Des Bremner article.

[maidstonevillain]

A good read. Although does seem to be bit dismissive of Tony Barton.

http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport/football/interview-des-bremner-former-hibernian-midfielder-and-european-cup-winner-1-2304987

[Archie]

Fantastic read, thank you for sharing, I had the chance to meet  Dezzie at the End of the season gala and he gave me the impression to be  a very, very nice guy!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

He was a massive hero to us at the time and I know the Villa faithful really appreciated his incredible work-rate. I've always thought of him as a quiet hero. Unsung, never!

He puts some of today's prima donnas to shame.

[purpletrousers]

Thank you. Thoroughly enjoyed reading that. Des's dad was at the back of our traveller's club coach for the trip to Rotterdam. It's memories like that, being tickled by Peter Withe as I sat on his knee for a photo and Allan Evans's great big St. Bernard dog Hannah lolloping around Bodymoor Heath that mark my childhood. I'll send a link of this thread/article to my dad.

(going a bit off topic, but I'm eternally grateful to my Dad for my being a very young season ticket holder in those glorious years, I didn't appreciate fully at the time how few 8year olds were in Rotterdam!)

Back on topic, I loved, how in every game at least at one point my dad would shout "Skin 'im Des!" as he bombed down the wing past his man.

Cheers.

[Stu]

Nice read. Sort of off-topic; I see the article was written by Aidan Smith, author of the superb 'Heartfelt' - one of the best football books ever.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

He still turns out for the Villa Old Stars. Usually at full back as he doesn't quite do the same mileage during a game now.
In fact, I saw him play 45 minutes in a charity game at The Hawthorns only a couple of weeks ago.

[ChrissyPrice]

Great article. His account of his childhood seems a little like Eamon Deacy's. Both kept their feet on their ground.

[cdbearsfan]

Good article. How accurate is it that Barton was scout, rather than assistant manager, in all-but-name? Never heard that before.

[Damo70]

Roy McLaren was the proper assistant manager. Tony Barton was apparently responsible for scouting signings like Swain, Evans, Bremner, Withe and Morley. He was an old Portsmouth team mate of Ron Saunders. When he was appointed caretaker manager of the League Champions the press dubbed him 'Tony Who?'. By the end of the season 'Tony Who?' was 'European Cup winning manager Tony Barton'.

[Salsa Party Animal]

So what happens to Roy as I don't know much about his career

[Damo70]

I don't know much about him before or after Villa. I think he was a former goalkeeper who was assistant to Ron Saunders and then Tony Barton. I believe when he and Tony Barton left Villa he moved to Australia.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Correct. He moved to Melbourne and opened a football academy that I think had links with the Villa, at least around the time Sir Brian was manager.

Back to Des, apart from the obvious heroics of Spink, Des was my MOTM in Rotterdam, he was bloody everywhere. As others have said, great player and extremely underrated but not by Saunders who absolutely loved him and appreciated the job Des did for the team.

I always saw him in Sutton doing a bit of shopping before Xmas every time I was back home. Gutted I never saw him last time, Christmas just isn't Christmas without seeing Des. Does anybody know if he still lives locally?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Great article. His account of his childhood seems a little like Eamon Deacy's. Both kept their feet on their ground.

He was manager's assistant - they were very particular about that title. Roy McLaren was first team coach.

Have you been celebrating the appointment of our new manager?

[dave.woodhall]

Great article. His account of his childhood seems a little like Eamon Deacy's. Both kept their feet on their ground.

He was manager's assistant - they were very particular about that title. Roy McLaren was first team coach.

Have you been celebrating the appointment of our new manager?

Not yet, why? Ah, just seen it. Soon fix that.

[dave.woodhall]

Good article. How accurate is it that Barton was scout, rather than assistant manager, in all-but-name? Never heard that before.

He was manager's assistant - they were very particular about that title. Roy McLaren was first team coach.