Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ez on December 07, 2019, 06:37:00 PM
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A post by Steve Withe on Facebook that Ron Saunders has passed away. Rip.
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A giant ❤️
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Now confirmed by the club.
He gave us our greatest side ever. Thank you for everything Ron. We will miss you 110%
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https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/12/07/ron-saunders-passes-away
Farewell, legend.
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Ah, that's shit. What a man.
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Rip. Tomorrow is going to be emotional
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Never to be forgotten, thanks for the memories Ron you'll never know what you gave to me.
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Our twitter has just confirmed.
R.I.P to one of the greats in our history.
Hopefully he'll get a great send off at the match tomorrow and certainly deserves a stature in the forecourt or name for one of the stands but we've never been great at that sort of thing. That argument is for another time though.
Loved it when he came back for the home games in 06/07.
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RIP
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RIP Ron
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RIP Ron. :(
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What a legend. RIP
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You will always be remembered. You will always be a legend.
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RIP Ron. The best manager in my lifetime
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Just seen this. Oh no. RIP Sir Ron.
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What a sad day. The man gave us an identity and our best years.
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Saunders was Villa and Villa were Saunders when I was growing up. Never equalled, never to be forgotten.
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A great manager who gave us a great team RIP Ron
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RIP to the man who gave me the best days of my life
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RIP Ron. The best manager in my lifetime
Absolutely. He brought times I never thought I’d see at the Villa. Thank you Ron
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Ah, fuck.
RIP Ron.
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Absolutely gutted, RIP Super Ron.
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He scared me as a kid and even though he was getting frail he still scared me as an adult in the interview he gave for AVTV a while back. The man was and always will be an absolute legend.
I remember the interview he gave to Gary Newbon on the evening we won the title.
Newbon - "Are you going to smile now Ron"?
Saunders - "Life isn't all about smiling Gary"!
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No words.
RIP
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For me, nothing will ever surpass being in that heaving mass in Highbury at the Clock End. He gave us that.
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The full 110%, RIP Ron, a legend of a man.
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A giant of Aston Villa. A man who was rightly both feared and revered.
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The greatest. Let's do it for Sir Ron tomorrow
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEt6R7jWAAA5mOV.jpg)
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RIP sir Ron....you gave me the greatest times ever following the villa and never got the recognition you deserved
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RIP Ron your contribution and involvement with our great club Aston Villa gave me some of the best times of my life - my thoughts are with your family at this sad time - I hope the club organise an appropriate and fitting tribute
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Devestated
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Horrible news. As legends go, you don't get much bigger.
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RIP Champ
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God bless him. He died on a Saturday at 3pm
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RIP Ron, so happy that I watched his side win the league playing fantastic attacking football and leaving us with a side that would go on to conquer Europe just a few games later.
Villa legend forever.
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"Do you want to bet against us?" should be his epitaph.
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RIP Ron.
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Gutted. RIP.
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The saddest of days. The Best we've ever had.
Thanks Ron.
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Terrible news. Shame he never got the opportunity to open his stand as he certainly deserved one.
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RIP Ron. Gone but never forgotten
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Pack up the stars and dismantle the sun. Our sir Ron has gone. Gutted totally gutted...fuckin speechless.
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RIP Ron. You gave us two of our best ever teams. Football's never been as good since.
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A very sad day for us all. My condolences to Ron’s family. RIP Great Man.
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Sad news. There must be thousands of people tonight reminiscing about the great times he was responsible for bringing to their lives. 110% from everyone tomorrow.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/De6iqD3XcAATPvx.jpg)
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"Do you want to bet against us?" should be his epitaph.
110% agree.
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Gutted.RIP
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110% tomorrow, lads, do this man proud.
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Sad day for all connected to our beloved club.
He was Aston Villa when I was a kid and always will be to me.
RIP Ron...
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I am pretty sure there was a big twist in the title race in April 1981 when we went to Leicester and won whilst Albion beat Ipswich.
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I cried at Highbury, I cried at Rotterdam. I’ve just cried now. So sad.
RIP Sir Ron. God bless you and your family
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Very sad day, our greatest manager, thanks for everything you'll never be forgotten at Villa Park.
RIP Ron
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Never been a more capable manager since.
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Far and away the best manager in my 53 years of supporting Aston Villa. Will never forget Highbury 1981 and Rotterdam 1982. RIP Ron Saunders you will never be forgotten.
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Very very sad news.
RIP.
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Hard as nails.
Tony Morley said of him “ if we didn’t have a bust up once a week, he’d think we’d fallen out”.
Disgraceful he’s not Sir Ron.
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Any time we've gone through tough times as a club, Ron's achievements have kept me going and believing. The fact that I never, ever, doubt Aston Villa are capable of being the very best club in England and Europe again is entirely down to the great man and that 110% will to win that he had. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
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I was so lucky to be a regular in the Saunders days. Probably will never happen again. There aren’t really any superlatives - more than any one person apart from my family he made my childhood/adolescence a pretty happy one. I know thousands feel the same and I hope he knows, somehow.
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Thank you for the memories Mr Saunders. They really were great times.
RIP
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Shit news, I was too young to see what he did for us at the time but the echoes of it ripple all through the club still.
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Such sad news, what a mark he made in our great history. He'll never be forgotten for what he achieved, the best Villa manager I have witnessed. RIP Mr 110%
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I remember a certain person saying he didn't want to write about this. Well good luck Dave I am sure your piece will bring tears to our eyes. Just think ourselves so lucky we were there in the days of Sir Ron.
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RIP
What a great manager.
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Never to be forgotten, thanks for the memories Ron you'll never know what you gave to me.
Me too. The football time of my life. So much fun and adventure. RIP legend.
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Devastated. Absolutely devastated. May his spirit live ever more.
Thank you for so, so much Ron. You built the modern Aston Villa, and made us so the best in Europe. So so sad. Jesus.
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Radio 5live only crediting him with two league Cup wins.
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Just picked up this sad news.
A truly great man. Rest in Peace Sir Ron.
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RIP Ron. Thanks 110% for everything you achieved, and the fantastic memories that your teams gave us.
Condolences to his family and friends.
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Absolutely gutted. Gave those of us around at the time the best football moments of our lifetime. RIP Ron, my hero.
Should be a minutes silence, tomorrow, but I guess it’ll be a round of applause, as too many can’t stand in silence for sixty seconds, as a proper mark of respect, these days....
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Despite what the 80-83 side achieved the 76/77 was probably the best, certainly most exciting, Villa side in my time even if I didn't fully appreciate just how good it was as I was on 7 at the time. Takes some doing to build 2 great sides.
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I was so lucky to be a regular in the Saunders days. Probably will never happen again. There aren’t really any superlatives - more than any one person apart from my family he made my childhood/adolescence a pretty happy one. I know thousands feel the same and I hope he knows, somehow.
I was born in 1980 so missed out on that period. Apart from the somewhat dominant period around the turn of the 20th century, the late 1970's up to the famous night in Rotterdam must surely have been the best period to have been following the club. Ron Saunders was the architect of that era and will always be a major figure in the club's history. RIP Ron.
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Sir Ron was the manager when I first started seeing Villa. He gave Villa the best teams and memories I could ever wish for. The side that came back to ther first division in 1975, the 1976-77 team that was amazing to watch (including the 5-1 drubbing of Liverpool) and of course the best Villa team I have ever seen, when thwy won the Championship.
RIP Ron and thank you for the best Villa memories of my life time. A Villa giant and legend.
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Newbon - "Are you going to smile now Ron"?
Saunders - "Life isn't all about smiling Gary"!
Haha! Genius.
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Heaven's Villa XI have just appointed a new manager.
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A great, no doubt about it..I feel I’ve lost a chunk of my younger days with this sad news..RIP Mr Saunders and thank you for what you gave our beautiful club. UTV
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My God. An absolute solid gold hero. That 80-81 team will never be forgotten. Goodbye, Ron.
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Any time we've gone through tough times as a club, Ron's achievements have kept me going and believing. The fact that I never, ever, doubt Aston Villa are capable of being the very best club in England and in Europe again is entirely down to the great man and that 110% will to win that he had. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
Beautiful words, Billy and I echo every single one. There's not been a Villa manager or player in my lifetime I loved more than Ron Saunders. He got us and we got him. That Newbon quote sums up his wonderful dry humour.
RIP Ron and my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
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For me the greatest manager I’ve seen at VP the memory’s of the swashbuckling team and the the 1st Div Champs brilliant times thank you RIP
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Just announced on Talksport so very sad tonight. This colossus of a manager gave me the best moments supporting Villa. RIP Ron
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RIP Ron. You gave us fans of a certain age the greatest thrill ride of our Villa supporting lives between 1974 and 1982. I'll have those memories until the day I die. Thank you for everything. A true Villa legend.
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Really sad news. What he did for Villa was amazing. He will get a rousing applause tomorrow.
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Division 2 mediocrity to European champs in 7 years plus two league cups along the way. Unbelievable. A great man, and a great manager. 76/77 team was awesome even better than 80 to 82. He will never be bettered.
Let’s get a stand named after him as a minimum.
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Heaven's Villa XI have just appointed a new manager.
There’s a chance he’ll fall out with the chairman. RIP Ron
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RIP Ron. You gave us fans of a certain age the greatest thrill ride of our Villa supporting lives between 1974 and 1982. I'll have those memories until the day I die. Thank you for everything. A true Villa legend.
Agreed. For those of us who became Villa fans in the early 60s Ron took us to places we’d never have dreamed of. Not just the cups or the Title, but the tough, battling years from the second division to establishing ourselves in the first. And the magnificence of the football of 76/77.
All of it leaves a permanent glow that eradicates the resignation and following years.
He made us proud again.
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I got hold of a VCR DVD combi player a few years ago and have be meaning to rip the History of Aston Villa BBC video onto DVD . I actually set it up and did it this afternoon which now feels a strange quirk of fate considering the sad news of Sir Ron passing away.
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Truly shocked when I heard the sad news. We’ve lost another true Villa legend. RIP Ron.
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From the early sixties when the odd away draw was a rarity and seemed like a win to actually travelling to away games under Ron actually expecting to win. Ron Saunders moved our club forward at such a rate that I was dizzy with the excitement of it all. He showed the rest of the nation that weren't old enough to understand just exactly what Aston Villa was, and why.
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I am sure the club will honour him tomorrow and again with a bit more time to prepare. He was a massive part of our history. He is a massive part of our history and will always be. We’ve lost so much from our family in such a short space of time.
Rest In Peace Ron
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Heaven's Villa XI have just appointed a new manager.
There’s a chance he’ll fall out with the chairman. RIP Ron
Ha ha. Then, as ever, we need a new chairman.
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Greatest Villa manager. RIP Ron. We will always love and remember you.
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What a man. Incredible the impact that one man could have on our great club. We loved him and he loved us. He fitted Villa perfectly.
Thanks Ron. Will never forget Hillsborough 75, Old Trafford 77, Highbury 81 and of course Rotterdam-it was his team.Can never forgive the idiots that forced him out. Saunders,Saunders,Saunders,Saunders! RIP
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Simply the best. RIP, Ron.
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“Trips to India and the Far East with Breeda in the early 90s sparked a spiritual outlook on life and he returned to embrace vegetarianism and would meditate daily to Indian music.”
🙏May you be reborn another Villa legend Ron.🙏
No one can prove what goes on beyond death, but many feel there is something beyond. I usually say in these moments that it certainly can’t do any harm, and many of us feel it can do a lot of good for the person on their journey beyond to send him our love and well wishing.
I certainly believe Ron will be travelling beyond with so much love and appreciation behind him, and I hope feeling it.
Like others I grew up with him as my manager and was privileged to have him make my childhood simply glorious.
Deeply deeply grateful for his sustained hard work and wondrous achievements.
I’m going to have to raid the childhood photo albums to see if I have some with him, certainly glad to have got his autograph at Bodymoor Heath a few times.
Thank you for the joy Ron.
Love & condolences to the Saunders family.
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This is great https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2145021939140635/
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Thank you for all those memories, Ron. You built three great teams; the squad that came together and romped to promotion in 1975, your first year. The magnificent team of 1976-7 with their swashbuckling styl, the 5-1 demolition of Liverpool and another League Cup triumph. Then, when disruption set in, you re-built the team and they achieved, through endeavour and teamwork, the supreme triumphs of 1981 and 1982.
For my stag do in April 1981 went with my mates to see us play Ipswich in the so-called title decider, expecting nothing less than victory. Such dismay after our 2-1 loss and the sense we had thrown it away. Then Ron came on the telly with those immortal words "do you want to bet against us?"
Fantastic times ... we'll give him a magnificent tribute tomorrow.
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Bought a tear to my eye that.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/De6iqD3XcAATPvx.jpg)
Thanks for the fantastic Villa you gave us, Ron.
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This man gave me some of the best days of my life following this great club. We'd had bad times, he brought back the good times.
RIP Sir.
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We've lost a legend. I'm fkn choked up.
RIP Boss. You gave us 110%.
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This is great https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2145021939140635/
That's brilliant PWS. I must have got dust in my eyes after watching that.
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This is great https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2145021939140635/
Isn’t it just, saw it on Twitter too
https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1203404058083512320?s=21
Dinner on hold for a bit. Better call my pa.
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RIP to the greatest Villa Manager in living memory Ron Saunders, thank you for everything Ron we love you Mr 110% RIP Ron 💔💔💔💔
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Very sad news! I've only just found out as I'm currently out of the country. A GREAT Villa manager who achieved the most of any Villa manager in my lifetime. Ron Saunders will always be fondly remembered by Villa fans near and far. My own father (who passed away in 2001) loved this man also for what he done for Aston Villa Football Club. RIP Ron Saunders and condolences to the whole Saunders family and the Villa family.
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My dad is 90...villa through and through. When I told him he shed some tears...like many of us on here
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Minutes silence before KO, two minutes applause in the 80th and 81st minutes would be fitting.
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I always feared for the players at half time if we’d been playing poorly. I don’t think Ron could cope with anyone not giving their all and an extra 10%. There was always an improvement in the 2nd half. His 76/77 team was a joyous time to be a fan, we were building something magnificent. Thank you for those times Ron.
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This is great https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2145021939140635/
That is a fantastic.
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He certainly merits the term Legend. RIP Ron
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I always feared for the players at half time if we’d been playing poorly.
I wonder why they were scared of him.
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/03/24/22/3E5E94A000000578-4347212-The_training_regime_for_his_sides_was_tough_and_pre_seasons_were-a-14_1490393571273.jpg)
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My initial feeling on reading this sad, sad news was one of relief that Ron had been released from the terrible, confusing scourge of dementia. Then I tried explaining to Mrs Rodders why he was so important to us as a club and me as an individual and am now weeping floods of tears.
His most famous epithet has kept me going - alive, even - so many times over the years.
Ron Saunders. A giant amongst men.
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Terribly sad news. I became a Villa fan quite young but really got into supporting Villa in a serious way when he was manager. Thank you Ron , RIP
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My initial feeling on reading this sad, sad news was one of relief that Ron had been released from the terrible, confusing scourge of dementia. Then I tried explaining to Mrs Rodders why he was so important to us as a club and me as an individual and am now weeping floods of tears.
His most famous epithet has kept me going - alive, even - so many times over the years.
Ron Saunders. A giant amongst men.
Agree 110%.
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As a kid growing up Ron Saunders was the first Villa manager I can remember. This was when managers totally ran the whole playing side of a club, no directors of football, just them and their way. Some were flamboyant, some were outspoken, Ron was neither. Ron was the ultimate. I was taken to my first Villa games under him and some of those memories will stay with me forever.
He pretty much took a team from the 2nd division and turned them into champions of Europe picking up 3 other major trophies along the way, never getting the credit he deserved. In motor racing terms, he built a car from scratch to win the Formula 1 title.
Thanks for everything Ron, rest in peace. Holte Enders in the Sky.
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He did more for Villa than anyone else in my lifetime. Thanks for all those wonderful, joyous times Ron!!
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RIP Sir Ron. Thanks for the memories.
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Cast iron Villa legend. What he did for us I suspect won't be done again for a very very long time.
My old man interviewed him before the Bradford fire charity game at Villa Park. My old man loves the sound of his own voice and I'm happy to report Ron made mincemeat of him.
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Thanks for all he did at the club, and his legacy.
RIP
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Very sad news.
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This is great https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2145021939140635/
Tears in my eyes watching that. “Do you want to bet against us” was then and is now my favourite Saunders line. The programme notes too. Just a wonderful time to be a fan
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This Liverpool goal is the goal the that for me sums up Villa under Super Ron, for all the talk was of fitness and hard work in his sides, you have the full back do a back heel to a striker that plays an inch perfect pass with the outside of his foot to a midfielder bursting through on his own. All against what was one of the best sides of Europe and they couldn't live with us.
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Ron Saunders turned us into European Champions. RIP Ron, simply the best 110%
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The man who made my dreams come true. The greatest Villa manager of my lifetime. Rest In Peace Ron.
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Ron Saunders, time for a statue. Fantastic Manager, total respect. RIP.
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Lucky enough to have lived through and watched his Aston Villa.
Thank you for everything.
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Ron Saunders was Villa manager when my passion for this club started.
Watching us demolish Hull City 6-0 in August 1974.
I wouldn’t have known it then but at a touch under 9 years old My football life changed on that day.
So he has and always will be the main reason that I started following this great club of ours.
Rest In Peace and my sincere condolences go out to family and friends xx
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This is great https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/2145021939140635/
Brilliant. I'm just off to get out my dvds.
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I'm not one for the corporate buzz words and slogans but if ever Pride, Passion and Purpose summed up one man, surely it is Ron Saunders. RIP and condolences to the great man's family.
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It's currently the 5th most read story of the BBC news page. Given the v now, reckon that's good.
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Jesus! I can't stop crying. I've had a few but fucking hell, it feels like part of the club has died.
Ah fuck it, it'll be ok tomorrow.
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So sad. What a manager. Lucky to have been old enough to see that team win the league at Highbury. Fitting tribute tomorrow.
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People wondering why I’m shedding a tear in the bar watching the Barca game. Sadly they have no idea who Ron Saunders is. 110% gutted. Thanks for the memories!
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We lived through the greatest period in our history & Ron was the man who made it all possible.
I doubt we'll see those days again, but we won't see the likes of Ron again.
Thankyou & RIP.
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I was so lucky to have grown up in that era. Great music with the punk era, Ron leading us to trophies. The League Cup triumphs, beating Norwich in '75, the three finals against Everton in '77 (wagging school, for the Old Trafford game!) not to mention the promotion season in '75, thousands of us at Blackpool, Sheff Wed and at home to Sunderland. RIP Ron, thank you so much.
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Ron Saunders, time for a statue. Fantastic Manager, total respect. RIP.
I'd much prefer to see the Ron Saunders Stand.
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The greatest Villa manager in my lifetime and a man who built 3 great teams.
A man of his time, when managers ran the football side of a club, and who certainly took no crap from his players. He was definitely the boss, knew his own mind and didn’t suffer fools ( at all, never mind gladly).
He really is a.Villa legend, up there with the great names in our history.
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Ron Saunders, time for a statue. Fantastic Manager, total respect. RIP.
I'd much prefer to see the Ron Saunders Stand.
Both/and, not either/or.
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Andy Gray talking about Ron
https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS_EN/status/1203398652640645120?s=09
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I don’t know the words to pay a fitting tribute, what a man.
RIP Ron
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This Liverpool goal is the goal the that for me sums up Villa under Super Ron, for all the talk was of fitness and hard work in his sides, you have the full back do a back heel to a striker that plays an inch perfect pass with the outside of his foot to a midfielder bursting through on his own. All against what was one of the best sides of Europe and they couldn't live with us.
That's my favourite ever football moment. As an 11 year old on the Holte it was magical
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Andy Gray talking about Ron
https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS_EN/status/1203398652640645120?s=09
Thanks for sharing. Two things I love about that interview; Ron was a brilliant striker with Pompey, his record is right up there and to take Andy aside to try and pass on all his experience and knowledge is great to hear. One of the great untold stories.
The other is the human side of Ron. So much rubbish has been published by those that never knew the real man. Dave W was right about anybody wanting to write a book about Ron. Maybe now, with the true stories coming out, a real book is there to be written. Ron's story was never simplistic. There was so much to the man than most ever imagined.
What a really sad night. The only comfort tonight is reading comments from fans from all different clubs talking so highly of our former, great manager.
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RIP Ron, a true Villa legend
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An example of how much Ron was respected
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Great man, greatest manager. The absolute BOSS. RIP Ron, and thanks so much.
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Just got home and saw this
As many have said, for me the years that I have followed the Villa across the country and abroad with Ron as our manager were and are the golden Villa years of my life.
Whatever happens in the future will be someone elses memories not mine.
Ron was our Busby, Shankly Wrapped into one.
With a runny nose and tears at the age of 63 I feel a fool, but this was a man that stands tall , Peter Morris wrote about looking out across villa park and seeing the old ghosts on parade,legions upon legions filling the field with claret and blue.
Those legions have found a manger.
I hope he collars Doug tomorrow and sorts him out.
I do not know what else to say, he for me was the epitome of everything I love about Aston Villa , passion,respect,principals and love of the club.
I am going to struggle to sleep tonight
Saunders,Saunders,Saunders, Saunders
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On the day we got news of Ron Saunders passing I see that after MOTD finishes tonight Channel 5 is showing an hour long programme focusing on events in 1981 (That's So 1981).
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Just got home and saw this
As many have said, for me the years that I have followed the Villa across the country and abroad with Ron as our manager were and are the golden Villa years of my life.
Whatever happens in the future will be someone elses memories not mine.
Ron was our Busby, Shankly Wrapped into one.
With a runny nose and tears at the age of 63 I feel a fool, but this was a man that stands tall , Peter Morris wrote about looking out across villa park and seeing the old ghosts on parade,legions upon legions filling the field with claret and blue.
Those legions have found a manger.
I hope he collars Doug tomorrow and sorts him out.
I do not know what else to say, he for me was the epitome of everything I love about Aston Villa , passion,respect,principals and love of the club.
I am going to struggle to sleep tonight
Saunders,Saunders,Saunders, Saunders
With you 100%
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5 goals in the first half v liverpool who won the league and european cup and lost in the fa cup final.Hammered Spurs away 4-1 with a makeshift side and Little as the only striker.Great attacking sides in 75 and 77 and all round brilliance in 81.What memories,what joy,what entertainment.European champions 10 years after being in the 3rd,beyond my wildest dreams.Thank you Ron.
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I'm too young to remember him (though I remember him going to Blues, weirdly), but he was basically the reason that we're not Preston North End. A giant.
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Just got home and saw this
As many have said, for me the years that I have followed the Villa across the country and abroad with Ron as our manager were and are the golden Villa years of my life.
Whatever happens in the future will be someone elses memories not mine.
Ron was our Busby, Shankly Wrapped into one.
With a runny nose and tears at the age of 63 I feel a fool, but this was a man that stands tall , Peter Morris wrote about looking out across villa park and seeing the old ghosts on parade,legions upon legions filling the field with claret and blue.
Those legions have found a manger.
I hope he collars Doug tomorrow and sorts him out.
I do not know what else to say, he for me was the epitome of everything I love about Aston Villa , passion,respect,principals and love of the club.
I am going to struggle to sleep tonight
Saunders,Saunders,Saunders, Saunders
You have said what I feel...thank you
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can you imagine living a life that affects so many people
so influential that when people look back on their own life the greatest moments in it were because of you
so important to them that even after nearly 40 years your passing causes grown men and women to shed tears
what a great man, his family should be very proud of him
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Another little piece of my youth gone today. At the time I thought it was always going to be like that as a Villa fan, it’s only with hindsight you realise how special it was. Singing his name on the pitch at Hillsborough when we clinched promotion is one of my top moments as a Villa fan.
RIP Ron.
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That's a lovely post, steamer.
Rest in peace, Ron.
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Absolutely gutted. Gave those of us around at the time the best football moments of our lifetime. RIP Ron, my hero.
Should be a minutes silence, tomorrow, but I guess it’ll be a round of applause, as too many can’t stand in silence for sixty seconds, as a proper mark of respect, these days....
Whatever is going on around me tomorrow I will stand silent and still with tears in my eyes in simple respect of the man. What great times we had. RIP Ron Saunders
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Legend. I still remember that day at Highbury. The man was a colossus for this club. Terribly sad news
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There is a lot of fondness for him on the Small Heath Alliance site. They admired the effort and commitment his Blues sides played with and they particularly loved him for Boxing Day 1982. One comment was "Typical Blues, nick the best manager in the country off the Villa and then don't give him any money to spend!"
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Rest in peace Ron... you made us the Kings of Europe utv
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I had no idea what was to come when I was taken down to my first game as a ten year old in 1975 . That this man who demanded 110% from each and every one of us , who we were encouraged to pray to by our then local radio station BRMB’s Tony Butler , “Get on your prayer mats , hail Saunders of the Villa” was the cry when we were getting commentaries from our away games. That this man Would be the most successful at our club that I would ever know and see.
Thank you Ron from the bottom of my heart, like many on here I’ve shed a tear and will no doubt do the same tomorrow. What makes me saddest is that in your later years of life our club couldn’t have honoured you whilst you still remembered it.
Please Dean Smith be the man that my children can be saying the same things about in 45 years time.
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The very best manager, who demanded the very best from his players. As others have said, our Shankley, our Busby, our Revie and someone that every new Villa supporter needs to be aware of. He gave us highs that we have never seen since, and very likely won’t see again, and for that we are grateful. Goodnight Mr 110%, and thank you.
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can you imagine living a life that affects so many people
so influential that when people look back on their own life the greatest moments in it were because of you
so important to them that even after nearly 40 years your passing causes grown men and women to shed tears
what a great man, his family should be very proud of him
I like this post alot, John.
Well said.
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Despite what the 80-83 side achieved the 76/77 was probably the best, certainly most exciting, Villa side in my time even if I didn't fully appreciate just how good it was as I was on 7 at the time. Takes some doing to build 2 great sides.
What a slog of a double marathon the League Cup semis and finals must've been in 76/77! We'll never see that again.
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Thanks Ron for being a huge part of Villa's history and for creating some of my most enjoyable teenage memories.
Finally reunited with Tony...Shankly and Paisley won't be winning Heaven's Premier League this season.
Holte Enders in the sky is going to be sung with such emotion tomorrow.
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"Ron Saunders died at 15:00 GMT on Saturday and his family have asked for their privacy to be respected at such a difficult time," a club statement said.
He died at kick off time. Legend.
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Legend. For once the word is truly apt.
Rest in peace, Ron.
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A giant among men. R.I.P. Ron.
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He left us 7 years before I was born but I'm fully aware of the impact he has had on our club. It's great seeing all of the eulogies from those who saw his side.
Thank you.
Rest in Peace.
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Hasn’t really sunk in for me yet- it will probably take a few days. Ron was managing the club when I first started supporting Villa and it seemed like Villa winning was the norm, as someone else posted earlier. Loved going to the games and flicking through the programme before k.o. As a young kid the first thing I’d go to was Ron’s programme notes- ‘with 110% from the players and your tremendous vocal backing, I’m sure we’ll get the right result.’ Couldn’t believe it when he left, it was like the sky had fallen in. R.I.P Ron.
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Great players
Great teams
Great goals
Great games
Great results
Great travels
Great memories
Grateful - forever.
RIP
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Hasn’t really sunk in for me yet- it will probably take a few days. Ron was managing the club when I first started supporting Villa and it seemed like Villa winning was the norm, as someone else posted earlier. Loved going to the games and flicking through the programme before k.o. As a young kid the first thing I’d go to was Ron’s programme notes- ‘with 110% from the players and your tremendous vocal backing, I’m sure we’ll get the right result.’ Couldn’t believe it when he left, it was like the sky had fallen in. R.I.P Ron.
Same for me Robbo. Even when he left, I was so young at the time I just assumed the next managers would all be as him.
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So sad. Thank you for the memories Mr 110%.
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Shall we ever see his like at Villa again? He would tell us not to bet against it. A hero. A true hero.
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He left us 7 years before I was born but I'm fully aware of the impact he has had on our club. It's great seeing all of the eulogies from those who saw his side.
Thank you.
Rest in Peace.
I'm in a similar boat, JJ, and was born in August 82, so missed his time at the club.
But what an absolute legend.
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He was the manager when my Dear departed Dad started taking me to games as a youngster, realising that Aston Villa was the greatest thing in the world. My formative football watching years meant that I assumed that a great team filled with talented, honest and hard-working players was the norm at VP. My Dad kept telling me that it wasn’t always like that but I didn’t believe him watching Ron’s team. I discovered he was telling me the truth a few years after Ron left....
Gutted that I’m on holiday (and have been sporting my 1980 away shirt today!) so someone else is using my ST for the game today, but I know that Ron will get the rousing send off he richly deserves. A true Villa legend.
R.I.P Ron.
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The only thing missing off his cv was the fa cup and we would have won that had it not been fit fixture congestion and injuries from York city away to Highbury thanks for the memories
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RIP Ron and many thanks for so many memories...from Vic Crowe, Ron Saunders to Tony Barton a great times to be a Villa fan.
UTV
The Doc
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Because of this man I can say I saw my team win the league. Fantastic memories. Too many to type here RIP. (Rename the north stand)
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RIP Ron. It was his era that I first started going to the Villa with my granddad, who died not long after the European Cup win.
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RIP Ron, thanks for the best times of my footballing life.
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A tear in my eye this morning. Even my Baggies mate acknowledged him as a Villa legend. So many happy memories as I started going to games just before he took over.
The most exciting time ever to be a Villa fan.
RIP Ron
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“Trips to India and the Far East with Breeda in the early 90s sparked a spiritual outlook on life and he returned to embrace vegetarianism and would meditate daily to Indian music.”
🙏May you be reborn another Villa legend Ron.🙏
No one can prove what goes on beyond death, but many feel there is something beyond. I usually say in these moments that it certainly can’t do any harm, and many of us feel it can do a lot of good for the person on their journey beyond to send him our love and well wishing.
I certainly believe Ron will be travelling beyond with so much love and appreciation behind him, and I hope feeling it.
Like others I grew up with him as my manager and was privileged to have him make my childhood simply glorious.
Deeply deeply grateful for his sustained hard work and wondrous achievements.
I’m going to have to raid the childhood photo albums to see if I have some with him, certainly glad to have got his autograph at Bodymoor Heath a few times.
Thank you for the joy Ron.
Love & condolences to the Saunders family.
What a great post. I'd never thought of our journey into time added on like that, wow. Thanks, really hit a nerve there.
And #steamer - love your post too, we were there, those really were the days of our lives.
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Absolutely gutted by this news. I always feel that Ron Saunders was never given the credit that he deserved by the national media. I believe he should ranked alongside the greats of the game like Clough and Paisley. A proper Villa legend 110%. They'll be getting fitter in heaven, that's for sure. RIP Mr Saunders, the greatest Villa manager of all time.
Saunders, Saunders, Saunders......
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My dad used to make me run up sand dunes when we went on holiday because that’s what Saunders has the first team do in training. I totally understand some of the negative comments about Ron I heard from ex-players, it’s a f*cking awful thing to make people do 😂
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For me, nothing will ever surpass being in that heaving mass in Highbury at the Clock End. He gave us that.
Yes, I was there too... a day never to forgotten for anybody that was there.
A true inspiration.
RIP Ron.
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For me, nothing will ever surpass being in that heaving mass in Highbury at the Clock End. He gave us that.
Yes, I was there too... a day never to forgotten for anybody that was there.
A true inspiration.
RIP Ron.
Yep brilliant day but all down to bosco at the end of the day.
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110% gutted.
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Official site obituary (https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/12/07/ron-saunders-obituary)
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Official site obituary (https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/12/07/ron-saunders-obituary)
"By the time he left six years later"
Oh dear.
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He deserved better than the second half.
If he was watching from above he'd have shaken his head and closed the curtains.
Hopefully we'll give a better game tribute v Norwich.
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This made me laugh, from Paul Brown, the fella from the OS.
Will never forget Ron Saunders agreeing to an interview with Club TV years and years after resigning. Walked into Trinity Road and I went to shake his hand. He thumped me in the stomach, looked up and said ‘Hello young man, you need to improve your core!'
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A proper, permanent acknowledgment of this great man’s magnitude should be high up our list of things to do.
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I am stunned that no one else seems to be bothered that the pre match tribute was so half arsed. We managed a better pre match tribute to Bobby Robson!
I have been at many pre match applause h
Where fans have started applauding during the announcement but I haven’t see one before where they’ve decided that this counts as the applauses and just got ready to kick off right after the announcer finished saying ‘will start and end on the referees whistle’.
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I am stunned that no one else seems to be bothered that the pre match tribute was so half arsed. We managed a better pre match tribute to Bobby Robson!
I have been at many pre match applause h
Where fans have started applauding during the announcement but I haven’t see one before where they’ve decided that this counts as the applauses and just got ready to kick off right after the announcer finished saying ‘will start and end on the referees whistle’.
That's not at all what I experienced. Everyone including the Leicester supporters to their credit carried on clapping until the ball was in play and shortly after.
Of all the things to criticize today.
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I did think the former players should have been around the centre circle and it would have helped if the announcer had told the crowd who was there.
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I am stunned that no one else seems to be bothered that the pre match tribute was so half arsed. We managed a better pre match tribute to Bobby Robson!
I have been at many pre match applause h
Where fans have started applauding during the announcement but I haven’t see one before where they’ve decided that this counts as the applauses and just got ready to kick off right after the announcer finished saying ‘will start and end on the referees whistle’.
I agree, thought it was poorly executed by the officials but well applauded by all in the ground
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I understand Amfy's point. They did balls up the minute for Ron. I don't think it was deliberate just Villa players hearing a whistle and thinking it was the end of the minute's applause rather than the start.
Let's just celebrate all the amazing minutes he was alive rather than the minute today after he had passed away. RIP Ron.
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I am stunned that no one else seems to be bothered that the pre match tribute was so half arsed. We managed a better pre match tribute to Bobby Robson!
I have been at many pre match applause h
Where fans have started applauding during the announcement but I haven’t see one before where they’ve decided that this counts as the applauses and just got ready to kick off right after the announcer finished saying ‘will start and end on the referees whistle’.
That's not at all what I experienced. Everyone including the Leicester supporters to their credit carried on clapping until the ball was in play and shortly after.
Of all the things to criticize today.
If I wanted to criticise anything else I’d do it on the post match thread. As it is - the worst pre-match tribute to anyone I have ever seen, to the greatest Villa manager in living memory deserves to be criticised.
Personally I found it really upsetting that we could balls this up.
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I am stunned that no one else seems to be bothered that the pre match tribute was so half arsed. We managed a better pre match tribute to Bobby Robson!
I have been at many pre match applause h
Where fans have started applauding during the announcement but I haven’t see one before where they’ve decided that this counts as the applauses and just got ready to kick off right after the announcer finished saying ‘will start and end on the referees whistle’.
That's not at all what I experienced. Everyone including the Leicester supporters to their credit carried on clapping until the ball was in play and shortly after.
Of all the things to criticize today.
If I wanted to criticise anything else I’d do it on the post match thread. As it is - the worst pre-match tribute to anyone I have ever seen, to the greatest Villa manager in living memory deserves to be criticised.
Personally I found it really upsetting that we could balls this up.
Have to agree Amfy, it wasn't great at all. I expected the applause to get cranked up once the ref blew the whistle, but then the teams broke away and that was it!
To hear (and I can't confirm the facts of this) that John Terry sat through the whole thing talking would make me very unhappy. I hope it's just a nasty rumour.
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To many fans, Saunders was the best manager we’ve ever had. I can’t help but think that we owed him a lot more than a few flags on bean sticks and a cocked up minutes applause, which takes some doing.
Poor show, Villa.
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I am stunned that no one else seems to be bothered that the pre match tribute was so half arsed. We managed a better pre match tribute to Bobby Robson!
I have been at many pre match applause h
Where fans have started applauding during the announcement but I haven’t see one before where they’ve decided that this counts as the applauses and just got ready to kick off right after the announcer finished saying ‘will start and end on the referees whistle’.
That's not at all what I experienced. Everyone including the Leicester supporters to their credit carried on clapping until the ball was in play and shortly after.
Of all the things to criticize today.
If I wanted to criticise anything else I’d do it on the post match thread. As it is - the worst pre-match tribute to anyone I have ever seen, to the greatest Villa manager in living memory deserves to be criticised.
Personally I found it really upsetting that we could balls this up.
I think it's harsh. We only found out a day ago that he had passed. Yes he's our greatest ever, and we printed massive flags and a banner in his honour, the players wore black armbands, we had a minute's applause at kickoff and another in the 80th minute which went off without a hitch, did the players drop the ball at the start, yes, but the announcer is only human and everyone was arranging this at late notice.
I'm sure we will, as another poster has suggested we should, have a more permanent memorial to him in future.
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I’m not having the short notice point, sorry. He’d been terminally ill for years, so it was a matter of time and we should have been ready.
I am the first one to scoff at clubs marking minor events with displays such as mosaics and the like, but imagine if Liverpool had lost Shankley or Forest lost Clough this week. They wouldn’t be down B&Q looking for sticks.
Some things we just don’t get right.
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You may not want to have it but it's a valid point unless you expect the club to pre-ordered stuff.
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Surely we'll give a more proper tribute at the Norwich game given he managed both clubs and there's probably some Norwich players who played for him that are still alive that could be invited to the game, special programme being produced which is one thing the club certainly couldn't at short notice and also interview some of the 82 boys on the pitch before the game to relive some memories.
When Gary Speed died Newcastle United had a home game straight after when they had the standard Minute's silence/applause and then two weeks later their home game v Swansea was designated as the official tribute match
Again Holte End holding up placards/banner saying Don't bet against us would be brilliant sight, another thing the club couldn't do at short notice.
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Surely we'll give a more proper tribute at the Norwich game given he managed both clubs and there's probably some Norwich players who played for him that are still alive that could be invited to the game, special programme being produced which is one thing the club certainly couldn't at short notice and also interview some of the 82 boys on the pitch before the game to relive some memories.
When Gary Speed died Newcastle United had a home game straight after when they had the standard Minute's silence/applause and then two weeks later their home game v Swansea was designated as the official tribute match
Again Holte End holding up placards/banner saying Don't bet against us would be brilliant sight, another thing the club couldn't do at short notice.
Agreed.
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To hear (and I can't confirm the facts of this) that John Terry sat through the whole thing talking would make me very unhappy. I hope it's just a nasty rumour.
That's what it looked like on the television, in fact the whole Villa bench and coaching staff looked totally disengaged from any tribute that may (or as it looked may not) have been taking place.
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To hear (and I can't confirm the facts of this) that John Terry sat through the whole thing talking would make me very unhappy. I hope it's just a nasty rumour.
That's what it looked like on the television, in fact the whole Villa bench and coaching staff looked totally disengaged from any tribute that may (or as it looked may not) have been taking place.
Pretty stunned by all that if true. You always see the bench stood up and applauding or silent for other tributes/rememberence day.
I wasn't at the game though but could hear what Russ Morris was saying loud and clear on WM so don't really understand it.
Have to say Holte End signing "HEITS" at the start had me welling up a little.
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To hear (and I can't confirm the facts of this) that John Terry sat through the whole thing talking would make me very unhappy. I hope it's just a nasty rumour.
That's what it looked like on the television, in fact the whole Villa bench and coaching staff looked totally disengaged from any tribute that may (or as it looked may not) have been taking place.
That's how I seen it too . It looked as though they had no idea of what was going on
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Difficult one, club had little opportunity to make arrangements and it all seemed a little chaotic, but is that surprising?
There was a round of applause right around the ground for a very long time
I’m absolutely convinced that a more considered tribute will be forthcoming with a little more planning.
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To hear (and I can't confirm the facts of this) that John Terry sat through the whole thing talking would make me very unhappy. I hope it's just a nasty rumour.
That's what it looked like on the television, in fact the whole Villa bench and coaching staff looked totally disengaged from any tribute that may (or as it looked may not) have been taking place.
Everyone of them were chatting whilst applauding. Dean Smith too.
Disrespectful twats all of them.
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To hear (and I can't confirm the facts of this) that John Terry sat through the whole thing talking would make me very unhappy. I hope it's just a nasty rumour.
That's what it looked like on the television, in fact the whole Villa bench and coaching staff looked totally disengaged from any tribute that may (or as it looked may not) have been taking place.
Everyone of them were chatting whilst applauding. Dean Smith too.
Disrespectful twats all of them.
To be fair to all of them it wasn’t ‘during’ the tribute. It was in the build up to the tribute. The tribute didn’t actually happen because when the ref blew to start it the players scattered. It is pinpointed by Steve Stride on Twitter as being Kasper Smeichel who broke ranks.
Hopefully we can do something more fitting at the next game or the end of the season.
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The applause was a bit chaotic because it started before the announcer had finished the introduction, which happens a lot at Villa Park but not so noticeable at other grounds. The players then moved away thinking the whistle was the end not the start. It did continue around the ground for a while though.
The former players should have been at the centre of it which would have made it more formal.
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It was an appalling tribute to our greatest ever manager. Made me ashamed. To the watching audience they must've wondered what we make so much fuss about for then produce that effort of a tribute. We never do ourselves any favours at the Villa, despite ever changing staff.
It looked to me like McGinn broke ranks. If they can't follow a simple one minute on the whistle instruction then no wonder we're in the mess we're in, and the players spent the afternoon showing no application, desire or hunger, let alone the ability to adapt tactics.
If the staff were yapping, then that tells you all you need to know. Bastards, get some respect or get out.
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It should have been a minutes silence imo. Far more appropriate and poignant. It came across as amateurish, with nobody seemingly briefed about what was going to happen.
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I don't blame them for not having time to get more flags etc made, as it was only last night.
The minute's applause was really badly done though. The crowd started clapping when the picture of Ron went up on the big screens. Then when the announcer stated that the applause would start and finish with the ref's whistle, it was meaningless as everybody was already clapping and you couldn't really hear the whistle. All in all, undoubtedly well intentioned, but ultimately shambolic.
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We fucked up something so basic as respecting one of our greatest managers.
Not good enough.
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It was a shambles which set the tone for the day.
I really hope the club addresses this and soon.
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It really shouldn’t have been that much of a stuff up. We all knew the day was coming , he was 87 with failing health, so some planning ready to go would’ve been what I’d expected. 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' and Man Utd do seem to do these things really well, it’s a PR exercise as much as anything. Ours looked half arsed quite frankly.
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It was a total shambles that left me seething.
The greatest manager we've ever had to be disrespected like that was something I won't forget.
I do not like this minute's applause nonsense anyway, a minute's silence would have been far more appropriate and you'dve actually heard the referee's whistle.
Shame on you Aston Villa.
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It was a total shambles that left me seething.
The greatest manager we've ever had to be disrespected like that was something I won't forget.
I do not like this minute's applause nonsense anyway, a minute's silence would have been far more appropriate and you'dve actually heard the referee's whistle.
Shame on you Aston Villa.
Agreed. And the TV footage of it looked terrible - Smith talking and looking at his watch, Terry sitting down, laughing in the dugout. Someone needed to tell them before they went out.
Saunders was 87 and in ill health so there's no excuse for not having at least something half decent planned as a tribute. It left a really bad taste in my mouth
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I listened on WM and was left puzzled when the game kicked off so quickly. I don't think anyone was intentionally disrespectful but the organisation was half arsed. The problem with a minutes applause is that it is uncontrolled leading to confusion as to the start and end.
It's so sad that people are unable to observe a minutes silence due to the actions of a few clowns, we've effectively let them win. I've said before that the act of keeping quiet for a minute is so much more difficult than making noise but then that gives the tribute itself more gravitas and is easily identifiable via the refs whistle. Never mind, it's done now I suppose.
I think a match dedicated to Saunders is the order of the day, perhaps towards the spring, a Sat 3pm KO. Keep any applause until the 80/81st minutes as yesterday, introduce the ex players etc and do it properly.
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I listened on WM and was left puzzled when the game kicked off so quickly. I don't think anyone was intentionally disrespectful but the organisation was half arsed. The problem with a minutes applause is that it is uncontrolled leading to confusion as to the start and end.
It's so sad that people are unable to observe a minutes silence due to the actions of a few clowns, we've effectively let them win. I've said before that the act of keeping quiet for a minute is so much more difficult than making noise but then that gives the tribute itself more gravitas and is easily identifiable via the refs whistle. Never mind, it's done now I suppose.
I think a match dedicated to Saunders is the order of the day, perhaps towards the spring, a Sat 3pm KO. Keep any applause until the 80/81st minutes as yesterday, introduce the ex players etc and do it properly.
I've been to a number of games at our place when there's been a minutes silence and I don't recall any being disrespected.
For me, a silence holds far more gravitas and depth.
I agree with the sentiments about the arrangements yesterday, a complete mess and unbecoming for such an important occasion as Ron's passing.
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Very sad news RIP Ron the greatest manager in my lifetime.
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I think for someone of Ron's stature within the history of our club, a silence would have been more appropriate.
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I have this morning emailed the club at fancomplaints@avfc.co.uk to express my anger and disappointment at the Ron Saunders shambolic 'tribute', so I suggest anyone with the same opinion as me might do the same?
Maybe we'd get the club to do something properly?
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Richard Whitehead’s obituary of Saunders will be in The Times tomorrow. I expect it will capture perfectly what the man meant to Villa fans
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I have this morning emailed the club at fancomplaints@avfc.co.uk to express my anger and disappointment at the Ron Saunders shambolic 'tribute', so I suggest anyone with the same opinion as me might do the same?
Maybe we'd get the club to do something properly?
I've emailed my contact in the corporate department and let her know politely how upset a lot of people are. I said that it's understandable that as he only died the night before that there was only a short amount of time for putting something in place, so why not do something more fitting for the Southampton or Norwich games?
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It was a disorganized tribute to a man who didn't accept the meaning of the word disorganized. But it was all at short notice. Let's get the statue and the official Ron Saunders day sorted. I expect the old players didn't want to hog the limelight themselves by being on the pitch. As for our management and coaching staff it is disappointing if they were disrespectful but in the minutes around kick off time they have a job to do. If anyone would agree with that it would be Ron Saunders.
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It was a total shambles that left me seething.
The greatest manager we've ever had to be disrespected like that was something I won't forget.
I do not like this minute's applause nonsense anyway, a minute's silence would have been far more appropriate and you'dve actually heard the referee's whistle.
Shame on you Aston Villa.
Agreed. And the TV footage of it looked terrible - Smith talking and looking at his watch, Terry sitting down, laughing in the dugout. Someone needed to tell them before they went out.
Saunders was 87 and in ill health so there's no excuse for not having at least something half decent planned as a tribute. It left a really bad taste in my mouth
Agree 100% lads. It was a disgraceful, half arsed and embarrassing ‘tribute’ to the greatest manager this club has ever had. I’m still bloody angry, now 😡😡😡
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Stunned by the news. RIP Mr. 110%.
I was lucky to have watched his managerial reign from the start to the end. I used to be taken to the Villa by my Dad, and sometimes we would pass by Body Moore heath, and he's park up and we would go in and watch the players training.
The Dennis Mortimer goal v Liverpool, is when we both left the Holte believing, that season.
My Dad once had the nerve one visit to ask Mr. Saunders if he was correct in letting Andy Gray go. Wish I knew what the answer was, I never asked.
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No idea how long these things take, but would a statue unveiled May 2nd 2021 be totally beyond the realm of possibility?
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No idea how long these things take, but would a statue unveiled May 2nd 2021 be totally beyond the realm of possibility?
Depends whether we let the people who organised the Three Degrees statute at Albion sort it or not.
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Just to change track a little bit - being born in 1980 I missed out on watching his Villa sides and experiencing the success they had, but as with some of our other successful managers who left the club somewhat prematurely (Graham Taylor probably the main case in point) I guess will always be what might have been had he stayed on?
Would he have been able to build on the success he achieved and really cement the club in the higher reaches of the top flight? We will never know of course and I guess the goings on at the club at the time meant he probably wouldn't have stayed on for long anyway, but it is just that thought of what might have been had he been at the club longer and had the right support.
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I think the return of HDE would have made Ron's position untenable.
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I still have my Christmas card from 1979 signed by him and Gordon Cowans. In it, he says, "I hope the next year brings much to cheer".
Bloody right it did.
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It was a total shambles that left me seething.
The greatest manager we've ever had to be disrespected like that was something I won't forget.
I do not like this minute's applause nonsense anyway, a minute's silence would have been far more appropriate and you'dve actually heard the referee's whistle.
Shame on you Aston Villa.
Agreed. And the TV footage of it looked terrible - Smith talking and looking at his watch, Terry sitting down, laughing in the dugout. Someone needed to tell them before they went out.
Saunders was 87 and in ill health so there's no excuse for not having at least something half decent planned as a tribute. It left a really bad taste in my mouth
Agree 100% lads. It was a disgraceful, half arsed and embarrassing ‘tribute’ to the greatest manager this club has ever had. I’m still bloody angry, now 😡😡😡
Agree.
I thought it was very poor and was at least expecting the minutes applause (I prefer silence) to start when the announcer had stopped talking.
Bit like us yesterday. A mess.
There needs to be a proper tribute when the North Stand is renamed.
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In fairness to the club it's not their fault people started applauding early drowning out the announcer and whistle or that Kasper broke off early because of it.
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I think the return of HDE would have made Ron's position untenable.
Went to a shareholders agm once and sat in the witton lane stand. Think the bendhalls were still the main owners but HDE was also there. Who walked in and sat directly in front of us but non other than Sir Ron and two rather large mates. I remember when Ellis was speaking he turned to one of the blokes with him and said....I see he has brought rent a mob with him.
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End of an era.
RIP
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Had to pleasure to meat him at Sutton town for a Villa friendly had my picture with him witch made my day.
We will never see the likes of him again RIP Ron and thank you for some off my best times following the Villa (5-1 Liverpool) will always be there in my head till i join Ron in the Holte End in the sky.
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In fairness to the club it's not their fault people started applauding early drowning out the announcer and whistle or that Kasper broke off early because of it.
In fairness it was, because they put the picture of Ron up too early. People started clapping as soon as it went up. If they'd started with the announcer saying "we're about to have a minute's applause" THEN put the picture up, it would have been very different I think.
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And yet it's what all clubs do, there's been enough of them to know how it works. Pictures goes up and announcer says their part, ref blows whistle, silence/applause start, ref blows whistle and off we go.
I still prefer a minute's silence, which also negates anything like this happening but some prefer applause.
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The club know what they need to do and I am sure that with our encouragement they will give 110% to achieve the correct outcome.
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Why wasn’t it a minute’s silence instead? As far as I’m aware we’ve had no problems with silences being interrupted in recent times?
We held a minute silence the other week for the remembrance game and that was fine so why not do it for other occasions when it would be more fitting.
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Sometimes with silences they are spoiled by people around the ground who are arriving late and aren't aware that a silence is taking place.
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Then the applause towards the end of the game, nobody around me knew what it was for.
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Then the applause towards the end of the game, nobody around me knew what it was for.
I assmue you mean the 80-81 minute, which was purely a fans thing.
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"Why wasn’t it a minute’s silence instead? As far as I’m aware we’ve had no problems with silences being interrupted in recent times?
We held a minute silence the other week for the remembrance game and that was fine so why not do it for other occasions when it would be more fitting."
Agree with this totally. I think part of the problem is a minute applause is common place now for a whole range of tributes instigated by fans , social media etc. I don't mean to sound callous , but the whole thing has become a watered down farce . If one man above all deserved a dignified minute silence at Villa Park it was Ron Saunders.
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for me there's only one way to deal with this and that is Ron having the North stand named after him
in the modern era he was the best we've seen and deserves a lasting tribute for his legacy
in my opinion this should have already taken place while he was alive
I remember the words from my preacher man father who often said from the pulpit
' we hand out to many wreaths and not enough bouquets'
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I have this morning emailed the club at fancomplaints@avfc.co.uk to express my anger and disappointment at the Ron Saunders shambolic 'tribute', so I suggest anyone with the same opinion as me might do the same?
Maybe we'd get the club to do something properly?
I did the same.
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A statue/memorial for Ron Saunders and Tony Barton would be fitting.
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It’s occurred to me that Ron’s passing appears to have featured little in the national media, despite him winning the title as relatively recent as the 1980s.
In 80/81 the press fawned over Bobby Robson & his side and largely ignored us. When he died Robson received huge adulation despite never winning the league title, as opposed to Ron.
But to me Ron’s passing has hit me more than any other from the football world. RIP Ron and thank you for the memories.
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I know there not exactly flavour of the month on here, but it was good to hear Nigel Spink on WM tonight.
Have to say I agree with his assessment that only SGT comes close to Ron as manager at Villa. Very sad that we've lost to great men in the space of nearly three years
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I don't see why anyone would dislike Spink. He is an all-time great who was vital to the most important win in our history.
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I don't see why anyone would dislike Spink. He is an all-time great who was vital to the most important win in our history.
Never heard a bad word about him.
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I think BC was referring to WM.
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Apologies, misread the post.
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I don't see why anyone would dislike Spink. He is an all-time great who was vital to the most important win in our history.
Never heard a bad word about him.
He should have handled a couple of Rummenigge efforts more cleanly.
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I’ve had a night out with Nigel and he’s definitely a surly twat!
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Used to see Spinksy all the time in Walmley co-op (and Morley). Was still living down here when he was GK coach at Wigan and Sunderland.
I can understand why people dislike minutes applauses. I believe they started as a form of tribute in Scotland and idea was adopted down here.
Personally I don't mind them in celebration of someone's life like Ron. If someone young dies tragically like Jloyld or Dalian Atkinson I think a minutes silence is more fitting, think we had applause for both IIRC.
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I have this morning emailed the club at fancomplaints@avfc.co.uk to express my anger and disappointment at the Ron Saunders shambolic 'tribute', so I suggest anyone with the same opinion as me might do the same?
Maybe we'd get the club to do something properly?
I did the same.
And I did. I expect a polite piss off but it has left a very sour taste. I thought we'd gone past fucking everything up, alas not what with the cup ticket prices too.
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After the shambles, just to return to the loss, thank you to those of you that have shared your thoughts and memories, the emotions.
It was a shame not to be in my usual seat quite close to where I stood on a milk crate in front of a crash barrier on the Holte as a boy, but it was noteable how being in the ground and exposed to some of that video footage put me in touch with the emotion of loss, and appreciation as many have said, of the author, instigator, provider of many of my happiest years.
As others have said, despite being told *and listening* to ‘you don’t know how lucky you are’, at that age having not gone through many barren years, you just don’t know, to have a ST as a boy for such glorious football, to be present for Highbury, Wembley for the Charity Shield, (and he’s always going to be credited for) Rotterdam & Barca in the Super Cup for me. I just checked those 4 moments in less than 1year 9 months. A blessed childhood.
So again thank you Ron for making my childhood so special, Villa fans ruled the school, and giving me something to dine out on for decades after.
And thank you again to my dear Dad for taking me along. Again thank you.
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From The Times:
Complex Ron Saunders made Aston Villa a top club again
Villa began to win trophies once more after the appointment of Saunders
It may seem strange now, but the appointment of Ron Saunders as Aston Villa manager on June 4, 1974 was met with a collective shrug by fans. Most had fallen in love with the idea of Brian Clough taking over and his public pronouncements hadn’t cooled their ardour. “Any manager in Britain would be interested in the Villa job — Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United are the top three clubs in the country,” Clough said.
But when Cloughie left Brighton & Hove Albion it was for Elland Road. Sir Alf Ramsey, newly unemployed after 11 years as England manager, was touted and although chairman Doug Ellis met him, Ramsey was not overly enthusiastic. He did, though, perform one service that should earn him the gratitude of Villa fans: he recommended Saunders. From that day in 1974, Saunders reshaped the club in his image and over almost eight years became the most successful manager in Villa history.
On Saturday, the club went into mourning after Saunders, 87, passed away.
He won the League Cup and promotion in his first season, the League Cup again in 1977 and the Championship,Villa’s first in 71 years, in 1981. He left in circumstances that remain largely unexplained in February 1982, but it was unquestionably his team that lifted the European Cup three months later.
Saunders’s stature among Villa fans is akin to Bill Shankly at Liverpool or Matt Busby at Manchester United His reputation even survived him taking over at Birmingham City soon after leaving Villa. On his arrival, Villa were a club steeped in tradition, with a devoted fanbase and one of the country’s best grounds, but most silverware had come when Queen Victoria was on the throne. Under Saunders, Villa again became one of the leading clubs in the country.
To the outside world and to the media, he was a stern figure; he did not play the PR game. Like all great managers, he could be ruthless, but he was fiercely loyal to those he felt he could depend upon. Perhaps his complex character was best summed up by Chris Nicholl, one of his former captains. “He was the best manager I ever played under,” he said. “He taught me so much about the game — but he could be a bastard.”
Fitness, organisation and a strong work ethic formed his tactical approach but his teams were not joyless. The careers of Brian Little, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley proved that he knew flair was as important as toil. He and Ellis were often at loggerheads, but in November 1979 Ellis was forced out after a boardroom battle and Saunders was free to carry on building a team to conquer Europe.
If Ellis had won a shareholders’ vote — and it was close — the manager would have been sacked and the title and European Cup never been won. And Villa Park would not have stood in tribute yesterday to one of the club’s greatest figures.
-
From The Times:
Complex Ron Saunders made Aston Villa a top club again
Villa began to win trophies once more after the appointment of Saunders
It may seem strange now, but the appointment of Ron Saunders as Aston Villa manager on June 4, 1974 was met with a collective shrug by fans. Most had fallen in love with the idea of Brian Clough taking over and his public pronouncements hadn’t cooled their ardour. “Any manager in Britain would be interested in the Villa job — Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United are the top three clubs in the country,” Clough said.
But when Cloughie left Brighton & Hove Albion it was for Elland Road. Sir Alf Ramsey, newly unemployed after 11 years as England manager, was touted and although chairman Doug Ellis met him, Ramsey was not overly enthusiastic. He did, though, perform one service that should earn him the gratitude of Villa fans: he recommended Saunders. From that day in 1974, Saunders reshaped the club in his image and over almost eight years became the most successful manager in Villa history.
On Saturday, the club went into mourning after Saunders, 87, passed away.
He won the League Cup and promotion in his first season, the League Cup again in 1977 and the Championship,Villa’s first in 71 years, in 1981. He left in circumstances that remain largely unexplained in February 1982, but it was unquestionably his team that lifted the European Cup three months later.
Saunders’s stature among Villa fans is akin to Bill Shankly at Liverpool or Matt Busby at Manchester United His reputation even survived him taking over at Birmingham City soon after leaving Villa. On his arrival, Villa were a club steeped in tradition, with a devoted fanbase and one of the country’s best grounds, but most silverware had come when Queen Victoria was on the throne. Under Saunders, Villa again became one of the leading clubs in the country.
To the outside world and to the media, he was a stern figure; he did not play the PR game. Like all great managers, he could be ruthless, but he was fiercely loyal to those he felt he could depend upon. Perhaps his complex character was best summed up by Chris Nicholl, one of his former captains. “He was the best manager I ever played under,” he said. “He taught me so much about the game — but he could be a bastard.”
Fitness, organisation and a strong work ethic formed his tactical approach but his teams were not joyless. The careers of Brian Little, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley proved that he knew flair was as important as toil. He and Ellis were often at loggerheads, but in November 1979 Ellis was forced out after a boardroom battle and Saunders was free to carry on building a team to conquer Europe.
If Ellis had won a shareholders’ vote — and it was close — the manager would have been sacked and the title and European Cup never been won. And Villa Park would not have stood in tribute yesterday to one of the club’s greatest figures.
Great read thanks for posting. I knew about the clash of personalities between Ellis and Saunders but i didn't know that nugget. If Ellis had won the shareholders vote Saunders would have been sacked and we would never of won the title and the european cup? What a momentous occasion that vote was in our history. And what a close call. Ellis must've been seething as he waited for his chance to get back in the big chair at Villa Park so he could dismantle the team that Saunders built. Mr Aston Villa? Do me a favour. While we're at it forget renaming the North Stand and take down the Doug Ellis stand signs and rename it the Ron Saunders stand. Give Ron the last laugh. It would be far more popular
with the fans too.
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Remember the Smashy'n'Nicey finale where they raced to resign before they were sacked? That would have been those two the day after the vote if Doug had won.
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From The Times:
Complex Ron Saunders made Aston Villa a top club again
Villa began to win trophies once more after the appointment of Saunders
It may seem strange now, but the appointment of Ron Saunders as Aston Villa manager on June 4, 1974 was met with a collective shrug by fans. Most had fallen in love with the idea of Brian Clough taking over and his public pronouncements hadn’t cooled their ardour. “Any manager in Britain would be interested in the Villa job — Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United are the top three clubs in the country,” Clough said.
But when Cloughie left Brighton & Hove Albion it was for Elland Road. Sir Alf Ramsey, newly unemployed after 11 years as England manager, was touted and although chairman Doug Ellis met him, Ramsey was not overly enthusiastic. He did, though, perform one service that should earn him the gratitude of Villa fans: he recommended Saunders. From that day in 1974, Saunders reshaped the club in his image and over almost eight years became the most successful manager in Villa history.
On Saturday, the club went into mourning after Saunders, 87, passed away.
He won the League Cup and promotion in his first season, the League Cup again in 1977 and the Championship,Villa’s first in 71 years, in 1981. He left in circumstances that remain largely unexplained in February 1982, but it was unquestionably his team that lifted the European Cup three months later.
Saunders’s stature among Villa fans is akin to Bill Shankly at Liverpool or Matt Busby at Manchester United His reputation even survived him taking over at Birmingham City soon after leaving Villa. On his arrival, Villa were a club steeped in tradition, with a devoted fanbase and one of the country’s best grounds, but most silverware had come when Queen Victoria was on the throne. Under Saunders, Villa again became one of the leading clubs in the country.
To the outside world and to the media, he was a stern figure; he did not play the PR game. Like all great managers, he could be ruthless, but he was fiercely loyal to those he felt he could depend upon. Perhaps his complex character was best summed up by Chris Nicholl, one of his former captains. “He was the best manager I ever played under,” he said. “He taught me so much about the game — but he could be a bastard.”
Fitness, organisation and a strong work ethic formed his tactical approach but his teams were not joyless. The careers of Brian Little, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley proved that he knew flair was as important as toil. He and Ellis were often at loggerheads, but in November 1979 Ellis was forced out after a boardroom battle and Saunders was free to carry on building a team to conquer Europe.
If Ellis had won a shareholders’ vote — and it was close — the manager would have been sacked and the title and European Cup never been won. And Villa Park would not have stood in tribute yesterday to one of the club’s greatest figures.
Richard Whitehead?
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Yep.
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Cheers.
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From The Times:
Complex Ron Saunders made Aston Villa a top club again
Villa began to win trophies once more after the appointment of Saunders
It may seem strange now, but the appointment of Ron Saunders as Aston Villa manager on June 4, 1974 was met with a collective shrug by fans. Most had fallen in love with the idea of Brian Clough taking over and his public pronouncements hadn’t cooled their ardour. “Any manager in Britain would be interested in the Villa job — Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United are the top three clubs in the country,” Clough said.
But when Cloughie left Brighton & Hove Albion it was for Elland Road. Sir Alf Ramsey, newly unemployed after 11 years as England manager, was touted and although chairman Doug Ellis met him, Ramsey was not overly enthusiastic. He did, though, perform one service that should earn him the gratitude of Villa fans: he recommended Saunders. From that day in 1974, Saunders reshaped the club in his image and over almost eight years became the most successful manager in Villa history.
On Saturday, the club went into mourning after Saunders, 87, passed away.
He won the League Cup and promotion in his first season, the League Cup again in 1977 and the Championship,Villa’s first in 71 years, in 1981. He left in circumstances that remain largely unexplained in February 1982, but it was unquestionably his team that lifted the European Cup three months later.
Saunders’s stature among Villa fans is akin to Bill Shankly at Liverpool or Matt Busby at Manchester United His reputation even survived him taking over at Birmingham City soon after leaving Villa. On his arrival, Villa were a club steeped in tradition, with a devoted fanbase and one of the country’s best grounds, but most silverware had come when Queen Victoria was on the throne. Under Saunders, Villa again became one of the leading clubs in the country.
To the outside world and to the media, he was a stern figure; he did not play the PR game. Like all great managers, he could be ruthless, but he was fiercely loyal to those he felt he could depend upon. Perhaps his complex character was best summed up by Chris Nicholl, one of his former captains. “He was the best manager I ever played under,” he said. “He taught me so much about the game — but he could be a bastard.”
Fitness, organisation and a strong work ethic formed his tactical approach but his teams were not joyless. The careers of Brian Little, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley proved that he knew flair was as important as toil. He and Ellis were often at loggerheads, but in November 1979 Ellis was forced out after a boardroom battle and Saunders was free to carry on building a team to conquer Europe.
If Ellis had won a shareholders’ vote — and it was close — the manager would have been sacked and the title and European Cup never been won. And Villa Park would not have stood in tribute yesterday to one of the club’s greatest figures.
Great read thanks for posting. I knew about the clash of personalities between Ellis and Saunders but i didn't know that nugget. If Ellis had won the shareholders vote Saunders would have been sacked and we would never of won the title and the european cup? What a momentous occasion that vote was in our history. And what a close call. Ellis must've been seething as he waited for his chance to get back in the big chair at Villa Park so he could dismantle the team that Saunders built. Mr Aston Villa? Do me a favour. While we're at it forget renaming the North Stand and take down the Doug Ellis stand signs and rename it the Ron Saunders stand. Give Ron the last laugh. It would be far more popular
with the fans too.
Bang on, mate, bang on. Rename the 'Doug Ellis Stand' the 'Ron Saunders Stand'. Absolutely!
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Remember the Smashy'n'Nicey finale where they raced to resign before they were sacked? That would have been those two the day after the vote if Doug had won.
Thank McGrath Doug didn't win.
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we didnt hold a minutes silence on remembrance cuz we fucked that up as well .... if people actually listened to the announcer and not guess we might get it right .. for remembrance the announcer clrearly said ..AFTER the last post the minutes silence will begin snd end on the REFS whistle ..the same as for ron but the crowd didnt wait they just started clapping ffs
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Then the applause towards the end of the game, nobody around me knew what it was for.
Wesley trapped a ball.
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I think Ron would be embarrassed at the amount of fuss made out of a misunderstanding of the minutes applause protocol.
It wasn't perfect, but the intentions were honest and the fans love for the man was never in doubt.
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Then the applause towards the end of the game, nobody around me knew what it was for.
Wesley trapped a ball.
Shit, missed that.
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Then the applause towards the end of the game, nobody around me knew what it was for.
Wesley trapped a ball.
Shit, missed that.
Yes, he probably did.
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https://youtu.be/YRiUK1rpzr8
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I think Ron would be embarrassed at the amount of fuss made out of a misunderstanding of the minutes applause protocol.
It wasn't perfect, but the intentions were honest and the fans love for the man was never in doubt.
Exactly how I felt about it Pete.
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Sid on Talksport at moment.
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I think Ron would be embarrassed at the amount of fuss made out of a misunderstanding of the minutes applause protocol.
It wasn't perfect, but the intentions were honest and the fans love for the man was never in doubt.
Exactly how I felt about it Pete.
It’s not about the dead. It’s about the living.
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I am glad we got to welcome him back and show our respect in the Lerner years.
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My memory of that day is him ushering the players up to the Holte End to lap up the applause. I think it was Ivor Linton alongside him on the pitch.
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I am glad we got to welcome him back and show our respect in the Lerner years.
My favourite moment of that type was the 82 team before the match against Sheffield United, with the European Cup.
I was very, very close to crying.
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I shed a few tears.
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I am glad we got to welcome him back and show our respect in the Lerner years.
My favourite moment of that type was the 82 team before the match against Sheffield United, with the European Cup.
I was very, very close to crying.
That day meant a lot to me too having been there in Rotterdam. It was also a rare visit to Villa Park around that time due to Saturday being my busiest work day managing a betting shop.
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I remember that day so well, you felt anything was possible.
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Book of condolences for Ron's family available tomorrow
https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/12/11/ron-saunders-condolences
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Thanks for posting the Whitehead penned obituary, I’ve been looking forward to reading that.
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Just been to Villa Park and signed the book of condolance for Ron. Very touching. Bit surprised that the book was only about a 3rd full but it might not be the first one. RIP Ron.
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It’s Thursday morning - most people are at work. I imagine it’ll get fuller at the weekend.
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Just had a reply from Lee Preece, re. my complaint about the Ron Saunders ‘tribute’. Not sure how to show a link to it, so I’ve taken three pics of it!.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZLHD56d/C5299-D2-D-38-BE-4-C48-B0-ED-524-A08986101.png) (https://ibb.co/ZLHD56d)
(https://i.ibb.co/5RMbmw4/B4274-C3-A-919-F-4-EBF-B355-85242-AAA31-C8.png) (https://ibb.co/5RMbmw4)
(https://i.ibb.co/926tC51/253-A97-C0-D58-A-49-CA-9-B30-E8-B579-C73-C59.png) (https://ibb.co/926tC51)
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SAUNDERS Ronald
The family of Ron Saunders who passed away peacefully on Saturday 7th December would like it to be known that his funeral will be taking place on Thursday 19th December at 11.30am at Yardley Crematorium. The cortege will travel along the A45 Coventry Road from Stonebridge Island to the crematorium at Yardley, for anyone who may like to pay their respects along the route or at the crematorium. Family flowers only. Donations, if wished will be given to the good work of the Jeff Astle Foundation.
Donations can be made in Ron's memory through this link
https://funeral-notices.co.uk/national/death-notices/notice/saunders/4787291
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I have no leave left or I would pop along to that. RIP Ron.
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Good letter that from Lee Preece that.
Spot on with his comments.
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Just had a reply from Lee Preece, re. my complaint about the Ron Saunders ‘tribute’. Not sure how to show a link to it, so I’ve taken three pics of it!.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZLHD56d/C5299-D2-D-38-BE-4-C48-B0-ED-524-A08986101.png) (https://ibb.co/ZLHD56d)
(https://i.ibb.co/5RMbmw4/B4274-C3-A-919-F-4-EBF-B355-85242-AAA31-C8.png) (https://ibb.co/5RMbmw4)
(https://i.ibb.co/926tC51/253-A97-C0-D58-A-49-CA-9-B30-E8-B579-C73-C59.png) (https://ibb.co/926tC51)
[/quote
I had exactly the same reply.
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Nice that the club have added the option to send a digital message as well.
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You can leave a message here https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/12/11/ron-saunders-condolences
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Just leaving this here from Dr.Dunno (https://b3ta.com/users/profile.php?id=4270 (https://b3ta.com/users/profile.php?id=4270)) on https://b3ta.com/ (https://b3ta.com/):-
(https://www2.b3ta.com/host/creative/4270/1576233108/sgtp2019131219small.jpg)
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To be fair to the club, their explanation of why it went awry is exactly what I thought had happened too.
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I had the same reply.
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Farewell, Ron.
He, in fact, built two tremendous teams that we shall never forget, not three.
The first side he managed here was made up of the fine players that Vic Crowe had left behind, plus Frank Carrodus and Leighton Phillips, bought with the money that came from Crowe selling Bruce Rioch to Derby.
No-one will ever forget the football his team played in 76/77 and no-one will ever forget the achievements of the last, less spectacular side, he created at the start of the eighties.
If they have video machines upstairs, he'll have plenty of fun catching up.
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Farewell, Ron.
He, in fact, built two tremendous teams that we shall never forget, not three.
The first side he managed here was made up of the fine players that Vic Crowe had left behind, plus Frank Carrodus and Leighton Phillips, bought with the money that came from Crowe selling Bruce Rioch to Derby.
No-one will ever forget the football his team played in 76/77 and no-one will ever forget the achievements of the last, less spectacular side, he created at the start of the eighties.
If they have video machines upstairs, he'll have plenty of fun catching up.
Great post - agree with all of it. RIP Ron
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And it didn't start raining until the service was over. He had a word.
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And it didn't start raining until the service was over. He had a word.
Good to hear and good you paid your respects.
I guess there were a few ex Villa players in attendance.
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And it didn't start raining until the service was over. He had a word.
Just as I expected. You wouldn't have wanted to bet against him today would you?
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I believe that up to his passing, Ron was one of only two Englishmen still living to have managed a club to the top flight title. Just Howard Wilkinson left now.
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Am currently two thirds of the way through "The odd man out." A fascinating read. One thing that really springs to mind is that as a club we sure as he'll know how to fuck things up. Surely there can't be too many other major football clubs who have contrived to cock things up on such a regular basis. I've always believed that Villa could and should be one of the giants of the game, but we appear to have spent the best part of fifty odd years shooting ourselves in the foot just as we appear to be on the brink of greatness. Hopefully with the new owners on board, there will be a chance of establishing ourselves back amongst the elte.
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One year ago today, we lost a giant of the club.
Nice tribute video here
https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1335875935149694976?s=21
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Thanks for posting TV. Loved his retort to Tony's problem ;D
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Sometimes a player or manager can be an absolute perfect for a particular club. Ron Saunders was that for us. RIP Great man.
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Without doubt my favourite Villa manager. A true Villa great
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Fantastic manager, certainly the best in my lifetime by some distance.
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Back in those days I thought it was normal for Villa to win every week. Little did I know...
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There was one week I think we lost 2-1 to Palace and I was a distraught 7 y.o. World fell in!!
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Back in those days I thought it was normal for Villa to win every week. Little did I know...
I thought that in September and some of October....
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It's great and right that Ron Saunders should be remembered by the club and fans alike. I'm just looking forward to the day that one of our stands at VP will be named after him. I know which one I'd choose.
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RIP Ron. :'(
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I have supported the Villa before Ron and after Ron
But if there is a time that defines my best times in supporting Aston Villa it is the Ron Years.
The expectation, the football, the part of being something with a forward traction and maybe the age I was at but those were the years.
I hope that Dean can re create something for the new generation of fans but in my heart Mr 110% is Mr Aston Villa.
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It's great and right that Ron Saunders should be remembered by the club and fans alike. I'm just looking forward to the day that one of our stands at VP will be named after him. I know which one I'd choose.
Naming stands after great managers or players is something we seem very slow doing at villa.
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I have supported the Villa before Ron and after Ron
But if there is a time that defines my best times in supporting Aston Villa it is the Ron Years.
The expectation, the football, the part of being something with a forward traction and maybe the age I was at but those were the years.
I hope that Dean can re create something for the new generation of fans but in my heart Mr 110% is Mr Aston Villa.
Agreed
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Bump. 3 years.
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Statue! Statue!
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I've often thought what would Saunders have made of social media. Would probably have banned players from having any accounts.
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I've often thought what would Saunders have made of social media. Would probably have banned players from having any accounts.
And he would of, as usual, of been right
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One of the worst things about social media is the number of times you see people write ‘of’ when they mean ‘have’.
😉
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Especially twice in the same sentence.
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Get yer prayer matts out.... hail Saunders of the Villa.
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Especially twice in the same sentence.
Yes. Of-erkill.
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One of the worst things about social media is the number of times you see people write ‘of’ when they mean ‘have’.
😉
Some of us went to crappy comprehensive schools in the 70s. I would 'of' loved to go to a private or posh grammar school but my parents were brassic. My English teacher would send us to the shop or play us his LP's in class rather than actually bother teaching us English. Happy times though.
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One of the worst things about social media is the number of times you see people write ‘of’ when they mean ‘have’.
😉
Some of us went to crappy comprehensive schools in the 70s. I would 'of' loved to go to a private or posh grammar school but my parents were brassic. My English teacher would send us to the shop or play us his LP's in class rather than actually bother teaching us English. Happy times though.
Our politics teacher in six form went on maternity leave. They roped in a lad who was fresh out of uni who was one of her former students to fill in for her, but he was a massive Villa fan so all we did was grab one of the TV/VHS trolleys and watch his 3hr compilation of various Villa goals and highlights taped off the news from the last 10 years. And that was at A-Level.
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One of the worst things about social media is the number of times you see people write ‘of’ when they mean ‘have’.
😉
Some of us went to crappy comprehensive schools in the 70s. I would 'of' loved to go to a private or posh grammar school but my parents were brassic. My English teacher would send us to the shop or play us his LP's in class rather than actually bother teaching us English. Happy times though.
I went to the same ‘crappy’ comprehensive as Gary Shaw.
But I rarely if ever mention it.
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16 years ago today
https://twitter.com/AvfcArchive/status/1606233551938150401?t=F9gYjFih-akh2CaGVa5CBw&s=19