Dwight Yorke

[KevinGage]

Couldn't blame him for leaving (though I wish he'd gone abroad rather than to that lot).

It's not as if we were some mid-table rabble back then either, just making up the numbers. We had had successive high finishes under Little for a few years and after a difficult start to 97/98 played some exciting stuff under JG from Feb onwards. The most exciting football of his tenure, as it turned out.

No guarantees, but a motivated Dwight Yorke not subjected to the tapping up shenanigans of Fergiescum might have helped us go on to bigger and better things.

The badge kissing incident was ugly, but vaguely understandable considering the abuse. Joining SHA and then making some crack along the lines of  "everyone knows that Birmingham City have traditionally always been the bigger club in the area," was beyond the pale. That's an error neither Saunders, Mortimer or anyone else who had connections with both clubs made, so any comparisons with them are futile.

But against that, he did give years of decent service during his stint at the club -particularly the early part of 1991/92 and from 1995-98.  So overall I'd say I'm neutral to him.

[Meanwood Villa]

I always say he was the best player I've seen play for us (I was perhaps a bit too young to appreciate McGrath in his pomp) and he broke my heart when he went to them. The fact he then went on to achieve everything he wanted at club level in his first year there made it even worse. Couldn't even speak his name for years, the Blackburn cup game hardly helped, but time is a great healer and the good memories are starting to out-weigh the bad.

[VillaSpen]

I was at Brammall Lane when he scored that beautiful penalty in the cup. They only had three stands at the time and the snow was hammering us in the away end. Some twats were opening car doors and punching whoever they found inside in the post-match traffic and my mate's car broke down an hour away from home. Yorke made that trip worthwhile with that moment of class.

[TopDeck113]

I loved Dwight and was absolutely gutted when he left.

However, if was also cathartic, because the day he left, was the day I decided that I was too old to make heroes out of footballers and invest in them emotionally.  Since then, my motto has been: support the team and appreciate the skill and/or application of certain individuals whilst they're with us, but accept that they will all move on in the fullness of time.

So there you have it. Dwight Yorke: my last Villa hero.

[mattjpa]

Loved him to bits and still do. Slated? Not a chance. Try having Hodge and see what happens...
[/quote]

Can I ask for a brief tale on Steve hodge pls? It's a little before my time but seems to crop up a fair bit on here. Why is he so hated?

[Dave Cooper please]

Can I ask for a brief tale on Steve hodge pls?

******.

Is that brief enough?

[dave.woodhall]

He was very close to re-signing for us when Sir Graham returned.

[Holte L2]

Wish we'd have got him back instead of singing Allback.

[Ian.]

Yorke along with McGrath are 2 Villa players I will never forget. Loved them. I was too youn g to appreciate the team with Shaw, Mortimer, Morley and a young Cowans.

I did absolutely love Yorke though, maybe it was the age I was when he played for us, or how good he was, his attitude, his smile, his rapport with the fans, our song, his background. I agree with Top Deck, it's all about the team these days for me, Yorke was was last hero too.

[Nev]

I loved Dwight and was absolutely gutted when he left.

However, if was also cathartic, because the day he left, was the day I decided that I was too old to make heroes out of footballers and invest in them emotionally.  Since then, my motto has been: support the team and appreciate the skill and/or application of certain individuals whilst they're with us, but accept that they will all move on in the fullness of time.

So there you have it. Dwight Yorke: my last Villa hero.

Pretty much sums it up. I am putting up a stern resistance to the charms of Bent because given a shit season and another club putting on the gear and red lisptick he'll be off quicker than a greyhound at Hall Green.

[Denham Villain]

One of the best songs ever with had for a Villa player.

Start spreading the news, his playing today, I want to see him score a goal again, Dwight Yorke, Dwight Yorke......