Villa Goalkeepers

[Pat McMahon]

A bowler and the funniest man you could wish to meet.

In the 70s my mom used to work for a company selling trinkets on Soho Rd and the 2 bosses were Albion fans. They were mates with Cumbes and John Osborne, who used to pop in to the office once a week. My mom said they were both two of the most genuine and down to earth lovely men you could ever meet.

Saw Jim Cumbes the other week, still a very jovial guy with a big booming laugh.
Anyone remember John Osborne coming to wards the Holte End and bowing, I think it was an Albion defeat 4-0 springs to mind but he made some great saves and was applauded by the Holte at the end.
He played with no teeth in, and looked completely knackered, always going down injured in games I seem to remember.

Oscar Arce, it was definitely the 4-0 win in the last home game of the season (Andy Gray hat trick). My mom was with us at that game and was laughing about it with Osborne when he popped into work for his weekly cups with her bosses.