Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: villa `cross the mersey on January 22, 2020, 04:46:44 PM
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We all have fond memories of Villa Centre Forwards over the years, however for me there have been numerous Central Defenders ( Centre Backs/Centre Halves/Halfs ) who I recall with some fondness - the attitude and abilities of Tyrone Mings has already elevated him into my list of central defenders deserving of "cult" status … others (in no particular order) include
Paul McGrath
George Curtis
Kent Neilson
Lew Chatterley
John Sleewenhoek (Tulip/Slogger)
Chris Nichol
Ken McNaught
Martin Laursen
Allan Evans
Ugo Ehiogu
Olof Mellberg
I've bound to have missed someone "obvious"
I've been going to the Villa since circa 1961 and all of those listed certainly wore the shirt with great pride
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Ken McNaught.
Gareth Southgate.
** Olof **
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Ken McNaught.
Gareth Southgate.
** Olof **
Thanks Mr E
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Ian Ross
Fred Turnbull
Brian Tiler
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Shaun Teale
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Leighton Phillips.
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Derek Mountfield
Also Steve Staunton deserves a mention as he played on the left side of a back three a few times when he came back.
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Richard Dunne
James Collins
Chris Samba
Oh sorry, you said cult.
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Richard Dunne
James Collins
Chris Samba
Oh sorry, you said cult.
That's probably the funniest (well almost) thing you've ever posted on here ;) ;)
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Dick Edwards, smoked like a chimney and had a party trick where he lay on his back and could flick up onto his feet despite being a big unit. Must be cult as was a limited footballer.
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
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Gareth Barry
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Alpay- a legend in his own head
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Not forgetting David Unsworth
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Been some very good centre halves over the years. Evans and McNaught were the pairing when I first started going to matches as a kid but I loved McGrath and Teale kicking balls over the top of the old Witton Lane stand.
Mings for me could become a legend at Villa, I really hope so.
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
[/quote my brother was to be named after him until my mother realised Con was a shortened version of Cornelius so he was named Martin instead
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Jimmy Dugdale
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Zat Knight...
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Gary Cahill.
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Ian Ross
Fred Turnbull
Brian Tiler
Fred Turnbull, he had a very simple approach, launch it long. If he couldn’t do that it was headers or clearances into touch. None of this modern day passing to a colleague nonsense. Obviously pitches were often awful back then but the technical ability of players was so different to today.
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
My brother was to be named after him until my mother realised Con was a shortened version of Cornelius so he was named Martin instead
Fixed it for you pal. :)
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Leighton Phillips.
Centre half?
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Southgate was class for us. Don't remember him having many bad games.
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Dion Dublin
:)
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
My brother was to be named after him until my mother realised Con was a shortened version of Cornelius so he was named Martin instead
Fixed it for you pal. :)
Thanks buddy ......time to get a new tablet - the keypad on this one is screeeeeeeeeeeewed ;)
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Often try to work out my favourite Villa side. Not necessarily the best players, but the one I like the most. For some time the back 4's been consistent:
2. Chris Price (occasionally Gary Charles)
3. Steve Staunton
4. Shaun Teale (occasionally Olaf Mellberg)
5. Paul McGrath
Tyrone Mings is going to make it difficult. Excluding Jack, it's hard to think of a single player I've liked more since maybe Ian Taylor. At the moment I leave him out through the no-current-players policy, but can see him displacing my beloved Shaun Teale - the only player whose name I've had on the back of my replica shirt.
Obviously nobody replaces God. Goes without saying.
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Often try to work out my favourite Villa side. Not necessarily the best players, but the one I like the most. For some time the back 4's been consistent:
2. Chris Price (occasionally Gary Charles)
3. Steve Staunton
4. Shaun Teale (occasionally Olaf Mellberg)
5. Paul McGrath
Tyrone Mings is going to make it difficult. Excluding Jack, it's hard to think of a single player I've liked more since maybe Ian Taylor. At the moment I leave him out through the no-current-players policy, but can see him displacing my beloved Shaun Teale - the only player whose name I've had on the back of my replica shirt.
Obviously nobody replaces God. Goes without saying.
Whole side, as of today (it'll change tomorrow) is
1. Spinksy
2. Chrissy Chrissy Price
3. Steve Staunton
4. Shaun Teale
5. God
6. Ian Taylor
7. Tony Daley
8. David Platt
9. John Carew
10. Dwight Yorke
11. Ashley Young
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Richard Dunne
James Collins
Chris Samba
Oh sorry, you said cult.
Dunne and Collins were excellent in their first season but it quickly went wrong after that.
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Jimmy Dugdale
I was at the Villa v Albion testimonial game for Jimmy Dugdale in the mid eighties. George Best made a cameo appearance in a Villa shirt.
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
I got chatting to an Irish Villa fan called Con whilst on holiday in Tenerife about ten years back. I started telling him all about Con Martin and his stints at centre half and in goal. I needn't have bothered as it turned out he knew Con Martin personally and was well aware of the story.
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Evans & McNaught
Evans & Keown in the second half of our promotion season once Evans was fit again
Mountfield & Keown (who apparently couldn't stand each other)
McGrath, Mountfield, Neilson
McGrath & Teale
McGrath, Southgate & Ugo
Mellberg & Laursen
Dunne & Collins in their first season
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Jimmy Dugdale
I was at the Villa v Albion testimonial game for Jimmy Dugdale in the mid eighties. George Best made a cameo appearance in a Villa shirt.
Bradford fire fundraiser, I thought?
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Jimmy Dugdale
I was at the Villa v Albion testimonial game for Jimmy Dugdale in the mid eighties. George Best made a cameo appearance in a Villa shirt.
Bradford fire fundraiser, I thought?
Yes, I think you are right. On a Friday night I think. Although I am sure I also went to a Villa v Albion Jimmy Dugdale testimonial.
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
I got chatting to an Irish Villa fan called Con whilst on holiday in Tenerife about ten years back. I started telling him all about Con Martin and his stints at centre half and in goal. I needn't have bothered as it turned out he knew Con Martin personally and was well aware of the story.
Slight tangent but Mick Martin, Con's son, used to live down our road when we were kids. He was playing for the Albion at the time. Drove a big white Sweeney-style Granada and he always waved at us as he took evasive action to avoid running us over when we were playing football in the road. A few of us knocked on his door once and asked him to sign his Panini 1978 sticker. He was a really nice fella. I think he signed for Newcastle after West Brom
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It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin. The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland. This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.
I got chatting to an Irish Villa fan called Con whilst on holiday in Tenerife about ten years back. I started telling him all about Con Martin and his stints at centre half and in goal. I needn't have bothered as it turned out he knew Con Martin personally and was well aware of the story.
Slight tangent but Mick Martin, Con's son, used to live down our road when we were kids. He was playing for the Albion at the time. Drove a big white Sweeney-style Granada and he always waved at us as he took evasive action to avoid running us over when we were playing football in the road. A few of us knocked on his door once and asked him to sign his Panini 1978 sticker. He was a really nice fella. I think he signed for Newcastle after West Brom
Panini '78 was the first Panini album I got and the only one I ever completed. I will always remember completing the book with the sticker of Wolves manager Sammy Chung.
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Mark Delaney never let us down when moving into central defence.
Class act who suffered with injuries because of his commitment.
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Leighton Phillips.
Centre half?
Yup, he started off as a midfielder but dropped back to partner Chris Nicholl in defence. Using his intelligence of reading the game and his natural skills, he was more of a sweeper, teaching Franz Beckenbauer everything he knew.