Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Hookeysmith on March 10, 2015, 08:57:08 AM
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Always liked this bloke and today confirmed why. When discussing events at Villa park on the fat head Brazil show he said "It reminded me of a proper FA cup quarter final - obviously the people who came on before the end needs addressing and there is no excuse for away fans and throwing seating but to see that outpour of raw emotion on a victory and to see young kids on the pitch was great"
fair play after all the shite spouted its nice to hear some balance - Fat head agreed with him
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I didn't know Andy gray's son was a season ticket holder at villa
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I didn't know Andy gray's son was a season ticket holder at villa
Is he?
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I think Andy Gray's son is on Twitter, if he's the fella I'm thinking of he's a big Villa fan.
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Talking about Talk Sport is it me or does anybody else find the Moose one of the most annoying sports presenters on the radio.
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Talking about Talk Sport is it me or does anybody else find the Moose one of the most annoying sports presenters on the radio.
He's a moron. Second to Paul Franks.
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
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moose and Porky the ****** Parry
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
"Hey Tom, they're invading the pitch at Villa Park!"
"Not without me they're not!"
(http://i.giphy.com/1098j3EXblxjkQ.gif)
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I hate the Moose with a passion. I also hate whichever one of Hawkesby and Jacobs does the girly sniggering after his own jokes.
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
"Hey Tom, they're invading the pitch at Villa Park!"
"Not without me they're not!"
(http://i.giphy.com/1098j3EXblxjkQ.gif)
Maybe Tom was acting as the linesman...that run looks familiar
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
"Hey Tom, they're invading the pitch at Villa Park!"
"Not without me they're not!"
(http://i.giphy.com/1098j3EXblxjkQ.gif)
Lolarama!
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I think Andy Gray's son is on Twitter, if he's the fella I'm thinking of he's a big Villa fan.
I went on a stag do with him about 15/20 years ago and he was indeed a Villa fan, lived in Sutton, his mom was blindingly fit.
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I think Andy Gray's son is on Twitter, if he's the fella I'm thinking of he's a big Villa fan.
I went on a stag do with him about 15/20 years ago and he was indeed a Villa fan, lived in Sutton, his mom was blindingly fit.
average looking footballer in blindingly hot wife shock. File with Crouch,P
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Which Andy Gray?
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
"Hey Tom, they're invading the pitch at Villa Park!"
"Not without me they're not!"
(http://i.giphy.com/1098j3EXblxjkQ.gif)
Lolarama!
very very good.....:)
UTV
The Doc
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If Toms going on the pitch, I am too !
(http://www.standard.co.uk/news/article6417589.ece/alternates/w460/David%20Cameron%20jogging.jpg)
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
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I think Andy Gray's son is on Twitter, if he's the fella I'm thinking of he's a big Villa fan.
I went on a stag do with him about 15/20 years ago and he was indeed a Villa fan, lived in Sutton, his mom was blindingly fit.
Andy Gray was shacked up with Ex-gymnast Suzanne Dando for a few years. I wonder if it was her?
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No, it definately wasn't her but she was a tall blonde
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
"Hey Tom, they're invading the pitch at Villa Park!"
"Not without me they're not!"
(http://i.giphy.com/1098j3EXblxjkQ.gif)
That's a fabulous impression of me if I get a ticket for the final.
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
And the first deceased of the 1981 IRA hunger strikers...
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
And the first deceased of the 1981 IRA hunger strikers...
Yeah, Bobby Sands MP.
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That's hardly something to be proud of.
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Exactly. Every club's fan-base will be a mixed-grill.
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I think Andy Gray's son is on Twitter, if he's the fella I'm thinking of he's a big Villa fan.
I went on a stag do with him about 15/20 years ago and he was indeed a Villa fan, lived in Sutton, his mom was blindingly fit.
Andy Gray was shacked up with Ex-gymnast Suzanne Dando for a few years. I wonder if it was her?
Yeah Jamie, Andy's son, is a mate of mine and I can confirm is a big Villa fan with a season ticket with his wife and lad in the lower Trinity. I got chatting to him through the medium of twitter, mainly about Rugby to start off with and we have become firm friends although we never agree on Rugby matters. As he is 6ft 5.5 inches, he normally wins our debates.
It's a bit weird being the friend of a son of a childhood hero of mine, but there we are. I am constantly regaling him with tales of his Dad's goalscoring at Villa Park as he is too young to have seen any of it :-)
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My Mum is a good looking women to be fair ;)
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And Rupert Bell, Racing correspondent, is a Villa season ticket holder as well.
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My Mum is a good looking women to be fair ;)
Seems only fair I become her friend through Twitter to balance things up with DM? ;-)
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My Mum is a good looking women to be fair ;)
Seems only fair I become her friend through Twitter to balance things up with DM? ;-)
The thought of my Mother trying to figure our twitter is hilarious.....
And no, she's not Suzanne Dando
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
You missed Fred West
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
You missed Fred West
The most talented and innovative classical musician of his generation.
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Typical H & V thread digression.
Andy Grays son, Tom Hanks, Fred West, Bobby Sands - that loser Lofty hasn't had another mention !
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Typical H & V thread digression.
Andy Grays son, Tom Hanks, Fred West, Bobby Sands - that loser Lofty hasn't had another mention !
You should see what it's like getting a text telling you that you and your mother are being discussed. Talk about surreal!
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Talking of which, did anyone see Penguin Books' bright idea to have a Mothers Day Twitter thing using #yourmum ?
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
You missed Fred West
The most talented and innovative classical musician of his generation.
I think you're being a bit generous to Fred there.
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Talking of which, did anyone see Penguin Books' bright idea to have a Mothers Day Twitter thing using #yourmum ?
I imagine that went as well as the typical Premier League footballer Q&A with the fans....
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Typical H & V thread digression.
Andy Grays son, Tom Hanks, Fred West, Bobby Sands - that loser Lofty hasn't had another mention !
You should see what it's like getting a text telling you that you and your mother are being discussed. Talk about surreal!
That is pretty surreal.
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Albion & Blues I see your Frank Skinner, Adrian Chiles and Jasper Carrot
And raise you
UK Prime Minister
Future King of England
Former head of BoE
Huge Hollywood mega star and a few lesser ones
Huge musical artists in their fields and some lesser ones
You missed Fred West
The most talented and innovative classical musician of his generation.
I think you're being a bit generous to Fred there.
The Yehudi Menuhin of Cromwell Street
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Typical H & V thread digression.
Andy Grays son, Tom Hanks, Fred West, Bobby Sands - that loser Lofty hasn't had another mention !
You should see what it's like getting a text telling you that you and your mother are being discussed. Talk about surreal!
It was Newquay in Cornwall, all thoughts of football were quickly forgotton when we saw the photos of your mom. ;)
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Typical H & V thread digression.
Andy Grays son, Tom Hanks, Fred West, Bobby Sands - that loser Lofty hasn't had another mention !
You should see what it's like getting a text telling you that you and your mother are being discussed. Talk about surreal!
It was Newquay in Cornwall, all thoughts of football were quickly forgotton when we saw the photos of your mom. ;)
Yep, remember it. Think I was 18 or 19. Went with Andy Lynch & a great group of lads
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Thats the one.
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Thats the one.
Small world pal. Delighted you approve of my mother
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In the long ago days I watched and enjoyed Eastenders, Lofty was one of my favourite characters. My gut reaction on hearing Tom Watt on radio is to continue listening to him.
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Thats the one.
Small world pal. Delighted you approve of my mother
1. Isn't it just, I think we also all went for a beer in that place in Mere Green who's names escapes me for now.
2. My pleasure, dont mention it. At least I was complimentary!
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Wasn't it Tom Watt who, in around 2005, got caught during his radio show describing Crystal Palace versus Aston Villa as "a shit game between two shit clubs"?
I hated him before that anyway. Saw him play Iago in Stoke when I was in sixth form and he spent the whole performance giving my girlfriend the eye. And Lofty, as Iago?
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
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I think Lofty was a poor man's Curly Watts.
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Tom Watt has a connection to Aston Villa. He is married to Joy Craddock's daughter. Joy Craddock is the sister of Miller Craddock our highly promising post war forward who tragically had to give up the game with a serious heart complaint. She is 81 and never misses a game on the box. Very nice lady.
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
Your dad was the best centre forward I've ever see at Villa,
Can't comment on your mother as I would need photos
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
Your dad was the best centre forward I've ever see at Villa,
Can't comment on your mother as I would need photos
Very kind of you to say. Goes without saying I'm very proud of the fact that he's a genuine legend at the club I love & I wish more than anything I could have seen him in action, but I wasn't born until 1980 & there's very little footage about, so I can only go by what I'm told & read. He's still the last Villa player to score 25 league goals in a season, which seems incredible.
As for my mother, fair to say Dad was punching......
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
That's really good to hear as that isn't always evident from what he says as you point out. I always got the impression he much preferred Everton.
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Exactly. Every club's fan-base will be a mixed-grill.
Quite - I'd rather shallow Dave and the person who fiddled whilst Rome (rather the City if London) burnt us to the ground financially speaking weren't Villa fans.
Not to mention the 3 twats who goaded Myhill the other day.
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
That's really good to hear as that isn't always evident from what he says as you point out. I always got the impression he much preferred Everton.
Yeah, it's a bit of a bugbear for me when Villa fans accuse him of not loving the club. The fact is we haven't always been great, so there's not been much to champion at times. He said only the other week that he feared Everton were falling into a relegation scrap too, so he's just trying to be honest. If you've heard the interview he did with Jonny Gould recently you wouldn't be in any doubt how he feels about the club.
He won the league, FA cup & ECWC with Everton, so it was obviously a hugely successful part of his career that he will look back on fondly, but it doesn't mean he prefers Everton to Villa. This is why I don't get on the anti Dwight Yorke bandwagon when he's accused of ignoring Villa in favour of Man Utd. I know for a fact that guy loves Villa, but he was an integral part of Ferguson's & indeed Man Utd's most successful team ever, so who do you think the TV companies are going to want him to talk about? To the neutral fan Utd is the point of interest in his career, but he's never forgotten that Villa found him & made his reputation.
Dad, like many sportsman, is fairly ego driven and 75-79 was his time of unrivalled personal accolades & adulation, the heights of which were never really emulated again. It's why he came back in 86, his heart very much ruled his head, when the reality is he should never have come back, as it was a poor team & he wasn't the same player. He goal ratio for Villa was 1 in 2 before then, but he just couldn't resist. Plus, he would probably have succeeded Ron as manager if Sky hadn't come along, but it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I mean, who gets sacked from commentating?
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
That's really good to hear as that isn't always evident from what he says as you point out. I always got the impression he much preferred Everton.
Yeah, it's a bit of a bugbear for me when Villa fans accuse him of not loving the club. The fact is we haven't always been great, so there's not been much to champion at times. He said only the other week that he feared Everton were falling into a relegation scrap too, so he's just trying to be honest. If you've heard the interview he did with Jonny Gould recently you wouldn't be in any doubt how he feels about the club.
He won the league, FA cup & ECWC with Everton, so it was obviously a hugely successful part of his career that he will look back on fondly, but it doesn't mean he prefers Everton to Villa. This is why I don't get on the anti Dwight Yorke bandwagon when he's accused of ignoring Villa in favour of Man Utd. I know for a fact that guy loves Villa, but he was an integral part of Ferguson's & indeed Man Utd's most successful team ever, so who do you think the TV companies are going to want him to talk about? To the neutral fan Utd is the point of interest in his career, but he's never forgotten that Villa found him & made his reputation.
Dad, like many sportsman, is fairly ego driven and 75-79 was his time of unrivalled personal accolades & adulation, the heights of which were never really emulated again. It's why he came back in 86, his heart very much ruled his head, when the reality is he should never have come back, as it was a poor team & he wasn't the same player. He goal ratio for Villa was 1 in 2 before then, but he just couldn't resist. Plus, he would probably have succeeded Ron as manager if Sky hadn't come along, but it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I mean, who gets sacked from commentating?
Ha ha - very good.
He was a great player for Villa. I was distraught, as a 7 year old, when he left for Wolves. Also surprised, at the time, when he went to Sky.
In all fairness, he didn't do too badly out of either move and on the face of it Villa were none the worse.
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It was Tom Watt who pissed his pants laughing at us abusing John Terry the other year.
Anyhow, how Is the old man JG?
He's very well thanks pal, good of you to ask. He's relieved Lambert is gone, like the rest of us! I know over the years he hasn't always come across as someone who loves the club, but he really does. It was his job to be impartial & he was determined not to be too 'Alan Hansen' about the club, but 75-79 at Villa was the favourite time of his whole career. He was at his peak as a player, before his knees went and he lost his pace, he scored goals for fun and loved playing for that team. He obviously has a big soft spot for Everton having won so much there, but that only lasted 18 months and forced to choose it would be Villa every time. It's true that he's actively doing what he can to find a buyer for the club in the Middle East too.
That's really good to hear as that isn't always evident from what he says as you point out. I always got the impression he much preferred Everton.
Yeah, it's a bit of a bugbear for me when Villa fans accuse him of not loving the club. The fact is we haven't always been great, so there's not been much to champion at times. He said only the other week that he feared Everton were falling into a relegation scrap too, so he's just trying to be honest. If you've heard the interview he did with Jonny Gould recently you wouldn't be in any doubt how he feels about the club.
He won the league, FA cup & ECWC with Everton, so it was obviously a hugely successful part of his career that he will look back on fondly, but it doesn't mean he prefers Everton to Villa. This is why I don't get on the anti Dwight Yorke bandwagon when he's accused of ignoring Villa in favour of Man Utd. I know for a fact that guy loves Villa, but he was an integral part of Ferguson's & indeed Man Utd's most successful team ever, so who do you think the TV companies are going to want him to talk about? To the neutral fan Utd is the point of interest in his career, but he's never forgotten that Villa found him & made his reputation.
Dad, like many sportsman, is fairly ego driven and 75-79 was his time of unrivalled personal accolades & adulation, the heights of which were never really emulated again. It's why he came back in 86, his heart very much ruled his head, when the reality is he should never have come back, as it was a poor team & he wasn't the same player. He goal ratio for Villa was 1 in 2 before then, but he just couldn't resist. Plus, he would probably have succeeded Ron as manager if Sky hadn't come along, but it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I mean, who gets sacked from commentating?
Ha ha - very good.
He was a great player for Villa. I was distraught, as a 7 year old, when he left for Wolves. Also surprised, at the time, when he went to Sky.
In all fairness, he didn't do too badly out of either move and on the face of it Villa were none the worse.
Absolutely, things have a habit of working out as they are meant too. Many would argue that Brian & Dad were better players that Peter & Gary & should have spearheaded the title and European cup winning side, but that's not how the story unfolded & rightly so. I'm not knocking Peter or Gary by the way, both incredible players in their own right & club legends. Amazing to think that the board offered to sack Ron Saunders if Dad would stay, but thank god he didn't. As I said, everything worked out as it was meant too.
Worth noting that my Dad says Brian was the most naturally talented player he ever witnessed.
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My first footballing hero was Andy Gray and a bit like cars and girls - you just never forget your first one.
I loved our chant for him too. Belted it out.
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My first footballing hero was Andy Gray and a bit like cars and girls - you just never forget your first one.
I loved our chant for him too. Belted it out.
Frank Carrodus, Susan Palmer and a white mini metro TOX 375Y - only old gits can remember their first car registration number!
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What was the Andy Gray song?
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
H&Vs very own John Redwood.
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
H&Vs very own John Redwood.
That's an improvement on Katie Hopkins to whom I was likened by one esteemed and learned colleague on here
Isn't it?
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
H&Vs very own John Redwood.
That's an improvement on Katie Hopkins to whom I was likened by one esteemed and learned colleague on here
Isn't it?
Well it certainly isn't any worse!
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
H&Vs very own John Redwood.
That's an improvement on Katie Hopkins to whom I was likened by one esteemed and learned colleague on here
Isn't it?
Well it certainly isn't any worse!
Oh good, thank you, perhaps my terrible reputation on here has levelled out rather than got any worse. Bit like the team, heading in the right direction
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
something like "Oh Andy, Oh Andy you're the greatest the Holte End say, Oh Andy Oh Andy we'll be with you all the way"
And of course he was "here, he was there, he was every f****ng where! Andy Gray! Andy Gray!"
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What was the Andy Gray song?
There used to be one that went..''His name is Andy Gray and from Dundee he did come, down to Birmingham to help us win division one''.
Something like that anyhow...Its been so long I cant remember the rest!
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
My first game was just after Andy Gray left in 1979. One of his first games back was at The Hawthorns in 1985. When the chant of 'Oh Andy' went up around the away end my older mate Brownie (very well known to Nev and Nodge) got all nostalgic for his teenage years and was quite emotional. It was later used for Andy Gray jnr and also Andy Townsend on occasions.
Oh Andy, oh Andy, your the greatest the Holte End say
Oh Andy, oh Andy, we'll be with you all the way
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He nearly cost me my life in 1977 at Anfield
He notched a couple in a 2-1 away win and the jolly scousers didn't like it a big lot
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
something like "Oh Andy, Oh Andy you're the greatest the Holte End say, Oh Andy Oh Andy we'll be with you all the way"
And of course he was "here, he was there, he was every f****ng where! Andy Gray! Andy Gray!"
Ah, that's the one. I always thought it was 'Oh Andy, Oh Andy, you're the greatest, you're sensational, but I never heard the 'al' so it sounded phonetically like 'you're sensay'. I just thought it was fans saying the word quickly because it didn't quite fit the chant
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The first name that springs to my mind when I hear 'He's here, he's there, he's every f***ing where' is Shaun Teale.
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I remember AG saying that when he signed it was on the day of a Blues derby at VP and he was brought out at half time. He said to this day he has never heard a wall of noise like it.
I know most fans think their derby is the fiercest, their ground the best and no doubt their support. But when VP is full and all side are in unison there cant be many louder or better.
I see players come out of the tunnel and the look on some faces, ours and the oppositions, when its at its loudest is a treat to see.
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I just remember the one that started 'oh Andy, oh Andy, you're the greatest' and then I can't remember the rest. I spent half my teenage years on the Holte pretending I knew all the words to chants when I didn't. Same with songs at concerts...
something like "Oh Andy, Oh Andy you're the greatest the Holte End say, Oh Andy Oh Andy we'll be with you all the way"
And of course he was "here, he was there, he was every f****ng where! Andy Gray! Andy Gray!"
When he played for the Albion against us it was, to the tune of the British Airways advert, "You must be f*****g mad, Andy Gray, Andy Gray."
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I remember AG saying that when he signed it was on the day of a Blues derby at VP and he was brought out at half time. He said to this day he has never heard a wall of noise like it.
I know most fans think their derby is the fiercest, their ground the best and no doubt their support. But when VP is full and all side are in unison there cant be many louder or better.
I see players come out of the tunnel and the look on some faces, ours and the oppositions, when its at its loudest is a treat to see.
The mascot cam from last weekend brought that home to me. The wall of sound was deafening as the players came out!
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I remember a poster of Andy Gray in an old Shoot! annual. Wearing a Wolves shirt and what looked like a shark teeth necklace.
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The "What a Difference A Gray makes" banner
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I love the story in Andy Gray's autobiography about holidaying in an LA mansion with Black Sabbath and staying up all night with an American girl called Donna playing an incredible new electronic game called 'Simon'. Then years later in his Everton days being a guest on TV AM and meeting fellow guest John Hurt, who introduced him to his American wife. Donna.
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
This was after he got fined by the club for being out drinking when he shouldn't have. Someone else was to but for the life of me I can't remember who. Dick Edwards???
Back on topic, JG, your dad was a superb centre forward. I clearly remember his first goal for us, a header in a 1-2 defeat against Manure (some things never change) in the league cup. It was a header where he jumped for the ball fooled Alex Stepney into thinking it was going one way then, moved his head 180 degrees around the ball and stuck it in the other corner. I knew then that we had a player of class. It wasn't the only time in his Villa career that he made a mug of Stepney.
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Fair Play JG , its really heartening to hear your insights like many your Dad was a hero of mine .. he was swashbuckling and fearless and worked his socks off which really endeared himself to me .... he was not shy about looking after himself and most center halves and goalkeepers new that he was there .
happy days and the Gray , Little Deehan partnership was frightening ...... imagine if Keith Leonard had not been injured ....
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He nearly cost me my life in 1977 at Anfield
He notched a couple in a 2-1 away win and the jolly scousers didn't like it a big lot
We were only talking about that near-death experience on Saturday - November 5th
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And Rupert Bell, Racing correspondent, is a Villa season ticket holder as well.
He was one of those on the pitch at the weekend. He has been defending himself from some stick from his fellow Talksport broadcasters.
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I also remember the chant "He's here, he's there, he's player of the year" being sung at Hillsbrough in the League Cup Final replay in 1977 after he won the PFA award along with the young player award (the only player to do it I believe?)
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Did anybody ever go to Andy's night club venture - The Holy City Zoo?
I never made it there myself.
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He nearly cost me my life in 1977 at Anfield
He notched a couple in a 2-1 away win and the jolly scousers didn't like it a big lot
We were only talking about that near-death experience on Saturday - November 5th
I was 15 at the time, shitting myself
right at the back of the annie road end, standing obviously, with a few coppers holding the line, fireworks been thrown into us the whole time, then Andy Gray has to go and score a brace to make matters worse
outside the ground was even worse especially if you were making your way back to lime street like me, my mate got his nose broken against the railings
oh the good old days
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Did anybody ever go to Andy's night club venture - The Holy City Zoo?
I never made it there myself.
Yes, under the arches down Livery Street. Saturday night you could frequently bump into half the team you'd just watched that afternoon.
Don't think it's been mentioned on this thread, but Andy Gray was probably the bravest centre forward I've ever seen.
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He nearly cost me my life in 1977 at Anfield
He notched a couple in a 2-1 away win and the jolly scousers didn't like it a big lot
We were only talking about that near-death experience on Saturday - November 5th
remember it well .......in the Anny we got separated as the crowd was surging left and right ended up on the Liverpool side ..... copper was less than impressed and not very helpful when the locals realized we were Villa .... went up the wrong stairs as well beforehand .... character building
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
Hey Dave, Barrington Hole scored my first ever Villa goal I believe in a 2-0 win on Boxing Day 1968 vs Cardiff City :)
UTV
The Doc
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
Hey Dave, Barrington Hole scored my first ever Villa goal I believe in a 2-0 win on Boxing Day 1968 vs Cardiff City :)
and what a match that was. Brian Tiler also scored with a header at the Holte End. Over 40,000 there. Tremendous atmosphere in the Holte
UTV
The Doc
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
Hey Dave, Barrington Hole scored my first ever Villa goal I believe in a 2-0 win on Boxing Day 1968 vs Cardiff City :)
UTV
The Doc
Hello Doc. I remember that game. I though Barry Hole was the mutt's nuts. I was delighted when he signed but, always though he really didn't want to be here. Scored some cracking goals, one I particularly remember is one he scored against Spurs at WHL in the FA Cup. Needless to say we lost!
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I remember AG saying that when he signed it was on the day of a Blues derby at VP and he was brought out at half time. He said to this day he has never heard a wall of noise like it.
I know most fans think their derby is the fiercest, their ground the best and no doubt their support. But when VP is full and all side are in unison there cant be many louder or better.
I see players come out of the tunnel and the look on some faces, ours and the oppositions, when its at its loudest is a treat to see.
Who have looked startled? In awe? Excited?
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I've always thought of Andy Gray as a Villa man so glad to hear that he is. Dwight Yorke also.I've no doubt james Milner has a huge sofy spot for us too. Many of our ex-players do. Townsend, Southgate, Merson, McGrath etc. Which makes Platt even more bizarre.
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I've always thought of Andy Gray as a Villa man so glad to hear that he is. Dwight Yorke also.I've no doubt james Milner has a huge sofy spot for us too. Many of our ex-players do. Townsend, Southgate, Merson, McGrath etc. Which makes Platt even more bizarre.
Millner might have a soft spot for us due to the never ending love he gets, but he is a Leeds fan, I heard he/family still has a season ticket at Elland rd
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Yorke has come out a few times and unequivocally stated he is a Villa fan above any other club.
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Thanks for all your kind words, a genuine pleasure to read. Dad wasn't the most skilful player, I can vouch for his lack of tricks and he struggles to juggle a ball for long, but he gave 100% every game he played and knew where the goal was. He was indeed the only winner of both the PFA & young PFA award until a certain Ronaldo and Gareth Bale repeated the feat many years later. He scored 25 league goals that season, the last Villa player to do so, which is pretty crazy really & Dad modestly doesn't think there could have been too many better strikers in Europe for a few years.
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I've always thought of Andy Gray as a Villa man so glad to hear that he is. Dwight Yorke also.I've no doubt james Milner has a huge sofy spot for us too. Many of our ex-players do. Townsend, Southgate, Merson, McGrath etc. Which makes Platt even more bizarre.
To pull two strands of this thread together, do you remember Platt being quoted as saying, as they came out of the tunnel to see 36k against Bradford in the 2nd division, something like 'there wasn't one of us who wouldn't have died for Aston Villa', I may have over dramatised that but its not too far out.
I wonder what changed?
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Thanks for all your kind words, a genuine pleasure to read. Dad wasn't the most skilful player, I can vouch for his lack of tricks and he struggles to juggle a ball for long, but he gave 100% every game he played and knew where the goal was. He was indeed the only winner of both the PFA & young PFA award until a certain Ronaldo and Gareth Bale repeated the feat many years later. He scored 25 league goals that season, the last Villa player to do so, which is pretty crazy really & Dad modestly doesn't think there could have been too many better strikers in Europe for a few years.
Mate, tell your dad I could happily crack one off to that header he scores at the Holte End against Man Utd in '76, it truly is a beautiful thing.
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Thanks for all your kind words, a genuine pleasure to read. Dad wasn't the most skilful player, I can vouch for his lack of tricks and he struggles to juggle a ball for long, but he gave 100% every game he played and knew where the goal was. He was indeed the only winner of both the PFA & young PFA award until a certain Ronaldo and Gareth Bale repeated the feat many years later. He scored 25 league goals that season, the last Villa player to do so, which is pretty crazy really & Dad modestly doesn't think there could have been too many better strikers in Europe for a few years.
Mate, tell your dad I could happily crack one off to that header he scores at the Holte End against Man Utd in '76, it truly is a beautiful thing.
I like the winner he scored in the 3-2 win around the same time. Much easier header but summed him up as a player perfectly. Smashed the defender out the way, then rises to salute the crowd
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Thanks for all your kind words, a genuine pleasure to read. Dad wasn't the most skilful player, I can vouch for his lack of tricks and he struggles to juggle a ball for long, but he gave 100% every game he played and knew where the goal was. He was indeed the only winner of both the PFA & young PFA award until a certain Ronaldo and Gareth Bale repeated the feat many years later. He scored 25 league goals that season, the last Villa player to do so, which is pretty crazy really & Dad modestly doesn't think there could have been too many better strikers in Europe for a few years.
Mate, tell your dad I could happily crack one off to that header he scores at the Holte End against Man Utd in '76, it truly is a beautiful thing.
If its not too personal a question, how old are you Lee?
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Thanks for all your kind words, a genuine pleasure to read. Dad wasn't the most skilful player, I can vouch for his lack of tricks and he struggles to juggle a ball for long, but he gave 100% every game he played and knew where the goal was. He was indeed the only winner of both the PFA & young PFA award until a certain Ronaldo and Gareth Bale repeated the feat many years later. He scored 25 league goals that season, the last Villa player to do so, which is pretty crazy really & Dad modestly doesn't think there could have been too many better strikers in Europe for a few years.
Mate, tell your dad I could happily crack one off to that header he scores at the Holte End against Man Utd in '76, it truly is a beautiful thing.
If its not too personal a question, how old are you Lee?
I'm 38, it was well before my time mate, but it has stuck with me since wearing down my VHS of the official history. It's absolutely magnificent.
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Gray-Little-Deehan, was it 20 league goals each?
Two memories of Andy Gray stick out, one was a goal at the Holte End, when the goalie , the RB, and the ball all end up in the goal, with Andy Gray wheeling away in celebration, the other, again against Ure, when he has just scored, again, and is standing in front of the Ure fans with both his arms raised, giving a double V sign to their fans.Superb.
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My all time favourite Villa player, he was a legend, an absolute cult hero. I was 13 and came home from school and Dad said Andy Gray is leaving the Villa for Wolves, I said no way as Dad often wound me up, it was true and I was gutted. The goal against Manure when he flattens I think Jimmy Nichol I just love it. The Gray, Little, Gidman and Cropley team is actually the side I enjoyed watching the most.
Really pleased to hear his no 1 club is the Villa, just like I heard John Gidman they were say on radio a while back. Made my night that has.
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He got fined for that. I can't remember if he got suspended.
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He got fined for that. I can't remember if he got suspended.
He didnt get suspended. But Shoot, my reading material at the time, were outraged.
Young, brave, centre forward, ballsey, goalscorer and a big part of a great team.
Was only 12 but remember his hat trick v Ipswich in 76 like it was yesterday
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Thanks for all your kind words, a genuine pleasure to read. Dad wasn't the most skilful player, I can vouch for his lack of tricks and he struggles to juggle a ball for long, but he gave 100% every game he played and knew where the goal was. He was indeed the only winner of both the PFA & young PFA award until a certain Ronaldo and Gareth Bale repeated the feat many years later. He scored 25 league goals that season, the last Villa player to do so, which is pretty crazy really & Dad modestly doesn't think there could have been too many better strikers in Europe for a few years.
Mate, tell your dad I could happily crack one off to that header he scores at the Holte End against Man Utd in '76, it truly is a beautiful thing.
If its not too personal a question, how old are you Lee?
I'm 38, it was well before my time mate, but it has stuck with me since wearing down my VHS of the official history. It's absolutely magnificent.
No worries, I didnt imagine you were older than me but that post made me ask.
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One of favourite ever Villa players too...along with a good chunk of that team, Brian Little, John Gidman, Chris Nicholl...
Just after he arrived he was a sensation, scoring for fun...I seem to remember two games against Everton and Arse when we scored 5 in each game, Andy scoring at least a couple IIRC, one of them similar to Hurst's third in the 66 WCF - just ran straight at the goal and hammered it in with his left peg...at The Holte End!
A favourite memory is driving home after games in my mate's Capri, after yet another win and Andy having scored another goal or two, we'd have the radio on and Villa fans would phone up Tony Butler just to say "Alright Tone...Andy Gray's great!"
It used to wind up Nose Butler no end.
As you say JG, he certainly knew where the goal was!
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I remember when I was 13, staying with my nan in Kingsbury for the summer in 1978 and wandering down to Bodymoor Heath. I sat on the grassy bank and watched Andy Gray keeping Alex Cropley company as he got back into shape after his broken leg.
As they got into the car, I suddenly got up and raced along the top of the bank to catch them at the gate for an autograph, but it was a close thing, so in the last few yards, I really hurtled down the side of the bank towards the gate in an effort not to miss them - and of course, landed flat on my face in the ditch!
I stayed there for a moment - simply massively diappointed that I'd missed them, but when I looked up, there was Andy Gray - leaning out of the car and asking if I was OK. So I tried to pick myself up with any dignity I could muster, and got my autographs, and ran all the way back across the water park because I was just so excited - it felt like the most momentous thing that had ever happened to me!
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Thats a great story.
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brilliant Amfy....
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I'm 34 years old and it's still weird hearing my Dad spoken about with such affection, especially as he was considerably younger than I am now at the time. Everyone's Dad is their hero, but it's a bit strange when your Dad is others peoples hero too. Thanks once again for all the kind words & sharing your memories, it's the only way I get to experience this part of my Dad's life. Very much appreciated.
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BTW JG, my son shares his birthday with your dad. 1978. His name isn't Andy sadly.
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gutted when Villa sold your Dad....JG
but great to hear he still feels for us....and they always say...once a Villa man always a Villa man...
UTV
The Doc
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane
Willie Johnstone gets sent home and I'm shaking hands with him 3 days later as we receive our schoolboy medals for winning the Midlands U14 cup. Awestruck for the wrong reasons
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane
IIRC the player who many thought should not have gone to Argentina was Gordon McQueen as he was carrying an injury. Ally McLeod gambled and took him, but he didn't play at all ( I think).
I remember Jock Stein being in the studio saying that he would definitely have taken Andy Gray to Argentina - though he himself was coming back from injury. We played Leeds midweek in April and Andy Gray played part of the game and showed he was back to full strength in a great performance as we won 3-1. I can't remember if he scored though.
He scored the 2 best hat tricks I ever saw - v Ipswich and Albion in that wonderful 76-77 season, and one header in that Ipswich game was the bravest I ever saw. I reckon he was our first superstar.
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I'm 34 years old and it's still weird hearing my Dad spoken about with such affection, especially as he was considerably younger than I am now at the time. Everyone's Dad is their hero, but it's a bit strange when your Dad is others peoples hero too. Thanks once again for all the kind words & sharing your memories, it's the only way I get to experience this part of my Dad's life. Very much appreciated.
My wife sold a car to your dad a year or so back. I'm not brave enough to wake her up to find out when exactly! By sold a car, I mean he bought it from the dealership she works for. He didn't buy her car. I'm guessing it has been quite a few years since he bought a second hand car.
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
This was after he got fined by the club for being out drinking when he shouldn't have. Someone else was to but for the life of me I can't remember who. Dick Edwards???
Dave, was it Ferguson?
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane
IIRC the player who many thought should not have gone to Argentina was Gordon McQueen as he was carrying an injury. Ally McLeod gambled and took him, but he didn't play at all ( I think).
I remember Jock Stein being in the studio saying that he would definitely have taken Andy Gray to Argentina - though he himself was coming back from injury. We played Leeds midweek in April and Andy Gray played part of the game and showed he was back to full strength in a great performance as we won 3-1. I can't remember if he scored though.
He scored the 2 best hat tricks I ever saw - v Ipswich and Albion in that wonderful 76-77 season, and one header in that Ipswich game was the bravest I ever saw. I reckon he was our first superstar.
Given a choice he'd rather head the ball than kick it. Bit of a lost art these days, heading, although I did enjoy Sinclair's v Stoke the other week. I said to my lad that his Grandpa would of been proud of that one
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My memories of Andy Gray as a starry eyed 8 year old
Grandad brought me a u mbro boxed away kit. It was before numbers were popular on replica shirts. I got my dad to draw a big number 9 so my mom could use it as a template to cut one out of some material and sow it on the shirt. It guaranteed that I was then Andy Gray in the street football or up the park after school. 😄
Literally pissing my pants when my dad return from a function with a 10 x 8 gloss signed picture of him. It was pinned on my bed headboard.
Crying and telling my dad I was never going with him again when he was sold.
Vaguely remember a song that went
Hark now hear the villa sing a new king born today but can't remember the rest or if indeed it was ever a song sung on the terrace
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Andy Gray was playing when I eligible for a 10-quid kids' season ticket. My abiding memory is of him at the north end literally flying horizontal about 3 feet off the ground, from about the edge of the D, through a jungle of flailing boots, to arrive somewhere around 3 yards from goal at the same time as the ball and head it into the back of the net with enough power to billow the net. Can't remember the match and this could be an entirely false memory but that's what Andy Gray felt like to a kid standing on the Holte.
My other memory is going to the ground one morning to renew my season ticket and the bugger swang round into the carpark from Trinity Rd, nearly knocked me over and gave me a mouthful for being in the way. Pretty certain it was white Ford XR3i with a blonde in the passenger seat. All good - got to say Andy Gray nearly killed me!
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane
IIRC the player who many thought should not have gone to Argentina was Gordon McQueen as he was carrying an injury. Ally McLeod gambled and took him, but he didn't play at all ( I think).
I remember Jock Stein being in the studio saying that he would definitely have taken Andy Gray to Argentina - though he himself was coming back from injury. We played Leeds midweek in April and Andy Gray played part of the game and showed he was back to full strength in a great performance as we won 3-1. I can't remember if he scored though.
He scored the 2 best hat tricks I ever saw - v Ipswich and Albion in that wonderful 76-77 season, and one header in that Ipswich game was the bravest I ever saw. I reckon he was our first superstar.
Given a choice he'd rather head the ball than kick it. Bit of a lost art these days, heading, although I did enjoy Sinclair's v Stoke the other week. I said to my lad that his Grandpa would of been proud of that one
hi JG. There's no doubt a few h and v posters on here who still harbour grievances about your dad's failure to attend the opening of a certain Asda superstore. Any chance you could get an explanation for his no-show and ask him to post an apology pls? 😄
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I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.
Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that
The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane
IIRC the player who many thought should not have gone to Argentina was Gordon McQueen as he was carrying an injury. Ally McLeod gambled and took him, but he didn't play at all ( I think).
I remember Jock Stein being in the studio saying that he would definitely have taken Andy Gray to Argentina - though he himself was coming back from injury. We played Leeds midweek in April and Andy Gray played part of the game and showed he was back to full strength in a great performance as we won 3-1. I can't remember if he scored though.
He scored the 2 best hat tricks I ever saw - v Ipswich and Albion in that wonderful 76-77 season, and one header in that Ipswich game was the bravest I ever saw. I reckon he was our first superstar.
Given a choice he'd rather head the ball than kick it. Bit of a lost art these days, heading, although I did enjoy Sinclair's v Stoke the other week. I said to my lad that his Grandpa would of been proud of that one
hi JG. There's no doubt a few h and v posters on here who still harbour grievances about your dad's failure to attend the opening of a certain Asda superstore. Any chance you could get an explanation for his no-show and ask him to post an apology pls? 😄
I don't know anything about this pal, but it's most unlike him. I'll be sure to ask him though, I'm seeing him in a few weeks
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There is one picture of Andy Gray that I saw then but have never found again. It is that game against Ipswich in 77 where Andy arrives almost
horizontal above George Burley's head to crash the ball into the net. A truly magnificent sporting picture. I have it in mind that it was in the next home programme but I couldn't find it. But I bet one of you can!
As others have said,Andy Gray was the bravest centre forward I have have ever seen in the Football League. Totally fearless. I havent seen anyone of that total commitment before or since.
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My other memory is going to the ground one morning to renew my season ticket and the bugger swang round into the carpark from Trinity Rd, nearly knocked me over and gave me a mouthful for being in the way. Pretty certain it was white Ford XR3i with a blonde in the passenger seat. All good - got to say Andy Gray nearly killed me!
I believe it was a white Escort RS2000. When you consider that the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor drives around in a Lamborghini, and Andy Gray had a Ford Escort, it kind of puts into perspective how mental football has become.
Anyway, I know what car he had because he briefly lived down my road when I was a kid. He shared a little semi-detached in Erdington with Gordon Smith, a fellow Scot who had a passing resemblance to Gray at the time. It must have been for just a few months, but the kids down our road couldn't believe their luck, although, I do have a painful memory attached to it.
I was about five years old, it was a Sunday and Star Soccer was on telly, showing the Villa. My older brother thought it would be a good idea to send me to Andy Gray's house holding a claret and blue 'caser' football, and ask him to sign it. I duly complied, all on my own, making the arduous journey three houses up, timidly knocking the door. It opened and Andy Gray appeared, who promptly told me to "Go away." I don't think he appreciated me interrupting his Sunday dinner. I recall being fairly devastated, but he remained our hero - right up until he buggered off to Wolves.
I think Smith drove a Cortina.
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My other memory is going to the ground one morning to renew my season ticket and the bugger swang round into the carpark from Trinity Rd, nearly knocked me over and gave me a mouthful for being in the way. Pretty certain it was white Ford XR3i with a blonde in the passenger seat. All good - got to say Andy Gray nearly killed me!
I believe it was a white Escort RS2000. When you consider that the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor drives around in a Lamborghini, and Andy Gray had a Ford Escort, it kind of puts into perspective how mental football has become.
Anyway, I know what car he had because he briefly lived down my road when I was a kid. He shared a little semi-detached in Erdington with Gordon Smith, a fellow Scot who had a passing resemblance to Gray at the time. It must have been for just a few months, but the kids down our road couldn't believe their luck, although, I do have a painful memory attached to it.
I was about five years old, it was a Sunday and Star Soccer was on telly, showing the Villa. My older brother thought it would be a good idea to send me to Andy Gray's house holding a claret and blue 'caser' football, and ask him to sign it. I duly complied, all on my own, making the arduous journey three houses up, timidly knocking the door. It opened and Andy Gray appeared, who promptly told me to "Go away." I don't think he appreciated me interrupting his Sunday dinner. I recall being fairly devastated, but he remained our hero - right up until he buggered off to Wolves.
I think Smith drove a Cortina.
Oh god, I feel guilty after hearing that! Dad's always been pretty obliging, but he doesn't like being disturbed at home, which I think is fair enough. It's his personal space. Must have been crushing as a kid though!
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My other memory is going to the ground one morning to renew my season ticket and the bugger swang round into the carpark from Trinity Rd, nearly knocked me over and gave me a mouthful for being in the way. Pretty certain it was white Ford XR3i with a blonde in the passenger seat. All good - got to say Andy Gray nearly killed me!
I believe it was a white Escort RS2000. When you consider that the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor drives around in a Lamborghini, and Andy Gray had a Ford Escort, it kind of puts into perspective how mental football has become.
Anyway, I know what car he had because he briefly lived down my road when I was a kid. He shared a little semi-detached in Erdington with Gordon Smith, a fellow Scot who had a passing resemblance to Gray at the time. It must have been for just a few months, but the kids down our road couldn't believe their luck, although, I do have a painful memory attached to it.
I was about five years old, it was a Sunday and Star Soccer was on telly, showing the Villa. My older brother thought it would be a good idea to send me to Andy Gray's house holding a claret and blue 'caser' football, and ask him to sign it. I duly complied, all on my own, making the arduous journey three houses up, timidly knocking the door. It opened and Andy Gray appeared, who promptly told me to "Go away." I don't think he appreciated me interrupting his Sunday dinner. I recall being fairly devastated, but he remained our hero - right up until he buggered off to Wolves.
I think Smith drove a Cortina.
Oh god, I feel guilty after hearing that! Dad's always been pretty obliging, but he doesn't like being disturbed at home, which I think is fair enough. It's his personal space. Must have been crushing as a kid though!
At least there can be closure now your dad has solved the mystery of who left the huge turd on his front lawn.
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Ha ha, don't worry, JG, I'll get over it one of these days. There were a lot of Villa-mad kids down our road, as you'd imagine, so I think they handed out their fair share of autographs while they were there. I definitely caught him at the wrong time. But the whole thing demonstrates just how far removed today's footballers are from ordinary fans.
Is it true your old man is from the Drumchapel estate in Glasgow?
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Ha ha, don't worry, JG, I'll get over it one of these days. There were a lot of Villa-mad kids down our road, as you'd imagine, so I think they handed out their fair share of autographs while they were there. I definitely caught him at the wrong time. But the whole thing demonstrates just how far removed today's footballers are from ordinary fans.
Is it true your old man is from the Drumchapel estate in Glasgow?
Yes, he's a Drumchapel lad. My Granny still lived there until she sadly passed away last year & my Uncle lives 5 minutes away. Wasn't the nicest of places to grow up when my Dad was a kid, that's for sure.
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Did anybody ever go to Andy's night club venture - The Holy City Zoo?
I never made it there myself.
Yes, under the arches down Livery Street. Saturday night you could frequently bump into half the team you'd just watched that afternoon.
Don't think it's been mentioned on this thread, but Andy Gray was probably the bravest centre forward I've ever seen.
My favourite memory of Andy Gray was seeing him head a goal from a low cross in the middle of a flurry of defenders boots trying to clear it. He then stood up and saluted the Holte in his usual manner with blood pissing down the side of his face. He used to stick his head where most wouldn't stick their feet! Awesome striker and my all-time No.2 Villa player with Brian Little being No.1
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JG. Years ago a relative of mine was involved in a serious motorbike accident when he was a youngster and was in a coma for weeks. He is a big big Villa fan like everybody in our family and your Dad was his hero. A request was made to the club and Andy had no hesitation in visiting Good Hope hospital.
No, there wasn't any big dramatic soap opera style waking up when he heard his voice but your Dad spent time there and made the effort.
Don't see a lot of him but I bump into sometimes. He did wake up later and recovered. He is now married with a couple of kids. He still goes down the Villa and is still a big big fan.
He wouldn't have heard a single word your Dad said to him that day but I would imagine your Dad is still his hero.
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My other memory is going to the ground one morning to renew my season ticket and the bugger swang round into the carpark from Trinity Rd, nearly knocked me over and gave me a mouthful for being in the way. Pretty certain it was white Ford XR3i with a blonde in the passenger seat. All good - got to say Andy Gray nearly killed me!
I believe it was a white Escort RS2000. When you consider that the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor drives around in a Lamborghini, and Andy Gray had a Ford Escort, it kind of puts into perspective how mental football has become.
Anyway, I know what car he had because he briefly lived down my road when I was a kid. He shared a little semi-detached in Erdington with Gordon Smith, a fellow Scot who had a passing resemblance to Gray at the time. It must have been for just a few months, but the kids down our road couldn't believe their luck, although, I do have a painful memory attached to it.
I was about five years old, it was a Sunday and Star Soccer was on telly, showing the Villa. My older brother thought it would be a good idea to send me to Andy Gray's house holding a claret and blue 'caser' football, and ask him to sign it. I duly complied, all on my own, making the arduous journey three houses up, timidly knocking the door. It opened and Andy Gray appeared, who promptly told me to "Go away." I don't think he appreciated me interrupting his Sunday dinner. I recall being fairly devastated, but he remained our hero - right up until he buggered off to Wolves.
I think Smith drove a Cortina.
Nice one. An RS2000 makes more sense cos it would have been the 70s. I recall it had red go-faster stripes.
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Ha ha, don't worry, JG, I'll get over it one of these days. There were a lot of Villa-mad kids down our road, as you'd imagine, so I think they handed out their fair share of autographs while they were there. I definitely caught him at the wrong time. But the whole thing demonstrates just how far removed today's footballers are from ordinary fans.
You lived on Gleneagles Drive, then? I am a little bit older and lived round the corner, opposite Alex Cropley. Kids were constantly bugging Andy. He had an Old English Sheepdog called Ben, and the local kids (me included) used to frequently bug him by offering to take Ben for a walk. I have to say my experience was that Andy was very tolerant of the attention that he attracted. He even took me and my sister down to Bodymoor for training session one time (in the white RS2000), and donated some old boots for a school raffle after I'd bugged him yet again.
Many years later, I saw Andy at a restaurant in Birmingham and I was surprised that he actually remembered me from about 20 years earlier.
Pretty sure this is the type of car
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Ford_Escort_RS2000_%28ca_1976%29_at_Schaffen-Diest_Fly-drive_2013.JPG/800px-Ford_Escort_RS2000_%28ca_1976%29_at_Schaffen-Diest_Fly-drive_2013.JPG)
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JG. Years ago a relative of mine was involved in a serious motorbike accident when he was a youngster and was in a coma for weeks. He is a big big Villa fan like everybody in our family and your Dad was his hero. A request was made to the club and Andy had no hesitation in visiting Good Hope hospital.
No, there wasn't any big dramatic soap opera style waking up when he heard his voice but your Dad spent time there and made the effort.
Don't see a lot of him but I bump into sometimes. He did wake up later and recovered. He is now married with a couple of kids. He still goes down the Villa and is still a big big fan.
He wouldn't have heard a single word your Dad said to him that day but I would imagine your Dad is still his hero.
I literally don't know what to say to that. I'm just glad your relative made a full recovery & if Dad helped in any way at all then that's great.
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More name-dropping but we were on holiday in Tenerife six years ago when my wife nudged me and said jokingly "Look! It's Lofty!" Except it WAS actually "Lofty". His son and my daughter became bestest mates for the next week. He's a decent bloke, and knew quite a bit about the Villa. At that time he'd written the biggest-selling sports biography ever (he ghost-wrote the most recent at-the-time David Beckham "autobiography"). I can't remember his partner ever saying she was related to a Villa player, though.
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Ha ha, don't worry, JG, I'll get over it one of these days. There were a lot of Villa-mad kids down our road, as you'd imagine, so I think they handed out their fair share of autographs while they were there. I definitely caught him at the wrong time. But the whole thing demonstrates just how far removed today's footballers are from ordinary fans.
You lived on Gleneagles Drive, then? I am a little bit older and lived round the corner, opposite Alex Cropley. Kids were constantly bugging Andy. He had an Old English Sheepdog called Ben, and the local kids (me included) used to frequently bug him by offering to take Ben for a walk. I have to say my experience was that Andy was very tolerant of the attention that he attracted. He even took me and my sister down to Bodymoor for training session one time (in the white RS2000), and donated some old boots for a school raffle after I'd bugged him yet again.
Many years later, I saw Andy at a restaurant in Birmingham and I was surprised that he actually remembered me from about 20 years earlier.
Pretty sure this is the type of car
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Ford_Escort_RS2000_%28ca_1976%29_at_Schaffen-Diest_Fly-drive_2013.JPG/800px-Ford_Escort_RS2000_%28ca_1976%29_at_Schaffen-Diest_Fly-drive_2013.JPG)
No, this was Erdington/Pype Hayes, off Chester Road. They couldn't have been there for that long, but at the time it was like having royalty down the road. It was probably around '77-78. I remember John Gidman used to visit quite a lot. And yes, that's the car. Compared to all the Vauxhall Vivas and Austin 1100s down our road, it was like a spaceship.
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Ha ha, don't worry, JG, I'll get over it one of these days. There were a lot of Villa-mad kids down our road, as you'd imagine, so I think they handed out their fair share of autographs while they were there. I definitely caught him at the wrong time. But the whole thing demonstrates just how far removed today's footballers are from ordinary fans.
You lived on Gleneagles Drive, then? I am a little bit older and lived round the corner, opposite Alex Cropley. Kids were constantly bugging Andy. He had an Old English Sheepdog called Ben, and the local kids (me included) used to frequently bug him by offering to take Ben for a walk. I have to say my experience was that Andy was very tolerant of the attention that he attracted. He even took me and my sister down to Bodymoor for training session one time (in the white RS2000), and donated some old boots for a school raffle after I'd bugged him yet again.
Many years later, I saw Andy at a restaurant in Birmingham and I was surprised that he actually remembered me from about 20 years earlier.
Pretty sure this is the type of car
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Ford_Escort_RS2000_%28ca_1976%29_at_Schaffen-Diest_Fly-drive_2013.JPG/800px-Ford_Escort_RS2000_%28ca_1976%29_at_Schaffen-Diest_Fly-drive_2013.JPG)
No, this was Erdington/Pype Hayes, off Chester Road. They couldn't have been there for that long, but at the time it was like having royalty down the road. It was probably around '77-78. I remember John Gidman used to visit quite a lot. And yes, that's the car. Compared to all the Vauxhall Vivas and Austin 1100s down our road, it was like a spaceship.
Dad did live on Gleneagles, but I'm not sure what year he moved there. He & Giddy were thick as thieves & they're still great mates to this day.
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JG - I'm mid 50s, have missed very few home games since 1968 and can say without any shadow of a doubt your old man is for me the best and most exciting centre-forward we've had in that time. He also played in what many, including myself, think was our best team and our most exciting season at Villa Park in 1976/77... the facts alone don't do it justice but younger readers should take these in and just try and imagine how incredible it was to watch us play at home that season:
P28 W23 D4 L1 F75 (seventy-five!) A21
The Villa Park season started with a 4-0 win over West Ham (Gray 2) and ended with a 4-0 battering of the Baggies (Gray 3). We finished fourth but hammered eventual champions Liverpool 5-1 (Gray 2) and 3rd placed Ipswich 5-2 (Gray 3). Won the League Cup and lost away to Man U in the qtr final of the FA Cup at the end of week in which we'd played both the League Cup final and replay with extra-time.
We quite rightly still welcome back and see members of the championship and European Cup squads to Villa Park as heroes and legends - but that 76/77 team was also packed with players who should also be treated as all-time legends for what they gave us that season. Gordon Cowans and Dennis Mortimer spanned both teams and Brian Little is rightly still revered but I'm thinking of men like John Burridge, John Gidman, Chris Nicholl, Leighton Phillips, John Deehan, Frank Carrodus, Ray Graydon and of course Andy Gray. Sadly John Robson and Gordon Smith are no longer with us.
In two seasons time we should be celebrating the anniversary of that campaign and getting all of the above back together and out there on the pitch for the recognition they deserve.
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I'm pretty sure your Dad lived off Heathcroft Road when he first arrived at the Villa. I think the Graydons lived in Rowallan Rd and your Dad lived In Essex Road.
I remember seeing him having a quite pint in the Fox & Dog or getting a take away from The Four Seasons on Lichfield Road.
As an aside, anybody used the Four Seasons Chinese recently ? I've been having the same meal (special curry/boiled rice) from there for nearly 40 years ( looks like the same fish in the tank and the same TV behind the counter too!).
Last two times I've been it was closed. No notices on the window or anything. I love their curries, Star Anise round the corner isn't a patch on their food.
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JG - I'm mid 50s, have missed very few home games since 1968 and can say without any shadow of a doubt your old man is for me the best and most exciting centre-forward we've had in that time. He also played in what many, including myself, think was our best team and our most exciting season at Villa Park in 1976/77... the facts alone don't do it justice but younger readers should take these in and just try and imagine how incredible it was to watch us play at home that season:
P28 W23 D4 L1 F75 (seventy-five!) A21
The Villa Park season started with a 4-0 win over West Ham (Gray 2) and ended with a 4-0 battering of the Baggies (Gray 3). We finished fourth but hammered eventual champions Liverpool 5-1 (Gray 2) and 3rd placed Ipswich 5-2 (Gray 3). Won the League Cup and lost away to Man U in the qtr final of the FA Cup at the end of week in which we'd played both the League Cup final and replay with extra-time.
We quite rightly still welcome back and see members of the championship and European Cup squads to Villa Park as heroes and legends - but that 76/77 team was also packed with players who should also be treated as all-time legends for what they gave us that season. Gordon Cowans and Dennis Mortimer spanned both teams and Brian Little is rightly still revered but I'm thinking of men like John Burridge, John Gidman, Chris Nicholl, Leighton Phillips, John Deehan, Frank Carrodus, Ray Graydon and of course Andy Gray. Sadly John Robson and Gordon Smith are no longer with us.
In two seasons time we should be celebrating the anniversary of that campaign and getting all of the above back together and out there on the pitch for the recognition they deserve.
agree with every word you say, they were a bit special
and Frank Carrodus is still my all time favourite player, he wasn't the best and was often the team scapegoat, but I loved him,he would run all day long and some skills too
he scored Liverpools own goal in 77 that was refered to earlier
I remember one particular game at VP when he had been getting a load of stick, and he suddenly went on a mazy run beating what seemed to be 5 or 6 players and just as he broke free into the box he stood on the ball and fell over, the whole ground just fell about laughing, but everyone loved his heart
this has turned into a great thread
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A mate of mine used to live either next door or very close to Andy Gray, they lived just on a bend on a country lane. He doesn't have any interest in football but told me the story of his mum stood just before the bend to stop any traffic approaching and warn any approaching traffic that they were in the process of loading a piano into the back of a van parked just beyond the bend. The only car to come along was Andy and he mistook Mrs Gilks gesture to stop as a friendly neighbour waving and waved back, seconds later there was a screeching of brakes and a car almost ending up in a field. No idea what happened to the piano.
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JG - I'm mid 50s, have missed very few home games since 1968 and can say without any shadow of a doubt your old man is for me the best and most exciting centre-forward we've had in that time. He also played in what many, including myself, think was our best team and our most exciting season at Villa Park in 1976/77... the facts alone don't do it justice but younger readers should take these in and just try and imagine how incredible it was to watch us play at home that season:
P28 W23 D4 L1 F75 (seventy-five!) A21
The Villa Park season started with a 4-0 win over West Ham (Gray 2) and ended with a 4-0 battering of the Baggies (Gray 3). We finished fourth but hammered eventual champions Liverpool 5-1 (Gray 2) and 3rd placed Ipswich 5-2 (Gray 3). Won the League Cup and lost away to Man U in the qtr final of the FA Cup at the end of week in which we'd played both the League Cup final and replay with extra-time.
We quite rightly still welcome back and see members of the championship and European Cup squads to Villa Park as heroes and legends - but that 76/77 team was also packed with players who should also be treated as all-time legends for what they gave us that season. Gordon Cowans and Dennis Mortimer spanned both teams and Brian Little is rightly still revered but I'm thinking of men like John Burridge, John Gidman, Chris Nicholl, Leighton Phillips, John Deehan, Frank Carrodus, Ray Graydon and of course Andy Gray. Sadly John Robson and Gordon Smith are no longer with us.
In two seasons time we should be celebrating the anniversary of that campaign and getting all of the above back together and out there on the pitch for the recognition they deserve.
I totallly agree.
Regarding Frank Carrodus, I'm sure I remember him running the outer circle route for a charity event during his time with us - something I don't think you'd see a top flight player do nowadays.
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JG - I'm mid 50s, have missed very few home games since 1968 and can say without any shadow of a doubt your old man is for me the best and most exciting centre-forward we've had in that time. He also played in what many, including myself, think was our best team and our most exciting season at Villa Park in 1976/77... the facts alone don't do it justice but younger readers should take these in and just try and imagine how incredible it was to watch us play at home that season:
P28 W23 D4 L1 F75 (seventy-five!) A21
The Villa Park season started with a 4-0 win over West Ham (Gray 2) and ended with a 4-0 battering of the Baggies (Gray 3). We finished fourth but hammered eventual champions Liverpool 5-1 (Gray 2) and 3rd placed Ipswich 5-2 (Gray 3). Won the League Cup and lost away to Man U in the qtr final of the FA Cup at the end of week in which we'd played both the League Cup final and replay with extra-time.
We quite rightly still welcome back and see members of the championship and European Cup squads to Villa Park as heroes and legends - but that 76/77 team was also packed with players who should also be treated as all-time legends for what they gave us that season. Gordon Cowans and Dennis Mortimer spanned both teams and Brian Little is rightly still revered but I'm thinking of men like John Burridge, John Gidman, Chris Nicholl, Leighton Phillips, John Deehan, Frank Carrodus, Ray Graydon and of course Andy Gray. Sadly John Robson and Gordon Smith are no longer with us.
In two seasons time we should be celebrating the anniversary of that campaign and getting all of the above back together and out there on the pitch for the recognition they deserve.
Great post and very true. I'm younger than you, DeKuip but I still remember AG's debut against Man Utd. Apart from the goal which was a cracker, it was my first time in the Lower Trinity, probably due to my father's hatred of Man Utd fans behavior the previous season in the Witton End, where they were spitting etc on innocent Villa fans. At half time there was a Man Utd fan mouthing off whilst he pissed up against the wall rather than the urinals, much to the disgust of my father who leaned into to him, pushing him against the wall, making the Utd fan piss all down his trousers. Revenge is a dish best served warm and wet.
Of course we all remember the brilliant, brave headers of AG and his Holte End salute but the one goal that really sticks out because it was so unAG was the rocket he smashed in from outside the box against Crystal Palace at Highfield Road in a cup replay. AG had his own column in Shoot which had his autograph at the end. He'd be shocked and probably alarmed at how well I and few mates could copy it, such was our devotion.
I'm struggling to think of a Villa player over the last 40 years more worshipped by the Holte than AG. He had the songs, was loved by all and I can still see the back page of the Evening Mail when AG declared he wanted to leave. Permed hair, training top and ball under his arm, jumping with excitement to be leaving. Heartbreaking stuff. It's good to hear he still holds the Villa fondly in his heart, the days he spent with us between 75 and 79 were undoubtedly the best times I recall watching the Villa.
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
That's brilliant. I've seen it a million times before, but I still love watching it. Hard to describe the emotions I feel watching my Dad scoring for the club I love, into a packed Holte End and the fans going wild. You can tell how much he loved scoring. He was 20 years old, a few weeks short of his 21st and not too long before he met my Mum in Flints in Mere Green. Love the huge collar in the interview at the end too!
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and Frank Carrodus is still my all time favourite player, he wasn't the best and was often the team scapegoat, but I loved him,he would run all day long and some skills too
he scored Liverpools own goal in 77 that was refered to earlier
I remember one particular game at VP when he had been getting a load of stick, and he suddenly went on a mazy run beating what seemed to be 5 or 6 players and just as he broke free into the box he stood on the ball and fell over, the whole ground just fell about laughing, but everyone loved his heart
this has turned into a great thread
John e - I was at that game, a 1-1 home draw v Southampton with Chris Nichol returning to Villa Park for the first time and scoring their equaliser.
It was most unlike Carrodus, an amazing run with trickery and skill, but a ballsed up ending. The Argus commented on it the following week (Dennis Shaw / Ian Johnson?) in one of their features, bigging up Frank as an unsung hero and saying how that run would have been given far more coverage if it were one of our glamour players.
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
That's brilliant. I've seen it a million times before, but I still love watching it. Hard to describe the emotions I feel watching my Dad scoring for the club I love, into a packed Holte End and the fans going wild. You can tell how much he loved scoring. He was 20 years old, a few weeks short of his 21st and not too long before he met my Mum in Flints in Mere Green. Love the huge collar in the interview at the end too!
That game happened 3 days after I was born. Brilliant. Thanks for posting, DB.
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
This was after he got fined by the club for being out drinking when he shouldn't have. Someone else was to but for the life of me I can't remember who. Dick Edwards???
Dave, was it Ferguson?
That was running through my mind Pat as I was typing. It would make sense as they were team mates at Blackburn.
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JG. Years ago a relative of mine was involved in a serious motorbike accident when he was a youngster and was in a coma for weeks. He is a big big Villa fan like everybody in our family and your Dad was his hero. A request was made to the club and Andy had no hesitation in visiting Good Hope hospital.
No, there wasn't any big dramatic soap opera style waking up when he heard his voice but your Dad spent time there and made the effort.
Don't see a lot of him but I bump into sometimes. He did wake up later and recovered. He is now married with a couple of kids. He still goes down the Villa and is still a big big fan.
He wouldn't have heard a single word your Dad said to him that day but I would imagine your Dad is still his hero.
ALITA, I think you're wrong when you say your friend wouldn't have heard anything Andy Gray said to him. It is said that when a person is dying, hearing is the last of the senses to go. The same can be said of coma victims, they may or may not recall what was said but, it is believed that they hear it. So ALITA, you and your friend can take solace that the words expressed by Andy Gray was a contributory factor in the healing process. And you JG, have another reason to be proud of your old man.
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hi JG. There's no doubt a few h and v posters on here who still harbour grievances about your dad's failure to attend the opening of a certain Asda superstore. Any chance you could get an explanation for his no-show and ask him to post an apology pls? 😄
That was me, ASDA, Brierley Hill, 1977 ( could have been '78). waited for hours with my sister and hundreds of other Villa fans in all my Villa gear for him to officially open the new ASDA but he never turned up. Nearly 40 years on and the pain is still raw - he was my absolute hero at the time. I know there are others on here who were there as well. Mac, for one.
My sister confronted him about his no-show a few years ago
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
Good job the internet wasn't around then. We would all be moaning about the marking of Pearson for their first goal!
Andy's second goal was a cracker though!!
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
That's brilliant. I've seen it a million times before, but I still love watching it. Hard to describe the emotions I feel watching my Dad scoring for the club I love, into a packed Holte End and the fans going wild. You can tell how much he loved scoring. He was 20 years old, a few weeks short of his 21st and not too long before he met my Mum in Flints in Mere Green. Love the huge collar in the interview at the end too!
That game happened 3 days after I was born. Brilliant. Thanks for posting, DB.
I arrived 3 days before we beat Liverpool 5-1 a few weeks later. The name Lee was very popular at that point, there must have been another 15 lads in our year with the same name.
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
Great to see that again. That really was a fantastically entertaining and talented team.
I'm reminded that Graydon's dreadful penalty was even worse than the one he'd got away with at Wembley the previous year.
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
Great to see that again. That really was a fantastically entertaining and talented team.
I'm reminded that Graydon's dreadful penalty was even worse than the one he'd got away with at Wembley the previous year.
I could cry for about a 100 different reasons when I see that...starting with seeing the old Holte, the proper strip, the right badge, mention of the Witton End where my Dad used to stand...oh dear, it really does make me well up
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Best Thread for a long long time.
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Best Thread for a long long time.
It is good and, as ever, has very little to do with the title.
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It's turned into a Villa Memories thread.
I love some of those advertising boards - "Effluent Disposal Limited" - (now dormant according to Companies House).
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6th November 1976....
just for all us old Villa romantics.....
UTV
The Doc
Wow, that's absolutely magnificent viewing.
I remember watching us then, we had a sort of glamour club swagger about us. A real swagger.
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I was a bit sad when I noticed the Davenports ad.
I wonder if the Ansells Bittermen ad was still on the Witton Lane stand at that time.
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Ha ha, don't worry, JG, I'll get over it one of these days. There were a lot of Villa-mad kids down our road, as you'd imagine, so I think they handed out their fair share of autographs while they were there. I definitely caught him at the wrong time. But the whole thing demonstrates just how far removed today's footballers are from ordinary fans.
Is it true your old man is from the Drumchapel estate in Glasgow?
Yes, he's a Drumchapel lad. My Granny still lived there until she sadly passed away last year & my Uncle lives 5 minutes away. Wasn't the nicest of places to grow up when my Dad was a kid, that's for sure.
As strange as it sounds we had a family holiday in Drumchapel in 1976 - that hot summer. Some family friends had a flat there, which we used while they were on holiday. It didn't really register at the time that it wasn't quite the Algarve, but the locals were friendly, if anything fairly bemused by our Brummie accents. I genuinely don't think they'd ever heard anyone speak like us before, and could barely understand a word we said. Likewise for us, actually.
The enduring image I have of Glasgow then, even though I was very young, was of suited drunks spark out on the pavement all over the city centre, surrounded by empty bottles of scotch and chip papers. The Gorbals were still standing, just. My, how it's changed.
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Regarding Frank Carrodus, I'm sure I remember him running the outer circle route for a charity event during his time with us - something I don't think you'd see a top flight player do nowadays.
I definitely remember that.
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Regarding Frank Carrodus, I'm sure I remember him running the outer circle route for a charity event during his time with us - something I don't think you'd see a top flight player do nowadays.
I definitely remember that.
I walked it once and that was bad enough. (BRMB's Walkathon)
Stupidly I wore a new pair of trainers and finished with massive blisters on the soles of both feet.
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Most fearless Centre forward Villa have had in my time . I started in in 1959 with Gerry Hitchens.
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It's turned into a Villa Memories thread.
I love some of those advertising boards - "Effluent Disposal Limited" - (now dormant according to Companies House).
You know you are watching footage of 1970's English football when the off pitch battle for advertising space is Esso v Texaco and Vision Hire v Radio Rentals.
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I was a bit sad when I noticed the Davenports ad.
I wonder if the Ansells Bittermen ad was still on the Witton Lane stand at that time.
The Ansells Bittermen sign was up there well into the 80s if not till the stand was pulled down
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I was a bit sad when I noticed the Davenports ad.
I wonder if the Ansells Bittermen ad was still on the Witton Lane stand at that time.
The Ansells Bittermen sign was up there well into the 80s if not till the stand was pulled down
Thanks. You'd think I would remember, as I stared at it often enough from my vantage point in the Trinity. I put it down to age.
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Great footage of some great Villa days.
It was around this time my Villa mate and I used to go to The Belfry on Saturday nights and usually bumped into a few of the players...remember going into the gents once and Carrodus and Leighton Phillips were in there.
Had a very friendly chat with them and couldn't get the smile off my face for days because I'd had a piss next to two of my heroes!
We were great to watch then.
On the pitch I mean, not having a piss.
;-)
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I was a bit sad when I noticed the Davenports ad.
I wonder if the Ansells Bittermen ad was still on the Witton Lane stand at that time.
The Ansells Bittermen sign was up there well into the 80s if not till the stand was pulled down
Thanks. You'd think I would remember, as I stared at it often enough from my vantage point in the Trinity. I put it down to age.
There is only one place you should really see a Davenports ad. On the telly with a song.
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I was on the Holte End for that game. 21 years old, and watching the best attack we have ever had. That team was the most entertaining I ever saw turn out for Villa. Was gutted when Gray and Gidman were sold, and later Little had a serious injury which would ultimately end his career. Saunders then pulled of that which marks out great managers from good ones, he built a second great team.Andy was a God to the Villa fans, to some of us of a certain age, he still is. Happy days.
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Back in those days when you went to watch the Villa; either home or away and you knew that that front line was fit and well and would be playing, you just didn't hope for goals, you expected them!
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Back in those days when you went to watch the Villa; either home or away and you knew that that front line was fit and well and would be playing, you just didn't hope for goals, you expected them!
That season 1976-77 we were top scorers by a distance in Division One. 76 goals in 42 games, 5 more than Man U and 14 more than Liverpool who won the league. If we had been tighter at the back we could have walked the league that season.
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Fantastic thread. Agree wholeheartedly about the 76/77 team being the most entertaining of my lifetime. As wonderful as 80/81 was, it would have been great if the earlier team had won the league with their swashbuckling attacking style.
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
This was after he got fined by the club for being out drinking when he shouldn't have. Someone else was to but for the life of me I can't remember who. Dick Edwards???
Dave, was it Ferguson?
That was running through my mind Pat as I was typing. It would make sense as they were team mates at Blackburn.
It was all three. The newspapers reported that they had been fined two weeks wages fairly on in the disastrous 69/70 season. It was the first sign that all was not well behind the scenes, rather than just on the pitch. A little while later it was reported in a major Sunday rag exclusive that all three would never play for the club again.
The story I heard was that initially Vic Crowe had spotted them breaking one of Docherty's curfews and reported them. Docherty was a bit Pepe Mel-like at times. Edwards had got pissed in a subsequent incident and had alone 'behaved like an animal' and smashed up Vic Crowe's car in an act of revenge. This resulted in the blanket banishment.
What can't have gone down well with the other two was that Docherty later went back on his word with Edwards and picked him to play a few games. I can remember him playing in a cup game aganst Charlton in a half back line that consisted solely of centre halves. Fairly typical of the corner that Docherty had painted himself into at the time.
although he was very skilful, losing Ferguson was probably no big deal. Docherty had already decided he was not 'my kind of player'. Edwards and Hole were a big loss however, both were easily good enough to play in the top flight. We could certainly have done with the services of both the Dick Edwards that had once played Ron Davies off the park and the Barrie Hole that had played equally well in the great cup run of the previous season.
I am not sure how much Hole deserved the ditty. If he drank a lot he certainly could take it very well. On the pitch he always appeared an unassuming but assured professional, and certainly a good player.
Ferguson soon departed for QPR and Edwards to Torquay, a massive waste of talent. The then manager Crowe revealed at the end of the season that he had asked Hole to stay, but 'respected him for his principles' when Hole had said that he preferred to leave the club.
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I was on the Holte End for that game. 21 years old, and watching the best attack we have ever had. That team was the most entertaining I ever saw turn out for Villa. Was gutted when Gray and Gidman were sold, and later Little had a serious injury which would ultimately end his career. Saunders then pulled of that which marks out great managers from good ones, he built a second great team.Andy was a God to the Villa fans, to some of us of a certain age, he still is. Happy days.
Great stuff bill - I was 22 and also on The Holte for every game.
Couldn't agree with you more about that team.
They were wonderful to watch and made us all feel really proud.
I'd just started teaching and going into school on a Monday morning was a joy!
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Great summation Steve Rose. That clarified the situation and a lot of it is now how I remember it. I never knew the nitty-gritty but do now remember it being Vic Crowe reporting them.
Barry Hole was one of my favourite players at the time. I remember standing next to him at the bar in the Lion's Club at a function one night. I'm a fairly shy kind of person, a lot better now than I was, so it took a great deal of courage for me to speak to him. I complimented him on the goal he'd scored against Spurs that I mentioned earlier in the thread. He just said 'yeah' and turned away. Bastard upset me.
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Grays 2 goals away at Liverpool in 77 live long in the memory. It was the first time they had been beaten at anfield in ages.
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Some interesting comparisons between 76/77 and 80/81.
I don't remember 76/77 that well but 80/81 seems like yesterday.
At first glance the big difference between the teams was away form. In 76/77 we were virtually invincible at home, losing once, Champions Liverpool were unbeaten at home. Both sides won 5 on the road but we drew 4 and lost 12 whereas Liverpool drew 8 & won 8 on the road. That's where the league was won/lost. In 80/81 we won 10 away games.
I've just looked at the 80/81 table and was surprised that we conceded 40 goals. I don't remember that defence conceding virtually a goal a game!
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Tom Watt is way too good for such a crap radio station.
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Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old 'un's remember this?
He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.
This was after he got fined by the club for being out drinking when he shouldn't have. Someone else was to but for the life of me I can't remember who. Dick Edwards???
Dave, was it Ferguson?
That was running through my mind Pat as I was typing. It would make sense as they were team mates at Blackburn.
It was all three. The newspapers reported that they had been fined two weeks wages fairly on in the disastrous 69/70 season. It was the first sign that all was not well behind the scenes, rather than just on the pitch. A little while later it was reported in a major Sunday rag exclusive that all three would never play for the club again.
The story I heard was that initially Vic Crowe had spotted them breaking one of Docherty's curfews and reported them. Docherty was a bit Pepe Mel-like at times. Edwards had got pissed in a subsequent incident and had alone 'behaved like an animal' and smashed up Vic Crowe's car in an act of revenge. This resulted in the blanket banishment.
What can't have gone down well with the other two was that Docherty later went back on his word with Edwards and picked him to play a few games. I can remember him playing in a cup game aganst Charlton in a half back line that consisted solely of centre halves. Fairly typical of the corner that Docherty had painted himself into at the time.
although he was very skilful, losing Ferguson was probably no big deal. Docherty had already decided he was not 'my kind of player'. Edwards and Hole were a big loss however, both were easily good enough to play in the top flight. We could certainly have done with the services of both the Dick Edwards that had once played Ron Davies off the park and the Barrie Hole that had played equally well in the great cup run of the previous season.
I am not sure how much Hole deserved the ditty. If he drank a lot he certainly could take it very well. On the pitch he always appeared an unassuming but assured professional, and certainly a good player.
Ferguson soon departed for QPR and Edwards to Torquay, a massive waste of talent. The then manager Crowe revealed at the end of the season that he had asked Hole to stay, but 'respected him for his principles' when Hole had said that he preferred to leave the club.
I think the Doc played big Dick Edwards at centre forward once or possibly twice. Dick had the muscle of George Curtis with a bit of skill added. I liked him.
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And he could play guitar.
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Great footage of some great Villa days.
It was around this time my Villa mate and I used to go to The Belfry on Saturday nights and usually bumped into a few of the players...remember going into the gents once and Carrodus and Leighton Phillips were in there.
Had a very friendly chat with them and couldn't get the smile off my face for days because I'd had a piss next to two of my heroes!
We were great to watch then.
On the pitch I mean, not having a piss.
;-)
Yes I remember doing the belfry around that time, seeing all the Villa boys especially on a Monday members night...right through to the early 8o's...good memories!
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Swashbuckling was the word for that 76/7 team. Looking at those highlights, amazing to see us 3-2 up against Man Utd and our centre half making a surging run though the middle to get into the box from open play!
Also loved the tackle on Graydon when he was clear through on goal resulting in the first yellow card of the game! Reminds me of a game we played at Wembley not that long ago.
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And once again a thread with a very unpromising title turns into a classic.
Excellent stuff.
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
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I know what car he had because he briefly lived down my road when I was a kid. He shared a little semi-detached in Erdington with Gordon Smith, a fellow Scot who had a passing resemblance to Gray at the time. It must have been for just a few months, but the kids down our road couldn't believe their luck, although, I do have a painful memory attached to it.
If my memory serves and with a little bit of help from Google Maps, Gordon Smith lived at number 4 (or 6), Birch Croft. I'd been round there after school, knocking on the door, hunting for autographs and not only got Gordon Smith's but Ray Graydon's too. I recall the conversation with Godon was very short, partly because I was starstruck but mainly because I couldn't understand a word he was saying.
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I want to know Tom Hanks thoughts on the pitch invasion.
Tom posts on here with user name Darren Woolley. Check out his posts if you want a directional opinion.
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
"And now to discuss Man City's Champions League prospects, we have City legend Shaun Goater on the line"
?
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Tom Watt is way too good for such a crap radio station.
Eh? What's that got to do with this thread?
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
"And now to discuss Man City's Champions League prospects, we have City legend Shaun Goater on the line"
?
Well Andy Lochhead is a legend in my eyes for Villa, in much the same way real Man City fans will remember Goater I suspect
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What an awesome thread! Nice to hear all the fond memories of Andy, and the rest of the that team.
Dad always said that Andy was the bravest player he played with, and they were almost telepathic when they played.
Hope your well Jamie!!!
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
"And now to discuss Man City's Champions League prospects, we have City legend Shaun Goater on the line"
?
Well Andy Lochhead is a legend in my eyes for Villa, in much the same way real Man City fans will remember Goater I suspect
Goater is a cult hero in a way that can only naturally occur when a club is going through bad times. That is why Small Heath have so many cult heroes. Goater was also part of the side that emerged from the bad times.
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
"And now to discuss Man City's Champions League prospects, we have City legend Shaun Goater on the line"
?
Well Andy Lochhead is a legend in my eyes for Villa, in much the same way real Man City fans will remember Goater I suspect
Goater is a cult hero in a way that can only naturally occur when a club is going through bad times. That is why Small Heath have so many cult heroes. Goater was also part of the side that emerged from the bad times.
He scored over 100 goals in helping the club from the third division back to the top flight, netting his 100th in winning Maine Road's last derby - so he's up there with Aguero when it comes to heroes with the real City fans.
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What an awesome thread! Nice to hear all the fond memories of Andy, and the rest of the that team.
Dad always said that Andy was the bravest player he played with, and they were almost telepathic when they played.
Hope your well Jamie!!!
And what a player Alex Cropley was too! Another of my heroes. What a team.
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What an awesome thread! Nice to hear all the fond memories of Andy, and the rest of the that team.
Dad always said that Andy was the bravest player he played with, and they were almost telepathic when they played.
Hope your well Jamie!!!
And what a player Alex Cropley was too! Another of my heroes. What a team.
Agreed, fantastic player
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
I heard Steve Nicol on it a few months ago, he'd clearly had a few, slurring a little and kept repeating the same thing, just like Alan Brazil does in the morning.
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I have been listening to Talksport in the early hours in recent nights and they have had phone interviews with a couple of clearly pissed ex players. The name of the one escapes me at the moment but a couple of nights back they interviewed 'Blackburn legend Simon Garner' and he was absolutely hammered.
I heard Steve Nicol on it a few months ago, he'd clearly had a few, slurring a little and kept repeating the same thing, just like Alan Brazil does in the morning.
Steve Nicol, that was the other one I referred to who I had forgotten! But it was only a week or two ago, so if you heard him pissed a few months back it is obviously a regular thing with him getting pissed before going on tut wireless.