Dalian Atkinson

[saunders_heroes]

We were the original Entertainers of the Premier League.

[paul_e]

I'll admit that I got something in my eye at almost exactly the same time as the footage of the 10th minute was shown on sky last night, was a terrible coincidence that had my wife convinced I was crying.

[KevinGage]

That season we could have had the Goal of the Season competition all to ourselves - Dalian's second at Hillsborough, Deano's from another postcode against Ipswich, Yorke's finish to a fine team goal at home to Sheff Wednesday, Steve Staunton's peach at Old Trafford...

Parker's against Citeh away was a bit good too.

[garyshawsknee]

What I loved more than anything about Dalian was his raw uncluttered confidence. Nothing intimidated him on the football field Practically carried us to the League Cup in '94. Six goals in all, was it? And that celebration - a little shrug, a half smile and a finger waggle. Pure class. Rest in peace big man.

Yeah, same celebration is a touch of class. Windmill with the right arm and a finger wag.  A one off.

[four fornicholl]

Hate having to ask, but anybody know the funeral arrangements, I think I need to be there.

[Deano's Mullet]

I'm not ashamed to say I was a bit choked up during the tribute last night, and hoping I wasn't being singled out by some TV camera. As well as being upset about the tragic nature of Dalian's death, you're mourning a bit of your own life departing too.

I got £150 for writing about the Tranmere game for 4-4-2 magazine, signing off the article by saying that for sheer excitement, it beat the 5-1 Liverpool game and the European Cup Final. Dalian was the difference in that tie, then scored the first in the final and played an unfamiliar role with discipline to help deliver BFR's tactical besting of Fergie, who's team and fans were fully committed to winning Cup Finals in those days. That whole Cup run was as much Dalian's own as 1977 was Sir Brian's.

I hope he's at peace now.

I've still got that article in my scrapbook that I kept between 1991-98 ish.

[Villa in Denmark]

That season we could have had the Goal of the Season competition all to ourselves - Dalian's second at Hillsborough, Deano's from another postcode against Ipswich, Yorke's finish to a fine team goal at home to Sheff Wednesday, Steve Staunton's peach at Old Trafford...

Parker's against Citeh away was a bit good too.

The other goal against Ipswich was a bit tasty too. From our corner flag to back of their net in about 5 passes and less than a minute from memory. Another example of what might have been with Froggatt if injury hadn't got in the way.

[Deano's Mullet]

1992-93 was full of classic goals. Kevin Richardson's long range stunner that went in off the underside of the bar vs Oxford in the Cup, Garry Parker's two vs Sheff United, Houghton lobbing the Man City keeper, Richardson lobbing the Sheff United keeper at home after a lovely throughball from Neil Cox, Big Cyrille chipping the Forest keeper. Just great great goals.

[Percy McCarthy]

I'm not ashamed to say I was a bit choked up during the tribute last night, and hoping I wasn't being singled out by some TV camera. As well as being upset about the tragic nature of Dalian's death, you're mourning a bit of your own life departing too.

I got £150 for writing about the Tranmere game for 4-4-2 magazine, signing off the article by saying that for sheer excitement, it beat the 5-1 Liverpool game and the European Cup Final. Dalian was the difference in that tie, then scored the first in the final and played an unfamiliar role with discipline to help deliver BFR's tactical besting of Fergie, who's team and fans were fully committed to winning Cup Finals in those days. That whole Cup run was as much Dalian's own as 1977 was Sir Brian's.

I hope he's at peace now.

I've still got that article in my scrapbook that I kept between 1991-98 ish.

I'm honoured.

[KevinGage]

With the actual commentary too, ace.

[Somniloquism]

With the actual commentary too, ace.

I doubt it is in some cases. Back then the Beeb had three or four match commentators and no one at the round up matches. Then they would "record" commentary for the Goal of the month / Season entries if required.

[Allan C]

1992-93 was full of classic goals. Kevin Richardson's long range stunner that went in off the underside of the bar vs Oxford in the Cup, Garry Parker's two vs Sheff United, Houghton lobbing the Man City keeper, Richardson lobbing the Sheff United keeper at home after a lovely throughball from Neil Cox, Big Cyrille chipping the Forest keeper. Just great great goals.

Yorke's goal against Sheffield Wednesday at home  was absolutely fabulous. 16 passes and a great finish, what days they were x

[VillaSpen]

Deano and Dwight Yorke both scored brilliant goals against Ipswich at home, too.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I found the tribute incredibly moving and respectful. The umbrellas were a lovely touch and classy in a way only the Villa could do, So many memories flew through my mind in that one minute that I too was hoping that the ever seeing eye of the TV camera was pointing elsewhere.

Similarly to when Dalian scored against Tranmere I stood there without spectacles. This time however I wasn't picking them up from some bloke 20 yards below me, but I was drying them off against my shirt.
 
RIP Dalian and well done Villa.

[in exile]

I found the tribute incredibly moving and respectful. The umbrellas were a lovely touch and classy in a way only the Villa could do, So many memories flew through my mind in that one minute that I too was hoping that the ever seeing eye of the TV camera was pointing elsewhere.

Similarly to when Dalian scored against Tranmere I stood there without spectacles. This time however I wasn't picking them up from some bloke 20 yards below me, but I was drying them off against my shirt.
 
RIP Dalian and well done Villa.

Very well put