Dalian Atkinson

[UK Redsox]

The signing

[Holte L2]

Horrible news. Really sad. my first season ticket was in 1991. Dad brought it for me not long after Deadly D signed.  Was at the Tranmere games and the Man Utd final. Fantastic memories as a Villa fan growing up and remains one of my heroes. Devastated.

[Ron Manager]

A man with tremendous talent was Dalian.
Condolences to his family at this difficult time.

[puppyfeat]

Just heard the awful news on the radio, so tragic and sad, shocking. I was at Wimbledon for that goal and will never forget it, as well as the Tranmere semi and LC Final. Any Villa fan who remembers that time will remember Dalian fondly and will be very sad today. I hope the club honours his memory and his contribution with appropriate respect. Thanks for the memories Dalian, RIP.

[VILLA MOLE]

very sad news

[BlackCountryVilla]

Don't know what to say...

I was at the Wimbledon game. One of the finest goals I ever saw..I think he scored at Boro as well the week before.

RIP Dalian .. you will never be forgotten...

[rob_bridge]

Whenever I picture Atktinson in my minds eye, he's hanging in the air in front of the Holte, for what seems like an eternity waiting for Daley's cross to reach him in that Tranmere semi final, then a half a second later it's in the net and the most amazing scenes of pandemonium and feelings of almost delirium.

That's mine to.  I think he hung there for 30 seconds at least.  Then there was that mazey run in extra time which would have produced the goal of ever..since football began had he scored. He above anybody else is the player who won us that League Cup in '94.

Remember it all too readily especially as a number of us on the left side of the Holte were suggesting using industrial language that he should have been substituted in the previous half hour or so.

[Clampy]

Awful news and like everyone else, genuinely shocked.

[castlefields_villan]

Sad news.  I think the Tranmere goal is my favourite in 94 as that gave just a sliver of hope before the second leg.  The chip against Wimbledon should be remembered as one of the best goals ever seen in the Premier league.  A really talented player in his day and unplayable when he was on it.

Shame the picture below also shows Les Sealey as well who died young.

The importance of that late goal in the away leg cannot be understated, it was a typical Dalian Atkinson goal, and 1-3 was so different to what 0-3 would have been.  Even though they'd beat us 3-1, I remember the look of disappointment on the Tranmere players' faces at full time because of that goal.




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[JUAN PABLO]

Thank you Dalian for being a part of one of the best, and most entertaining, Villa sides of my lifetime. Thank you above everything for that wonderful unforgettable day at Wembley in 1994.

yep

I borrowed this for facebook ....

[Jimbo]

Anyone remember the goal he scored against us for Ipswich? I remember thinking then, what a player, we should get him.

[Dave Cooper please]

That goal against Tranmere and the ensuing Holte End terrace melee is still my favourite football moment ever.

RIP Dalian.

[AGRIPPA]

RIP Dalian....

[Le Lapin]

Dalian Atkinson, his name alone reminds me of a time when supporting Villa was fun. It's such sad news. Poor Dalian and his family.

[kieron]

Watching those goals again, christ he could finish couldn't he. Such a powerful forward.

What a talent he was.