Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Charlie8182 on August 03, 2019, 07:25:45 PM

Title: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Charlie8182 on August 03, 2019, 07:25:45 PM
Thank goodness this didn’t happen, the first clip has no audio.

https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-04071979-brian-little-transfer


https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-06071979-brian-littles-transfer-falls-through
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Damo70 on August 03, 2019, 09:34:51 PM
I think he failed the medical due to a back injury. Our excellent front three of the seventies could have all ended up at local rivals. Gray to Wolves (relatively successful), Little to Small Heath and Deehan to Albion (who flopped and ended up playing at centre half or in the reserves).
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: wittonwarrior on August 04, 2019, 11:30:57 PM
It almost went unnoticed at the time as well
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: dave shelley on August 05, 2019, 09:50:20 AM
I was out at Bodymoor not long after that watching them train, and I remember SBL helping another player to move the portable goal and shouting out ' Oi, I'm supposed to have a bad back!'  Very witty given the circumstances.
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: olaftab on August 05, 2019, 09:53:41 AM
Very pleased that Brian was not stained.
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Damo70 on August 05, 2019, 03:25:10 PM
I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Charlie8182 on August 07, 2019, 10:25:00 PM
It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Damo70 on August 08, 2019, 11:04:19 AM
It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!

He fell out with Ron Saunders. As did John Gidman and Andy Gray. Also I think Small Heath were paying decent wages at the time. They signed Rioch, Worthington, Todd and Gemmill and paid them a fortune. Add to that they doubled Saunders wages to take him off us and that is why they were skint by 1983.
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Brend'Watkins on August 08, 2019, 04:52:18 PM
It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!

He fell out with Ron Saunders. As did John Gidman and Andy Gray. Also I think Small Heath were paying decent wages at the time. They signed Rioch, Worthington, Todd and Gemmill and paid them a fortune. Add to that they doubled Saunders wages to take him off us and that is why they were skint by 1983.

So that's our fault as well. 
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Rudy65 on August 10, 2019, 03:50:28 PM
I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: ez on September 29, 2019, 05:14:37 PM
I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Damo70 on September 29, 2019, 08:43:18 PM
I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.


As an eleven year old I loved the fact that he scored spectacular goals and after two of his best against Everton and Dynamo Berlin he flicked the V sign at Ron Saunders. A rebel who scores great goals, what was not to love? I met him at a charity football game in Yardley about fifteen years ago and offered to give £100 to the charity if I could have his shirt. It was the Villa shirt of the time with his name and number eleven on the back but it was sponsored on the front by Floors To Go who sponsored the Villa legends at the time. Neil Rioch was in charge of the Villa legends/old boys at the time and told Tony Morley he wasn't allowed to give me the shirt as they couldn't spare one. Tony Morley called Neil Rioch a miserable so and so (or words to that effect) and made sure that I got the shirt. He arranged to meet me at a school in Chelmsley Wood where he was doing some coaching to give me the shirt and we had a couple of photos taken together. I actually had Tony Morley's phone number on my mobile phone for a while.
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 29, 2019, 08:47:17 PM
I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.


As an eleven year old I loved the fact that he scored spectacular goals and after two of his best against Everton and Dynamo Berlin he flicked the V sign at Ron Saunders. A rebel who scores great goals, what was not to love? I met him at a charity football game in Yardley about fifteen years ago and offered to give £100 to the charity if I could have his shirt. It was the Villa shirt of the time with his name and number eleven on the back but it was sponsored on the front by Floors To Go who sponsored the Villa legends at the time. Neil Rioch was in charge of the Villa legends/old boys at the time and told Tony Morley he wasn't allowed to give me the shirt as they couldn't spare one. Tony Morley called Neil Rioch a miserable so and so (or words to that effect) and made sure that I got the shirt. He arranged to meet me at a school in Chelmsley Wood where he was doing some coaching to give me the shirt and we had a couple of photos taken together. I actually had Tony Morley's phone number on my mobile phone for a while.

You as well?

/namedrop
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: Damo70 on September 29, 2019, 08:58:26 PM
I have never got over seeing my idol Tony Morley playing in both a West Brom shirt and even worse a Small Heath shirt.

Me too. I think it was in hair in 82 that did it for mel

I read in a football magazine that Tony Morley didn't want to leave us and it was Doug who sold him.


As an eleven year old I loved the fact that he scored spectacular goals and after two of his best against Everton and Dynamo Berlin he flicked the V sign at Ron Saunders. A rebel who scores great goals, what was not to love? I met him at a charity football game in Yardley about fifteen years ago and offered to give £100 to the charity if I could have his shirt. It was the Villa shirt of the time with his name and number eleven on the back but it was sponsored on the front by Floors To Go who sponsored the Villa legends at the time. Neil Rioch was in charge of the Villa legends/old boys at the time and told Tony Morley he wasn't allowed to give me the shirt as they couldn't spare one. Tony Morley called Neil Rioch a miserable so and so (or words to that effect) and made sure that I got the shirt. He arranged to meet me at a school in Chelmsley Wood where he was doing some coaching to give me the shirt and we had a couple of photos taken together. I actually had Tony Morley's phone number on my mobile phone for a while.

You as well?

/namedrop


My reason was for a charitable cause.

Not because I wanted him to write a forward for my book.  ;)
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: ez on October 01, 2019, 09:28:46 PM
Just a quick heads up, Brian Little's book, A Little Is Enough, is 99p on Amazon kindle for 6 more days
Title: Re: Brian Little so nearly signs for the noses, 1979
Post by: castlefields_villan on December 11, 2019, 11:31:45 AM
Quote from: Charlie8182 link=topic=59frar990.msg3629635#msg3629635 date=1565213100
It’s only dawned on me now that SBL was prepared to drop down a division as Small Heath were relegated at the end of 78/79, plus he was still only 25 at the time!
[/b]


At 25 he must have been advised he was way too young to give football.
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