Tommy Docherty wishes

[b23]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you Villains everywhere ! 

[villasjf]

Thanks for that, that was one of my first matches and can still remember that team well. Ah the good old days (swings the lamp)

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Theres a great video of this game posted elsewhere.

Those few months of The Doc when he arrived in a whirlwind telling us what a great club we were and  filled the ground were so exciting. For that reason he remains one of my biggest heroes.

[SteveN]

Billy Anderson?  I never kept old programmes so can't look it up but was he usually listed as Billy?

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Good spot !
I have literally 1000s of programmes all pre mid 80s and these days stacked away in no particular order.
Ive just pulled out some old programmes. End of 66/67 programmes, the season during which he arrived he is Willie. All the 68-69 programmes he is listed as Billy. All the 1970s programmmes he is listed again as Willie.
In that same QPR programme listing him in the team as Billy Anderson, in the appearances and goalscorers list elsewhere he is Anderson W. 
Why, I have no idea.


28 Sept 1968 Oxford United, No.11 Billy Anderson. With No.5 for Oxford, Ron Atkinson.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Note the page number at the bottom is 212. You were obtaining for your 1/- one part of that seasons Aston Villa News & Record, in this instance Vol. XXVI  No. 14.

Dont ask me why but the next two pages numbers are 182 and 183 ??
This has Villa Views. "It`s great to be a Villa man these days. Everywhere around us at Villa Park there is an atmosphere that inspires confidence.....an air of something being done to fulfil all those promises of restoring the Villa glory. But part of this resurgence must be borne by the supporter. From the boardroom......throughout the entire staff - who in divers ways assist in staging the Saturday spectacular - to the players on the field, the theme is......lets win with Villa".     

[Oscar Arce]

"Willie" Anderson had a little spell at the time when he wanted to be called "Billy" in the programme, the same thing happened with "Mick" Wright, who insisted on being called "Michael" for a similar time.

[darren woolley]

What was the score.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

What was the score.

We won 2-1.
See it here ....   http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=45329

[Zhong Yi]

little anecdote...

coming back from Euro 2000 a couple of days after England had lost to Portugal, I was in London Euston at about 5:45 a.m, waiting for the first train to Brum, when a voice behind me asked "where did you get the paper from", I turned round and it was none other than Tommy Docherty.
Recognising him immediately, I gave him the respectful line "are you Tommy Docherty", so anyway once all that was over and done with I mentioned the famous quote about 35,000 Villa supporters turning out to see the shirts on a washing line, which is something he said shortly after taking over at Villa Park. The Doc seemed a bit taken a back by the recital of that to be honest. Finally, after talking for a few minutes about the England game, I handed him my copy of The Mirror and with that he was gone on the 06:00 to Manchester. So I gave Tommy Docherty my newspaper and I am proud of that!

Merry Christmas

Up The Villa!

[Dave Cooper please]

Great story  Zhong, I love things like that.

[adrenachrome]

That was one of those games where their mob tried to take the Holte. I remember looking down the steps at the back watching them make their way up. They lasted for about 20 minutes before they were chased off to the Trinity lower, which was terracing back then. 

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

That was one of those games where their mob tried to take the Holte. I remember looking down the steps at the back watching them make their way up. They lasted for about 20 minutes before they were chased off to the Trinity lower, which was terracing back then. 

I hope they all queued in an orderly manner and paid their 2/- or whatever it was at the transfer turnstile.

QPR also had someone with a massive drum that they would irritate everybody with. Didnt Villa fans manage to `dismantle` it for him at some subsequent fixture ?