Best header of a ball you have seen while a Villa player

[pooligan]

In all the years i have been watching Villa i have seen quite a few really good headers of the ball, Dublin,Withe,Thompson,Laursen,Nicholl, Gray,Foster and Mountfield  all come to mind.The one who i would say is the best however is Tony Hateley. This guy from what i can remember was useless on the floor but boy could he head a ball.Anyone agree with me?

[FrankyH]

I would say Withe, a corner was like getting a penalty the season we won the league.Angel also had a knack of hanging in the air once he had jumped for the ball.

[mattjpa]

Martin Laursen for me. Timing of runs and his jump were superb....

[VillaSpen]

Whilst not known primarily for his ability in the air Dwight Yorke scored two of the best headers I've ever seen in the 1995/96 season. Against Everton and Arsenal at home. Both crucial to the result and executed brilliantly.

[SteveN]

Hateley, by a long way.  Unfortunately I remember him very well, whilst at the same time struggling to remember where I live some days.

Brilliant in the air, complete and utter bobbins on the floor.  My dad reckoned he was better than anyone he'd seen in a VIlla shirt in the air and he would have started watching in the late 20s early 30s.

Having said that did not Frank Barson once score with his head from ther half way line?   

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

We've got Andy Andy Lochhead in the air, in the air......Andy, Andy Lochhead..........Andy Lochhead IN THE AIR !

[nigel]

Barry Bannan for me.
Does anyone remember when he found himself up against Zigic?
First time I know of that the whole stadium seemed to laugh 

Seriously though, all mentioned were great, but, no ones mentioned Andy Lochead

[nigel]

We've got Andy Andy Lochhead in the air, in the air......Andy, Andy Lochhead..........Andy Lochhead IN THE AIR !

Typical, must have posted at same time 

[E I Adio]

Tony Hateley. Power, direction, aggression.

[pedro25]

Macca, only player I saw head the ball over the old Trinity Rd Stand (or it looked like it from sat in that stand, maybe it only went on the roof).

[Dr Butler]

for me it is Andy Lochead with a close Allan Evans

UTV
The Doc

[Concrete John]

Defensively, God always seemed like he had a magnet in his head that just attracted a football to it.

[dave shelley]

Tony Hateley was magnificent in the air as already stated; and remember the ball was of a different heavier material in those days.  As also stated Hateley was utter cack when the ball was on the ground.  A vote for Andy Gray wouldn't go amiss, he had the ability to  rise for the ball just as the defender was coming back to earth all in a split second.  He was also brave too, willing to put his head in where it hurt.

[Steve R]

Heading for a defender is a different skill to that of a centre forward. For a striker it isn't just about winning one on one duels and getting direction and power.

Of the strikers I would put Andy Lochhead just ahead of Tony Hately, with no one else anywhere near close to those two.

Deft near post flicks, cushioned headers to colleagues - both could do it all. I'd still rate Andy the better header, he could have painted the ceiling of Sistine Chapel with his forehead.

[Concrete John]

Heading for a defender is a different skill to that of a centre forward. For a striker it isn't just about winning one on one duels and getting direction and power.

That's something a defender needs too.  Muabe not the precision of a striker, but certainly power and distance to clear it from the danger area.