Dalian Atkinson

[robbo1874]

Some great memories (what's left of them) of Dalian's goals for us. Hopefully the truth of the circumstances of his death will eventually crystallise and we'll know what happened.

Loved him as a player. I was at Wembley for the cup final when he scored, up to the left behind the goal. Crazy scenes in the celebrations. I also remember listening on the radio the Sheffield Wednesday game just after he signed and  we played them
At Hillsboro.

I just hope he gets a terrific send-off during the match tomorrow morning. Remember the mail poster of him and ron after the match. Happy times. Let's remember the good times he brought the club.

[mamuu]

Thanks for Tranmere, Wembley and lots of other fine memories, Dalian. RIP.

[Mortimer's Bear]

He used to infuriate me at times, the ball would run 5 yards to the side of him and he'd stand and watch it rather than move to it. That said, he scored some truly spectacular goals and the Goal of the Season was only my fourth favourite of his, behind Wembley, Hillsborough and Tranmere (my favourite ever game).

RIP Dalian, I hope the truth prevails.

[Damo70]

OS have confirmed that there will be a tribute tonight by means of a minutes applause on the 10th minute (Dalians shirt number) and some pre chosen fans will be opening umbrellas around the ground to reflect that iconic moment at Wimbledon. The OS does state that fans should not try to enter the ground with personal umbrellas as these will be confiscated because of H&S regs.

It sounds as though the last few hours of his life were particularly troubled and this saddens me the most. I do wonder if Tasers are the right method of calming for people who are obviously having a mental health episode. RIP now and thank you for making the game of football exciting and entertaining.

The Taser issue is difficult. If it was your son being tasered you would probably disagree (although in this case it seems a serious and difficult situation). But on the other hand if someone was threatening your wife or kids you would probably want them tasered.

[Damo70]

My dads clam to fame is standing next to the brolly man at Wimbledon. I've heard that story too many times.

I have a wealth of Villa stories that I repeat often. I think my wife just switches off but my son does seem to enjoy them.

[Nev]

He scored two belters at Hillsborough one year, these sometimes get overlooked.

A genuine club great, from a golden age, with a medal to prove it.

"Daaaalian Atkinson, Dalian Atkinson"

RIP.

I had forgotten those. Am I right in saying the Dalian/umbrella game was pretty much the only one you missed that season because you had to work?

Yup, every game, league and cup, home and away. Except that one. Ratscocks!

Minor consolation in the form of Rioch being part of our trip to Milan in '94.

[AV82EC]

Like many others I was there for the Wimbledon goal at Selhurst. I drove, huge mistake, through South London and I think managed to park about 100 yards from the ground and walked in about a minute before kick off. Wimbledon were at their thuggish peak and the main issue apart from the Dalian goal was this was the day Steve Froggatts career was ended due to a horrific tackle from whichever thug was playing right back for them. He never recovered properly and despite a couple of sojourns at Wolves and Cov he was never the same afterwards. You can see the level of Wimbledons play at the time in that Froggatt tackle and the near GBH of the attempted tackles on Dalian. I still fucking hate the ****** to this day. The other funny thing about Dalians goal was most of us were telling him to pass it to Deano and he then chipped Segers from 25 yards. Frustrating player but the only one on his day who's got close to Benteke/Yorke. RIP Dalian and will be wearing my laces 92/93 top tonight.

[aussiebadger]

Devastating and tragic news. RIP Dalian. Villa legend - 1994 final was a life changer for me in so many ways.

Up the Villa

[eamonn]

Like many others I was there for the Wimbledon goal at Selhurst. I drove, huge mistake, through South London and I think managed to park about 100 yards from the ground and walked in about a minute before kick off. Wimbledon were at their thuggish peak and the main issue apart from the Dalian goal was this was the day Steve Froggatts career was ended due to a horrific tackle from whichever thug was playing right back for them. He never recovered properly and despite a couple of sojourns at Wolves and Cov he was never the same afterwards. You can see the level of Wimbledons play at the time in that Froggatt tackle and the near GBH of the attempted tackles on Dalian. I still fucking hate the c***s to this day. The other funny thing about Dalians goal was most of us were telling him to pass it to Deano and he then chipped Segers from 25 yards. Frustrating player but the only one on his day who's got close to Benteke/Yorke. RIP Dalian and will be wearing my laces 92/93 top tonight.

Interesting bit re Froggatt. Like Bocanegra on Delaney a decade on.
Wasn't Ben Thatcher' s big brother was it?

Would like to see more of the highlights of that Wimbledon game.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Thanks Dalian for my favourite moment at VP, 3rd goal against Tranmere.

 Thanks Dalian for my favourite game at VP, Tranmere.

 Thanks for my favourite trophy win, 1994.

 The most gifted player i have had the pleasure to watch down VP, better than Little, Yorkie, et al.Probably didn't produce it enough, but on his day, wow, what a player.

 Seemed to have had his issues, but thanks for the memories Dalian, R.I.P

[nick harper]

Like many others I was there for the Wimbledon goal at Selhurst. I drove, huge mistake, through South London and I think managed to park about 100 yards from the ground and walked in about a minute before kick off. Wimbledon were at their thuggish peak and the main issue apart from the Dalian goal was this was the day Steve Froggatts career was ended due to a horrific tackle from whichever thug was playing right back for them. He never recovered properly and despite a couple of sojourns at Wolves and Cov he was never the same afterwards. You can see the level of Wimbledons play at the time in that Froggatt tackle and the near GBH of the attempted tackles on Dalian. I still fucking hate the c***s to this day. The other funny thing about Dalians goal was most of us were telling him to pass it to Deano and he then chipped Segers from 25 yards. Frustrating player but the only one on his day who's got close to Benteke/Yorke. RIP Dalian and will be wearing my laces 92/93 top tonight.

Interesting bit re Froggatt. Like Bocanegra on Delaney a decade on.
Wasn't Ben Thatcher' s big brother was it?

Would like to see more of the highlights of that Wimbledon game.

Ironically he was injured crossing the ball for Saunders to score in the first half. It was a terrible tackle to his left ankle a second after he crossed the ball, made worse by the fact his leg was planted. He was unplayable on the left in the first three months of that season.

We may well have won the league if he and Dalian had remained fit.

[PGW]

Pat Murphy partly summed him up yesterday:
'' He wasn't a great goal scorer but he was a scorer of great goals''

[eamonn]

Pat Murphy partly summed him up yesterday:
'' He wasn't a great goal scorer but he was a scorer of great goals''

As clichés go, I think Bozzie's tribute was best.

[Axl Rose]

Pat Murphy partly summed him up yesterday:
'' He wasn't a great goal scorer but he was a scorer of great goals''

As clichés go, I think Bozzie's tribute was best.

Me too. Lovely. Dalian and Bozzie were the first players I ever idolised, especially Dalian.

[KevinGage]

Like many others I was there for the Wimbledon goal at Selhurst. I drove, huge mistake, through South London and I think managed to park about 100 yards from the ground and walked in about a minute before kick off. Wimbledon were at their thuggish peak and the main issue apart from the Dalian goal was this was the day Steve Froggatts career was ended due to a horrific tackle from whichever thug was playing right back for them. He never recovered properly and despite a couple of sojourns at Wolves and Cov he was never the same afterwards. You can see the level of Wimbledons play at the time in that Froggatt tackle and the near GBH of the attempted tackles on Dalian. I still fucking hate the c***s to this day. The other funny thing about Dalians goal was most of us were telling him to pass it to Deano and he then chipped Segers from 25 yards. Frustrating player but the only one on his day who's got close to Benteke/Yorke. RIP Dalian and will be wearing my laces 92/93 top tonight.

Interesting bit re Froggatt. Like Bocanegra on Delaney a decade on.
Wasn't Ben Thatcher' s big brother was it?

Would like to see more of the highlights of that Wimbledon game.

Ironically he was injured crossing the ball for Saunders to score in the first half. It was a terrible tackle to his left ankle a second after he crossed the ball, made worse by the fact his leg was planted. He was unplayable on the left in the first three months of that season.

We may well have won the league if he and Dalian had remained fit.

If Dalian had remained fit I think we would have pushed Yanited a lot closer.

As well as losing his goals when he was injured, Deano wasn't quite the same either.

We'd have pushed them closer, but probably still missed out.  The Cantona effect and all that piss.  And Dalian was more than capable of blowing hot and cold, fitness concerns or no.

But with Dalian, Deano and Froggatt all flying, I think we would have done it too.  A fair few of our goals during that purple patch soon after Saunders joined came from Froggatt's side of the pitch, IIRC.