach in trepidation taking heed of the advice given, but for one of the coach party who had consumed a bottle of Sherry on the journey up. He was decked in full Villa kit brandishing a large Villa flag, he ran the length of the park chanting Villa. Nothing happened to him.
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Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd267/breezeblock1966/P1010145small.jpg)
The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.
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That's the spirit.
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was in Bilbao in 1997 for our UEFA cup match, sitting in one of the bars well before the game with my lad who was only 9 at the time.
along came Jim walker, he sat down had a chat for a good 15 minuets, no rush, he even thanked us for coming like you do to your guests at a wedding,
like i said before i havent met many Villa players or staff personaly, but i dont think any would come any nicer than Jim,
sadly now the late Jim Walker
Jim will be interested to hear that! He currently works at The Belfry as their senior physio and he tells some great tales of his time as a player at Derby under Cloughie and at the Villa.
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;D
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was in Bilbao in 1997 for our UEFA cup match, sitting in one of the bars well before the game with my lad who was only 9 at the time.
along came Jim walker, he sat down had a chat for a good 15 minuets, no rush, he even thanked us for coming like you do to your guests at a wedding,
like i said before i havent met many Villa players or staff personaly, but i dont think any would come any nicer than Jim,
sadly now the late Jim Walker
Jim will be interested to hear that! He currently works at The Belfry as their senior physio and he tells some great tales of his time as a player at Derby under Cloughie and at the Villa.
'its a miracle'
sorry it was his wife that passed away
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I used to play for Bromsgrove Rovers in the very early 90's and Tony Grealish was there who I had spent time with when I was playing in the reserves/youth team at Walsall. Top bloke. Anyway, at training one night who waltzes in but Tony Morley. Imagine my dismay when he came across as an arrogant, big headed tw@t of a bloke, especially when I used to idolise him as a kid. Have met many villa players since but that stands out as the one time I wished I hadn't
That's a real surprise because he's always been one of the best of the lot.
Indeed. I had the chance to meet him several times and I remember that every time I asked to make a photo with us his answer was, invariably: it's MY pleasure. This is the typical British courtesy, that I adore, and the familiar spirit of Villa.
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I met Chico in the Holte Pub before a Villa game a few years ago - had my picture taken with him, bought him a pint of cider.
I was so nervous that the only thing I could think to say to him was " Our cat is called Chico Hamilton". What a complete dick I must have looked. Then he said to me " Dudley Zoo had a polar bear called Chico Hamilton in 1976"
How mad, of all the things you could talk about with your heroes and I end up discussing cats and zoo creatures with Chico.
Anyone know how you post pictures?
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Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd267/breezeblock1966/P1010145small.jpg)
The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.
Super picture.
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I left Brum 30 years ago so I have only met players on the pitch and swapped a few words. Peter Withe, Gary Shaw and Sid were top blokes. Am quite happy not to really meet my heroes but would be unable to resist talking to them if I were near them.
My nephew was in the children's hospital 12 years ago and Southgate and Merson spent over 20 minutes each with him. To this day they are his favourite ever players.
I took my nephew, then 5, to a Boxing Day game which was cancelled very late around 1994 - I think it was Liverpool, but may have been Man City. As we had nowt to do we waited by the players entrance and Yorkie drove out. People were grouped by his car so I found a scrap of paper and got the little un to the side of the car and asked Yorkie for an autograph. I said "Say hello then", to my 5 year old nephew, but Yorkie misunderstood, thought I was chastising him, and then obediently said "Hello".
After all this positivity, isn't it time for Chico to mention his Andy Gray at Asda story. Or is he finally over it now?
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Off the top of my head, I've met:
Andy Gray x 2 - Nice enough bloke.
Ian Taylor - Unsurprisingly, and absolute gent.
Andy Townsend x 3 - The third time being in Darlington High Street (while he was playing for Boro), and he was very surprised to meet a Villa fan that far North.
Alan Evans - While he was assistant manager. He gave me a scoop, that we were about to sign Sasa Curcic.
Des Bremner (many times) - His son's played for the Sunday League team, my Dad ran.
Away from football, I met Brian Lara in Barbados, on the last England tour in the West Indies. I'd been drinking all day, and unsurprisingly he wasn't too keen to talk to a drunken Englishman, slavering on about seeing him play for Warwickshire. Although to be fair, he did stop for photos to be taken.
Also me and my mate met Sonic Youth at the Holiday Inn in Camden, after we'd been to see them play at The Roundhouse. My mate commented, that him meeting Thurston Moore must be what it's like for normal people to meet Madonna or something.
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In my dreams I've played football with Paul McGrath. I've sung with Aretha Franklin and I've been to bed with Megan Fox. In reality I've played snooker with Aretha Franklin, I've sung with Megan Fox and I've been to bed with Paul McGrath. Sometimes life can be even better than the dream.
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Jim Walker must be one hell of a physio.
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David James walked into my door once, just after i had painted it, got red paint all over his T-shirt.Was fine with it, and quite a nice bloke.His then wife though was a bit scary.
Met Ugo/Bozzie/Southgate/Yorkie/Staunton/Scmicea at Perry Barr dogs for a charity event once.Yorkie was lovely, signing any autograph, even going into the bar to sign more autographs.Bozzie was a knob.
Shook Noel Blakes hand once in a night club in Brum.He was actually quite a nice fella.Used to go around with those pricks Gayle/Hopkins/and 2 or 3 other unforgettable bloose pricks, who were just w@@@@@s.
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If I was buying yes ! Selling no !
If anyone is familiar with the area my house is virtually opposite the gates of the old Mitchell and Butlers footy pitches on City Road (Edgbaston or Winson Green or Ladywood but absolutely under no circumstances Smethwick, Sandwellshire)
That's a good answer and also good point about Smethwick.
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I met Gary Shaw and Tony Morley in the Ads after a game. Shaw invited us into town for a drink. Then he said that he was other to another place and did we fancy coming along. We ended up in some social club, which was a house converted, in Smethick. We were the only white guys in there. By all accounts, Shaw loves his black girls*
*absolute no problem with any culture or skin colour. Just an observation
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Few years back when i stayed up in Aberdeen, I was out on the lash one night, when i saw some old Aberdeen players out celebrating there euro cup wins under Big Red Nose. I spoke to Strachan and Willie Miller, and TSM. the best was Mark Mcghee, who at the time was wolves manager, and making a pigs ear of it. my opening line to mr mcghee was " Take no notice of the press and the fans, i think you doing a brilliant job love you at the wolves......mind im a Villa fan" he laughed and strachan bought me a beer
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Met Kenny Swain, Allan Evans & Sid wandering around Liverpool City Centre before we beat Everton 3-1 in 1981 - imagine that now. Also met Allan & Ken McNaught several times when they came to Scotland to see the Scottish Supporters Club in the early 80's. Both superb.
A friend of mine met Leighton Phillips who is a regular in a pub in Neath, South Wales. He was thrilled when I sent a programme with him on the cover & said he'd had a really lucky career.
Also had a long conversation (drink taken) with Brian Little & Andy Gray outside Filbert Street before we beat Leicester 1-0 in the Cup in 1977.
Nowadays, I suppose you've got to go to ridiculous night clubs to meet any of the players.
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Met Kenny Swain, Allan Evans & Sid wandering around Liverpool City Centre before we beat Everton 3-1 in 1981 - imagine that now. Also met Allan & Ken McNaught several times when they came to Scotland to see the Scottish Supporters Club in the early 80's. Both superb.
A friend of mine met Leighton Phillips who is a regular in a pub in Neath, South Wales. He was thrilled when I sent a programme with him on the cover & said he'd had a really lucky career.
Also had a long conversation (drink taken) with Brian Little & Andy Gray outside Filbert Street before we beat Leicester 1-0 in the Cup in 1977.
Nowadays, I suppose you've got to go to ridiculous night clubs to meet any of the players.
You don't overly want to meet ay of the players in nightclubs. The last Villa player I 'encountered' on the lash was good old little Lee Hendrie who proceeded to try and steel the bird away that I was with! Giving the old I've got lots of dosh blah blah blah.
Her response to my dying day will stay with me
"it's great you've got loads of cash but you also have jug ears and look like a gremlin"
We then carried on our night with Lee looking mightily like he wanted to kill someone
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My Mum once made Paul McGrath go home to get his dry cleaning ticket with the words "I know you're Paul McGrath but I can't give you your dry cleaning without your ticket".
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Went to a friendly at Leeds. Wandering around the ground, foolishly thinking all aggro was on hold due to it being a friendly, I met Brendan Ormsby. Brendan had transferred to Leeds by now and gave me a comp ticket for the match. Very decent of him.
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My Mum once made Paul McGrath go home to get his dry cleaning ticket with the words "I know you're Paul McGrath but I can't give you your dry cleaning without your ticket".
Wonderful stuff.
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At the age of about 11, with my parents and a friend in a beer garden in Stonnall. Me and my mate were knocking a football about when John Burridge appears with, I think, his Dad. Budgie wants to join in and, naturally, goes in goal for a game of shots in. Within minutes his clothes are covered in grass marks from diving about, determined to not let in a goal, while encouraging us to do our best to get one past him. He is indeed completely barmy, but a really friendly bloke - he bought us lemonades after the game too.
I also used to walk past Chico Hamilton's house (Hundred Acre estate in Streetly) on the way to school every day. One lunchtime I plucked up the courage to knock his door to ask for an autograph. His wife explained that he wasn't home from training yet but shouldn't be long so I should wait. He seemed a bit surprised to find a young lad sitting on his doorstep when he got home, but was very gracious about signing my autograph book.
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Went to the end of season awards at the Holte Suite on the day of the Oldham defeat in 1993 and the players were in a roped off area and not mingling with the supporters. I got up to go to the bar and walking along unnoticed was Paul Mcgrath and Dwight Yorke. Took the opportunity to thank Paul for all the pleasure he'd given me watching him and he shook my hand and said it was his honour to play in front of such wonderful supporters. My girlfriend saw me chatting to him and came over to ask for a photo, much to my delight he started dancing wih her and was practically trying to cop off with her! He was slightly pissed it has to be said but a lovely bloke.
Dwight was sat on his own as a crowd converged on Mcgrath so we said hello to him and he said as we left 'nice talking to you and see you again'. Yeah, right. A week or so later we went to see the reserves at Walsall (Ireally knew how to treat a lady in those days)and I hadn't noticed Dwight walking up behind me, he stopped and said hello and it was good to see us again. I'm fairly certain it was my girlfriend he remembered but still nice of him to say hello.
Can't say i've ever particulary wanted to meet any other footballers particulary after waiting with my son to get autographs, Marc Albrighton and Robert Pires however were brilliant.
My brother tells a nice story here about meeting his hero.
http://golf.sportingmemories.org/memory/300-tony-jameson-allen/
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Had a kickabout with yorke years ago, when him, bosnich and frogatt came to our football club's open day, nice bloke, always used to see him down local shops as he used to live in the nxt village to us, Met a fair few of the old players like teale, richardson, daley and cyrille regis, at the old summer holiday football the villa used to do, at the school up sutton by good hope
Met cowans a few months back in the green house bar, up sutton
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I remember meeting Dean Saunders and he was a bit of a wanker to be honest and 5 minutes later meet God and he was a true gent who had time for me.
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Met Harold Bishop in a bar in Melbourne once. He was a cxnt. Not the jolly fat bloke I was expecting at all.
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Sid rang me in work once (when I was running the Irish Villains) - I nearly fell off my chair with shock - a lovely man. Also, after a Villa/Arsenal game years ago, outside the players' lounge, I got knocked over by both Bruce Rioch and Brian Little (who seemed to be chasing each other like little kids???!!!) and they both helped me up off the ground and apologised :D
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Met Harold Bishop in a bar in Melbourne once. He was a cxnt. Not the jolly fat bloke I was expecting at all.
Was Harold Bishop really your hero in the first place?
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Met quite a few players, A lot of them were over in Magaluf in 1999 when I was working there, Ugo & Watson were complete helmets, Taylor & Riccardo Scimeca were absolutely brilliant as was Southgate.
Also met god but that was at his book signing and I had my photo taken with him, he seemed embarrased when I called him god. I didnt wash my hand for a week :)
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My brother now employs Gary Shaw at a football coaching course in Birmingham.
Tony Morley has always been a very pleasant chap.
I served Ugo Ehiogu when I worked in Sainsburys Mere Green. I said to him, "don't leave us, Southgate is not half the player when you don't play". I then promptly forgot to give him his £50 cashback that he asked for. He walked out and then came back in saying "errrm, I think you forgot my £50."
I also served Andy Gray when he was with Suzanne Dando, Gareth Southgate who's missus was huge, Juan Pablo Angel and many many others that escape my mind.
My brother in law is best mates with Liam Ridgewell, they edged off to Marbella together a couple of weeks back.
I kicked Gabriel Agnonlahor out of bed one morning when I was looking after a family members house whose children were friends with him, just after he had played his first few games for the Villa. He gave my missus a lift home in his VW Golf that was a state apparently. McDonalds wrappers everywhere.
I served the weather girl Charlie (can't remember her last name) whilst working on the deli counter. She asked for a massive pot of Coleslaw and it came to £6 odd. About 10 minutes later another member of staff came to the Deli and gave me a pot of Coleslaw worth £6 odd and said " someone has dumped this in the fridges"
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Gareth Southgate who's missus was huge,
This bit confused me, 'huge' as in fat? In which case could she have been pregnant? Or 'huge' as in tall? In which case are you technically a dwarf?
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Gareth Southgate who's missus was huge,
This bit confused me, 'huge' as in fat? In which case could she have been pregnant? Or 'huge' as in tall? In which case are you technically a dwarf?
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e5/Attackofthe50ftwoman.jpg/220px-Attackofthe50ftwoman.jpg)
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Gareth Southgate who's missus was huge,
This bit confused me, 'huge' as in fat? In which case could she have been pregnant? Or 'huge' as in tall? In which case are you technically a dwarf?
Tall, she looked like a man in drag.
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So does he !
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Gareth Southgate who's missus was huge,
This bit confused me, 'huge' as in fat? In which case could she have been pregnant? Or 'huge' as in tall? In which case are you technically a dwarf?
Tall, she looked like a man in drag.
I accuse you of being of limited height in that case unless she has had height reduction surgery which I guess is possible being the wife of a footballer!
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I met Kenny Burns once. I say met but it was more I (allegedly) called him a "Blues wanker" and he grabbed me by the throat and put me up against the wall in Polyanna's and was only stopped from killing me by the intervention of others. Fair enough really, I was 16 and couldn't hold my beer so my own fault. If I'd been sober, however, I'd have batterd the ******.
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I met Kenny Burns once. I say met but it was more I (allegedly) called him a "Blues wanker" and he grabbed me by the throat and put me up against the wall in Polyanna's and was only stopped from killing me by the intervention of others. Fair enough really, I was 16 and couldn't hold my beer so my own fault. If I'd been sober, however, I'd have batterd the c***.
The trouble in those situations is getting somebody to hold your coat.
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I got talking to Gary Penrice in, I guess, 1991. He seemed chuffed that someone knew who he was and that he played for Villa. He was a lovely chap who claimed we hadn't seen the best of him yet. Out of courtesy, I let that pass without comment.
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Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd267/breezeblock1966/P1010145small.jpg)
The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.
Super picture.
Indeed. What are the chances of meeting in Bulgaria both Stan and Bjork.
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Met Harold Bishop in a bar in Melbourne once. He was a cxnt. Not the jolly fat bloke I was expecting at all.
Was Harold Bishop really your hero in the first place?
He was my everything.
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Met Harold Bishop in a bar in Melbourne once. He was a cxnt. Not the jolly fat bloke I was expecting at all.
Was Harold Bishop really your hero in the first place?
He was my everything.
Oh dear me. I am sure with some decent counselling you will be fine.
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Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd267/breezeblock1966/P1010145small.jpg)
The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.
Super picture.
Indeed. What are the chances of meeting in Bulgaria both Stan and Bjork.
Very funny.
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Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd267/breezeblock1966/P1010145small.jpg)
The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.
Super picture.
Indeed. What are the chances of meeting in Bulgaria both Stan and Bjork.
Very funny.
I thought it was Blur's Alex James, ripped off his tits on charlie and tandorri flavoured cheese.
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I met Kim Deal from The Pixies in Dublin once.
What a woman.
I love her I do.
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Our Tuesday night 7 a side team played against a team that included Darius Vassell, it was during the summer so he was just playing for his mate's team as a favour but he was fantastic and none of our team could get close to him especially me as I was trying to mark him.
Besides that my friends and I would frequent Broad Street when we would often meet with Ugo, Yorkie and occasionally Brian Lara they were all happy to chat as long as us drunkards didn't bother them too much.
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I was at Ipswich station waiting for a train back to London following a game at Portman road in 95 when bosnich appeared on the platform in his villa tracksuit.
He stood & spoke to a few of us for about 10 minutes before the train turned up,he told us he was staying in London with friends a couple of days as we had palace away the following Tuesday.
Seemed a decent bloke,signed autographs for everyone & wished us a safe trip home before heading off into first class.
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Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:
(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd267/breezeblock1966/P1010145small.jpg)
The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.
Super picture.
Indeed. What are the chances of meeting in Bulgaria both Stan and Bjork.
Very funny.
I thought it was Blur's Alex James, ripped off his tits on charlie and tandorri flavoured cheese.
Made me laugh. My son, who is now 18 wasn't so impressed tho' ;D
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steve mcmachon coached here in perth,west oz his son played for us but they didnt last too long
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Lived by Gary Shaw as a babby, then went to school with him. Met Tony Morley, Dennis Mortimer, Ian Taylor, Ron Atkinson and John Robertson. All sound apart from Robertson, wanker.
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What happened with Robertson, Percy?
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I met Ian Taylor again Saturday, bloody legend, my mate took the bloody picture and I had my bloody eyes closed
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John Slueewenhoek used to call at our house each week in the early 70s to deliver Villa bingo tickets for Dad to sell at Longbridge and his local pub (in Oldbury, so not many takers there). His visit was the highlight of my mum's week.
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Rudi: Robertson was just miserable and a bit patronising when we were outside having a fag at a reserve game.
To be fair it was two games before the end of his last season so maybe the job was getting to him. My journo mate reckons he's always a miserable sod because he doesn't like present-day footballers.
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Met Savo outside selhurst park after we had lost to Wimbledon. He obviously wasn't going back on the coach. Seemed polite enough although he probably couldn't understand the Birmingham accent of someone who had been on the lash for several hours.
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Met Savo outside selhurst park after we had lost to Wimbledon. He obviously wasn't going back on the coach. Seemed polite enough although he probably couldn't understand the Birmingham accent of someone who had been on the lash for several hours.
Ahhh. That would be the Selhurst Slur. Suffered with that myself on many an occasion. Pretty much on par with the Maine Road Mumble and much preferable to the Roker Park Ralf.
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I met Ian Taylor again Saturday, bloody legend, my mate took the bloody picture and I had my bloody eyes closed
Did you meet him in Chickentown?
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My journo mate reckons he's always a miserable sod because he doesn't like present-day footballers.
Sounds reasonable enough.
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My Mum once made Paul McGrath go home to get his dry cleaning ticket with the words "I know you're Paul McGrath but I can't give you your dry cleaning without your ticket".
Fair play to your mum! Rules are rules. I'm sure Paul understood perfectly.
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John Slueewenhoek used to call at our house each week in the early 70s to deliver Villa bingo tickets for Dad to sell at Longbridge and his local pub (in Oldbury, so not many takers there). His visit was the highlight of my mum's week.
highlight of mums week eh??? pfnarr pfnarr
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Met Chris Nicholl in a service station on way back from Southampton where he had been doing some hospitality work,a brilliant man.He was having a meat and potato pie and invited us to sit with him and talked about the Villa for ages.Think we drew 2 all and conceded a last minute goal some things never change
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Met Chris Nicholl in a service station on way back from Southampton where he had been doing some hospitality work,a brilliant man.He was having a meat and potato pie and invited us to sit with him and talked about the Villa for ages.Think we drew 2 all and conceded a last minute goal some things never change
Heard from a few people about what a nice bloke he is.
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Met Chris Nicholl in a service station on way back from Southampton where he had been doing some hospitality work,a brilliant man.He was having a meat and potato pie and invited us to sit with him and talked about the Villa for ages.Think we drew 2 all and conceded a last minute goal some things never change
Heard from a few people about what a nice bloke he is.
Everybody seems to meet him at the petrol station too.
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He is. I see him regularly at Sainsbury's in Reedswood.
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John Slueewenhoek used to call at our house each week in the early 70s to deliver Villa bingo tickets for Dad to sell at Longbridge and his local pub (in Oldbury, so not many takers there). His visit was the highlight of my mum's week.
highlight of mums week eh??? pfnarr pfnarr
Always wore a hat... or was it a Dutch cap?
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Met Chris Nicholl in a service station on way back from Southampton where he had been doing some hospitality work,a brilliant man.He was having a meat and potato pie and invited us to sit with him and talked about the Villa for ages.Think we drew 2 all and conceded a last minute goal some things never change
Sorry but just makes me think of when Alan Partridge met Dan
Agree that Chris N was a great Villa man - I was at Leicester for the 2-2 & have many other great memories of his work
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He wasn't my hero, certainly not back then, but I met Gareth Barry before he was getting games for the first team, in the burns unit at Selly Oak hospital, the club sent him and Darius Vassell to meet a young villa fan who'd been caught in a house fire.
Darius seemed like a nice bloke, though I had no bloody idea who he was. Gareth was alright too. Unfortunately he took one look at the kid and fainted.
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I met Ian Taylor again Saturday, bloody legend, my mate took the bloody picture and I had my bloody eyes closed
Did you meet him in Chickentown?
Ha! Very good.
I've met JCC a few times and he's a gent.
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On the day prior to "Mellberg Day", I was strolling along Canary Wharf wearing my Villa Shirt when i spotted Reo-Coker, Zat Knight, and Stiliyan Petrov sitting outside a hotel. Now at this point I want to stress i didn't go out of my way to go over to them they were sitting to my immediate right as i was heading to my destination (pub!).
"Bloody hell, here's a surprise, hello lads how are you? Confident for tomorrow?" Was my line.
At which point Reo-Coker drew his phone out of his pocket and pretended to text somebody. Zat Knight muttered "yeah" and Stan turned around to offer his hand. All three then left me standing there like a plum with no attempt to make two way conversation so I just said "Oh right, good luck then" and walked off with all my faith in modern day footballers destroyed. I spend my wages and weekend away for 90 minutes with them and they can't be arsed to return two minutes of their time.
Fortunately Olof restored my faith with the free Villa shirt the following day.
Stan saves a bit of face with the handshake and smile, But Reo-Coker and Knight were full blown ******.
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Ive bumped into Jools Holland twice, once in a caravan park in Kent and a lift in Bristol
& Met Ron Saunders twice, both times in Solihull in sainsburys and at the driving range. The second time he even stopped for a chat 8)
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Stan saves a bit of face with the handshake and smile, But Reo-Coker and Knight were full blown c***s.
Stan's usually really good, I've only met him once and had a quick chat, but a few mates have met him and he's usually got plenty of time for fans. I'm not surprised about Reo Coker, he's well known as a bit of a bellend. Would have thought Knight would have had a bit more time for fellow Villa fans though..
At any club 95% of the players are arrogant bellends with no real affection for the fans. Of the current squad, the only players who I think would give some of their time if fans approach them are Gabby, Petrov and Albrighton.
Mellberg is probably the player I've met who was most generous with his time, he'd already left Villa when I had a chance to see him, and he was really happy to stop, talk, signed something for a nephew and talked about the Villa, he also seemed genuinely pleased when I told him I wore the shirt I'd got at the WH game to every match. A lot of players are a lot more generous with their time when they leave a club or retire, maybe they're just more grateful for the attention when they're not being bothered by fans every single day.
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My mate often tells the story of when he met Ginola, Hadji and Kachloul up town. He says that while the other two were a bit off, Ginola was real gent who got them to autograph a napkin and even made them print their names underneath their signatures so my mate's son could tell who's was who's.
Another pal of mine (bluenose, proper nawty) told me that he saw Gareth Barry out one night in Solihull. GB had been accosted by some pissed up Villa fans who were singing and generally getting on a few noses nerves. The noses confronted them and chased them all off; my mate went after Gazza, but couldn't catch him. 'I'm surprised you never caught him' I said, 'he's as slow as fuck'.
'Perc', he replied, 'he's a 25-year-old professional athlete. I'm a 40-year-old drug addict. Of course I couldn't catch him'.
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I also met Julian Dicks up solihull on a night out at the height of his playing career with Liverpool
Total lunatic, was wearing a bobby dazzler orange knitted jumper I recall
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I saw Ron 'Chopper' Harris in Solihull. They all seem to go there.
Back in time our football club asked Ron Saunders to present our trophies at the awards night. At late notice, we were told he could no longer come. Ron was replaced by Doug Ellis who was very good. We also had Charlie Aitken one year and then Gary Newbon.
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I met Big Ron walking his dogs in the Lickey Hills a few days before the 94 League Cup win.
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When we played Odense in the Intertoto a few years back I met Djemba-Djemba in Odense town centre the day after the game.
I say met, I'm not one for talking to 'famous' people. My mate got a photo with him though, and he seemed nice enough.
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I live in a house that Terry Bullivant used to live in. I've never met him but nice to know I lay cables where an ex Villa player used to lay them
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A number of references to the great Sir Doug himself so I might as well add mine, which seems relevant.
In March 2006 I got a call from my brother asking if I could get a ticket for his son's 7th birthday present to go and see Arsenal - I live nearby but have no connection with the club so there was no way I would have been able to meet the request. So I offered a trip to Villa Park.
Now here's the interesting bit. You will notice that I share my surname with the great man (and there the similarities end), but even more curious is the fact that my brother, not much of a football fan, had rather thoughtlessly named his first offspring 'Dougie'. So I thought, little Doug Ellis sitting in the Doug Ellis stand for his birthday treat, we can't let this go by unnoticed. I wrote to Rob Bishop who edits the programme (and a great job he does too) asking if he could give a mention on the Young Lions page about this event. I then got an email back from Rob, saying that he could do more than that - would we like to come to the executive entrance and meet the great man himself and have some photos taken before the game.
My brother, Dougie, my daughter Tessa and I duly arrived and waited with Rob Bishop outside the executive lounge and out he came with the words 'There's someone here who shares my name - who is it?' Little Dougie puts his hand up. 'That's a bit of bad luck isn't it?' he says and we proceed to spend a good 15 minutes having our photos taken in the Trinity Road exec seats.
The whole affair appeared in the following programme and in the Villa Annual the following year. A thoroughly decent gesture, a memorable day for Dougie and a vindication of my love for my football club.
Forgot to mention we then went on to witness one of the most boring 0-0 draws (against Fulham) even I can remember. Some things never change.
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I'm not surprised about Reo Coker, he's well known as a bit of a bellend.
I remember a story of him spending most of an evening chatting with fans in the bar of the Radisson and picking up the drinks bill.
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I met Big Ron walking his dogs in the Lickey Hills a few days before the 94 League Cup win.
Bloody hell that's an amazing coincidence, so did I !!
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I met Big Ron walking his dogs in the Lickey Hills a few days before the 94 League Cup win.
Bloody hell that's an amazing coincidence, so did I !!
There were thousands on the Lickeys that day; it was like the Sermon on the Mount.
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I met Big Ron walking his dogs in the Lickey Hills a few days before the 94 League Cup win.
Bloody hell that's an amazing coincidence, so did I !!
There were thousands on the Lickeys that day; it was like the Sermon on the Mount.
I know somebody who had him up the Clent and they had to get treatment shortly thereafter. Another fellow came across him up the Malverns. I once saw his dog wandering on Waseleys sans Ron. The Hills Have Eyes, and no mistake.
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I met Big Ron walking his dogs in the Lickey Hills a few days before the 94 League Cup win.
Bloody hell that's an amazing coincidence, so did I !!
God, I hope you're not my ex-girlfriend!
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Don Goodman was a good laugh once. He was a teammate of of Darren Bradley at Albion at the time and Darren lived with his folks about 3 doors from mine. There was some party going on at Darren's house and out comes Don Goodman, Darren and a few other Albion rejects like Stacey Coldicott and some others. Anyway, we were miscreants and were playing in a phone box when Goodman and his companions all tried to get into the phone box to 'break the world record on number of people in a phone box at one time'. That's why I do like Goodman when he commentates because he's a down to earth sort.
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He is also a good co-commentator IMO.
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I met Big Ron walking his dogs in the Lickey Hills a few days before the 94 League Cup win.
Bloody hell that's an amazing coincidence, so did I !!
God, I hope you're not my ex-girlfriend!
I was there as well - I was living in Rednal at the time and frequently walked my dogs across the Lickey Hills, Golf Course etc.
Ron was living in Barnt Green if I recall
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I live in a house that Terry Bullivant used to live in. I've never met him but nice to know I lay cables where an ex Villa player used to lay them
Quality. But I'd almost forgotten about Terry Bullivant, who spent a lot more time laying cables than he did playing for Villa. I remember him as an unused sub quite often.
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Turning this around. Which of your football heroes would you most like to meet?
First on my list would be Mr. Saunders, but I fear that if I did meet him, even after all these years I'd just turn into a gibbering idiot.
Second would be Paul McGrath, so I could shake his hand and thank him for the pleasure I got from watching him play for our club.
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Not strictly football, but the hero of mine I'd most like to meet is Lily Thai*.
*NSFW.
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Carson Yeung
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Not strictly football, but the hero of mine I'd most like to meet is Lily Thai*.
*NSFW.
Haha!! I quite like her as well. Nice girl I'm sure...
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She's very well educated. She stayed on at school til she was at least 24. I saw her in the uniform.
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Apologies if this the wrong tread for this , or has been mentioned already but Shay Given helped the image of modern footballers a bit by attending the funeral of the young Irish fan who died in Poland
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She's very well educated. She stayed on at school til she was at least 24. I saw her in the uniform.
And seems to take great care of her body. I suspect a yoga fanatic
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Apologies if this the wrong tread for this , or has been mentioned already but Shay Given helped the image of modern footballers a bit by attending the funeral of the young Irish fan who died in Poland
Nice to hear some footballers are human beings after all
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Robbie Keane did a little tribute to the Irish fan when scoring for the Galaxy
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Apologies if this the wrong tread for this , or has been mentioned already but Shay Given helped the image of modern footballers a bit by attending the funeral of the young Irish fan who died in Poland
Nice to hear some footballers are human beings after all
They're all human beings. Like the rest of society, some are better than others.
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I used to study sport and leisure at North East Worcester College in Bromsgrove some 22 years ago and we had the opportunity to take our FA prelim coaching certificate, our tutor told us that he's managed to swindle Dennis Mortimer and Peter Withe's son (Simon I think) to come along and run it. We couldn't believe it, when they arrived and after about an hour he said, I can see you're all pretty decent footballers, if you carry on like this I can't see why I can't pass you all, the course lasted 6 weeks.
Week two arrived and we saw neither of them again, we were mortified and it left a bitter taste. I've forgiven him but at the time he ruined me. On a different note Gary Shaw used to knock about in Bromsgrove and was very approachable.
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That's shocking. Dennis Mortimer and Peter Withe have a son?
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Son of Peter Withe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Withe
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That's shocking. Dennis Mortimer and Peter Withe have a son?
If Carlsberg made beards..........................