Larry Canning

[Nev]

Ex Villa man and journalist and broadcaster has passed away aged 86.

I don't know much about him as a player but remember him on BBC Radio.

[VILLA MOLE]

Ex Villa man and journalist and broadcaster has passed away aged 86.

I don't know much about him as a player but remember him on BBC Radio.

didnt realise he played for Villa he had a great broadcasting voice RIP Sir

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Name: Canning, Lawrence (Larry)
Birthdate: 1925-11-01 in Cowdenbeath, Scotland
Position: Wing-half/Utility
Playing for Villa: December 1943 - August 1954
Previous clubs: Broughty Amateurs, Paget Rangers
Signed: - From Paget Rangers
Sold: - To Kettering Town
League: 39 matches - 3 goals
Cup: 2 matches - 0 goals
More info:
Canning also played with Villa during World War 2. (6 - 5 goals)
He also guested for Lincoln City during World War 2.
He signed professional in October 1947.
He was later an Aston Villa Director.

He always talked up the Villa in his radio reports. From memory I think he had a successful engineering company which pretty well ran itself and allowed him to concentrate time on the golf course and doing his radio work.
I also recall he used to say "Certainly one of the best games I've seen this season" - he said it quite often, but usually if he was reporting a Villa game. 

[garyshawsknee]

Ex Villa man and journalist and broadcaster has passed away aged 86.

I don't know much about him as a player but remember him on BBC Radio.

didnt realise he played for Villa he had a great broadcasting voice RIP Sir

Me too,my earliest memories of listening to football on the radio were of him and the late great Ron Jones. RIP.

[frank]

A fine commentator, very fair, but obviously with a lot of affection for Villa.

[SteveD]

Only realised he'd died at the half time tribute last Saturday.
A really excellent and measured reporter, who Radio Two seemed to use a lot in the "golden" days of Peter Jones and Bryon Butler. Very succint summaries and used to purr when Cowans was on form. Another from the great Scottish tradition of ex-Villa players. Had a reputation as being a tough tackler, I remember being told by by dad (or his dad..)