No more heroes

[ROBBO]

When Ashley Young cheated against his old club, then wildly celebrated the converted penalty, i got to thinking about the young kids who wore his number for the years he was at Villa and must have been disallusioned to see their once hero disrespecting his old club so blatently.
Where are the true heroes in modern football, i don't neccessarily mean the best players, Johny Dixon was never a brilliant player but he was a fantastic club man and a hero to me in my childhood and there were a few more i could mention. In modern football where players are constantly changing clubs are the kids missing out? how far do we go back to find the last true Villa hero?

[Hillbilly]

Ian Taylor for me. There have been later players such as Mellberg and Laursen with an affinity but none with the connection to the club and the fans.

[Legion]

I echo the post by Hillbilly.

[villanic]

Ian Taylor for me. There have been later players such as Mellberg and Laursen with an affinity but none with the connection to the club and the fans.

Yeah, it would be Ian Taylor for me.

Plus he grew up on the same road as me and went to school with my brother. Now that's a claim to fame!

[nigel]

Ian Taylor for me. There have been later players such as Mellberg and Laursen with an affinity but none with the connection to the club and the fans.

Ian Taylor, without a shadow of doubt. Think you could add Cowans and Little to that list for me.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

David Unsworth.

[SteveN]

Vic Crowe, never the greatest of players but a true Villa man who always gave the proverbial 100%.

And another for the teenagers - John Slogger Sleeuwenhoek.

Of later generations another vote for Ian Taylor.

[philthebar]

How about adding Charlie Aitken to the list.

Modern day, has to be Taylor

[nigel]

How about adding Charlie Aitken to the list.

Modern day, has to be Taylor

Shame on me, I forgot about Charlie.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't think you have to be born a Villa man to have a love and affinity for th club... see Sid, Brian Little and, as the OP says, Johnny Dixon for examples. I'd go with Mellberg and Laursen.

[ROBBO]

The pity of it is in the years we have to go back to find one.The total lack of respect that Young showed angered me no end. I have criticised Stan P but i think if he had come to the club earlier he could have been one,always played as if he cared.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I always thought of Lew Chatterly as a real Villa man. Brummie born, he left in 1971 so his playing time unfortunately coincided with the big decline and two relegations. He was still the top scorer in 66/67, but his 13 goals were not enough. He has since done the rounds playing and coaching on the south coast and in the south west, and was very much McMenemys right hand man. But I bet to this day the Villa is one of the first results he looks for.

[pooligan]

Yeah ,agree with Lew Chatterley.Charlie Aitken,Ian Taylor and Johnny Dixon. I would add Allan Evans to  that list

[dave.woodhall]

It's scary how many of these I remember as young men are now getting on. Heroes shouldn't be allowed to grow old.

[garyshawsknee]

I follow Peter Withe on twitter,and he's posted some great pictures of the 25 year re-union. There's a great photo of the team together,and my first hero Gary Shaw looks a big fella nowadays. In my mind he's only a phone call away from an England call up.