The young Slogger speaks.

[The Charmer]

What a great find. I really enjoyed reading that and, yes, the innocence of how the game was for a promising young player like Slogger jumps off the page at you.

I thought he was about to give me the definitive pronunciation of his surname but he stopped short!

I always read it as ' Slee - ven - hook'.  Close anyone?

[dcdavecollett]

I think it was Sle-ven-hook, though I've also heard it pronounced Slew-en-owk.

I think he played a few games for us in Division Two in 1967 before he joined Small Heath.

[papa lazarou]

I think it was Sle-ven-hook, though I've also heard it pronounced Slew-en-owk.

I think he played a few games for us in Division Two in 1967 before he joined Small Heath.

You're right Dave, brain fade, I had to look it up but he didn't leave until the November.

[Flamingo Lane]

That's a great read..

As part of his role at the club after he finished playing, as well as working in the shop he would travel around the Midlands delivering Villa bingo tickets to those who like my dad would then sell them at his work and the pub etc.  He used to call in every Friday morning at our house, much to the approval of my mum, as he was quite a good looking fella.

[dave shelley]

I completely missed this thread, I remember him very well as a member of Mercer's Minors.  I saw him play for England U23's along with Alan Deakin in a match at St. Andrews.

I think he played for the Blues the season we got relegated to the third division in a match where Bruce Rioch scored a screamer and we won for, I think the only away victory of that season.  I could be wrong about that though.

The last time I saw him was after a match at the Wolves, League Cup I think, we'd won and I saw him and what I took to be his son as we were leaving.  He certainly gave his all for the Villa every time he played, so very sad that he died so young.

Thanks for posting, an enjoyable read that evoked so many memories for me.

*Edit:  I forgot to add that unfortunately he played most of his career with us when we really were awful.

[Oscar Arce]

Although slightly before my time, I think Slogger played in the 6-2 home defeat by Chelsea, correct me if I'm wrong, which you can find on youtube.
Yes he went over to the dark side, and I also remember him playing against us for Torquay, with other ex-Villains Dick edwards and Tommy Mitchinson, when we were in the Third Division

[dcdavecollett]

You last two posters are both spot-on. Slogger did play in the matches you refer to.

[Villan For Life]

I don’t remember this guy because as a young 53 year old he’s slightly before my time, I recognise his name from reading various Villa stuff over the years but what really resonates with me is his description of life as an apprentice. Brian Little also describes it well in his last book and both are an interesting insight into the life of an apprentice footballer which is long gone.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]