Never meet your hero

[pauliewalnuts]

I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport)  and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.

I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.

As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.

As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.

I'm sure that when McMahon left Everton and came to us, we beat Liverpool for his signature, which is strange given that he went there from us after.

[dave.woodhall]

I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport)  and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.

I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.

As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.

As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.

I'm sure that when McMahon left Everton and came to us, we beat Liverpool for his signature, which is strange given that he went there from us after.

Everton wouldn't sell him to them so I suppose he only ever thought of us as a temporary arrangement.

[Lambert and Payne]

TLP and Amfy's stories are brilliant. Dissapointed by Aftabs on Angel though, I still idolise him
The closest I've got to meeting a Villa player was seeing Dion Dublin in Stratford Tesco's and my dad not wanting me to pester him, can still see him walking around now. Someone sang Dion Dublin in the air to him which he laughed and said thanks too. Know a few people who know him/drink with him and he sounds like a brilliant bloke

[villa `cross the mersey]

I was shopping in Marks and Spencers (Southport)  and literally bumped one of my favourite ex Villa players ... Steve McMahon.

I said hello and indroduced myself as a Villa fan who watched him when he signed for us from Everton (before he legged it back up the M6). He was polite and answered my questions about where he was working now (ESPN - Singapore) but didn`t seem keen to talk about the Villa per se.

As I imagined Steve was a man of few words - however I wished we had someone of his ilk to slot into midfield next season.

As we left the shop I introduced VCTM jnr to one of my favourite all time Villa players and he did speak to my son.

I'm sure that when McMahon left Everton and came to us, we beat Liverpool for his signature, which is strange given that he went there from us after.

Everton wouldn't sell him to them so I suppose he only ever thought of us as a temporary arrangement.

Yes quite so - players very rarely "crossed Stanley Park" directly

[Dave Clark Five]

Yes quite so - players very rarely "crossed Stanley Park" directly

Neither did many sensible away supporters in those days.

[The Laughing Policeman]

I once had a pleasant chance encounter with someone who no one on here would call a hero.
Three or four years ago I was in town and on my way to catch the bus home I dropped into the Wellington for a swift pint. It was lunchtime and the place was busy I found a seat at a table and sat down opposite a bloke who seemed strangely familiar but I couldn't think why. After a few minutes my curiosity got the better of me and I said to the bloke "Excuse me but I think I know you from somewhere." He asked me if I was a Blues fan and I said no I'm Villa. At that he gave me a big grin and said well you probably gave me loads of abuse from the Holte End. He offered me his hand and said "I'm Mark Dennis".
Those of you on here of a certain age will remember him from the late 70's early 80's, he made Ron Harris look like an angel.
We got talking about those days and he regaled me with tales about Kenny Burns, Beelzebub, the Latchfords etc. and my swift pint became three more. He came across as a very engaging guy, and when I as tactfully as possible mentioned that he was a bit of an animal in his playing days he said that he wasn't exactly blessed with great skill so he had to make up for it by putting himself about.
All in all not a bad guy for a nose.

[saunders_heroes]

I sympathise with players in some respects. Catch someone on a vaguely bad day and suddenly you're reported as being a tool to the world.

Precisely. I've met Staunton twice and both times he was a gentleman. The times I've met Gary Shaw though I found him to be quite aloof. I still love him though. ;-)

[Percy McCarthy]

Is Mark Dennis the rapist, or is that Van Den Hauwe?

[DerHammer]

Malandro you are correct about Staunton. He is a proper prick. He was most certainly not my hero, but i remember getting Paul McGrath to sign  a book just as the team were off to Barnsley in 1997 ish for an FA Cup match. I said to Staunton C'mon Steve lets bring the Cup back home this season as we havent won it for 40 years. He replied in his irish teang ..."we won a cup last year" and jumped on the coach!

and then fucked off back to Liverpool a year or so later, great manager though did really well COUGH !!!

I met him as well. Didn't leave a good impression.

He's a regular in Lichfield Tescos, always seems to be looking around like he wants the attention but is a dick when he gets it!!

[Risso]

Is Mark Dennis the rapist, or is that Van Den Hauwe?

Wasn't Van Den Hauwe the one who wore Mandy Smith's knickers?

[DBTW]

I did a few charity events last year and one of those involved Gary Shaw doing a Q&A in front of a packed local pub.

It was going superbly, until Gary got there, absolutely trolleyed.

He begged me to sit next to him on stage, which i was proud to do and every question he looked at me for support.

I drank with him, all night, on the stage and me too ended up wasted. Towards the end he was begging me to meet him the next day, at his house for a few more beers. He then fell over and was taken out.

He was good fun.

[Hookeysmith]

Makes me realise every time i want to quit my role at VP just how lucky i am that i have often spent time chatting to ex and current villa players and many other well known celebs

A lot of the modern day players are either very ignorant or just plain thick (mainly the UK ones that are thick) The only time i have ever had the feeling of being star stuck is when i spoke to Marco Van Basten in the tunnel, he was a real hero of mine and i must admit Mr Beckham - as much as i could not stand the bloke when he played for United he really is the genuine article as a person and how he conducts himself whilst under the media spotlight all the time is unreal.

If you think players can be arrogant - bloody hell you want to get close to some of the refs

[VILLA MOLE]

Makes me realise every time i want to quit my role at VP just how lucky i am that i have often spent time chatting to ex and current villa players and many other well known celebs

A lot of the modern day players are either very ignorant or just plain thick (mainly the UK ones that are thick) The only time i have ever had the feeling of being star stuck is when i spoke to Marco Van Basten in the tunnel, he was a real hero of mine and i must admit Mr Beckham - as much as i could not stand the bloke when he played for United he really is the genuine article as a person and how he conducts himself whilst under the media spotlight all the time is unreal.

If you think players can be arrogant - bloody hell you want to get close to some of the refs

To take some of the crap they put up with I imagine you would have to be that kind of person I am afraid 

[Brend'Watkins]

Yes quite so - players very rarely "crossed Stanley Park" directly

Neither did many sensible away supporters in those days.

I remember the season we beat Everton 2 - 0 with Little getting that brilliant goal.  It was my first visit to Goodison and with a few friends we went up on a coach organized by the local pub.  We parked near Stanley Park and were informed how potentially dangerous it was by a senior member of the coach.  He also pointed out that you shouldn't show any colours as you'd get picked off.  We departed the coach in trepidation taking heed of the advice given, but for one of the coach party who had consumed a bottle of Sherry on the journey up.  He was decked in full Villa kit brandishing a large Villa flag, he ran the length of the park chanting Villa.  Nothing happened to him.

[Breezeblock]

Taken in Bulgaria, 2008:


The bloke is an absolute gentleman. Get well soon Stan.