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Author Topic: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"  (Read 50308 times)

Offline Dave P

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Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« on: October 17, 2012, 07:17:50 PM »
I was at Hillsborough in 1998 when a 17 year old Gareth Barry made his debut.

Also my dad went to Charlie Aitkin's debut which I'm sure he said was Johnny Dixon's last game for Villa.

Any famous Villa debut's you have attended ?
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Offline The Left Side

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2012, 07:23:14 PM »
Eric Djemba-Djemba's at Fulham in 2005, but hardly famous... we missed 2 penalties that night and conceded a last minute goal to draw 1-1, unbelievable.
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Offline Chipsticks

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2012, 07:24:30 PM »
I was at Gareth Barry's home debut, can't remember who we were playing but I was incredibly young - probably about 4 or something?

The only other one that really springs to mind is Bent's, where he scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Man City on a cold January night under the floodlights.
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Offline PeterWithesShin

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2012, 07:41:15 PM »
I dread to think how many i'll have seen over the years. Most of them i've forgotten it was their debut. A guaranteed early sign you are getting old is when players you saw making their first team breakthrough retire through old age.

One thing I do know, is i've seen every Villa managers home debut from Barton - Lambert. It's possible I saw Super Ron's but I was way too young to remember if I was there or not. The one that sticks in my mind the most was when Brian became manager. As my first Villa hero I loved seeing him walk to the dugout as manager. Only about 25K there that day IIRC.
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Offline nigel

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2012, 07:58:08 PM »
Quote from: Dave P on October 17, 2012, 07:17:50 PM
I was at Hillsborough in 1998 when a 17 year old Gareth Barry made his debut.

Also my dad went to Charlie Aitkin's debut which I'm sure he said was Johnny Dixon's last game for Villa.

Any famous Villa debut's you have attended ?

Quite right.

I was there for Brian Little, Andy Gray and I think Gordon Cowans are probably my most famous
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Offline Richard C

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2012, 08:22:40 PM »
Milan Baros, against Blackburn when he scored the winner 1-0.
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Offline Steve R

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2012, 08:28:28 PM »
Yep, Dixon's last/Aitken's debut game was the last of the 60/61 season. Dixon also scored. As a nice touch it was also against Sheffield Wednesday. I am fairly sure that Dixon also left the field early with a burst blood vessel, probably an excuse for a the solo ovation he deserved.

It was also Gerry Hitchens' last game for the club. He got a couple.
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Offline Chipsticks

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2012, 08:46:24 PM »
Quote from: Richard C on October 17, 2012, 08:22:40 PM
Milan Baros, against Blackburn when he scored the winner 1-0.

My first Villa hero.
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Offline PaulTheVillan

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2012, 08:56:01 PM »
Barry, Merson, Baros ;D Dublin, Alan Thompson ;D
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Offline brian green

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2012, 08:58:05 PM »
Too many to recall.   Nigel Sims.  Gerry Hitchens. Jackie Sewell.  Trevor Ford. Danny Blanchflower. John Gidman. Derek Dougan. Doc Pace. Both Andy Grays. John Gregory as both a player and manager. Sir Brian in the youth team.

The one which sticks in my mind with greatest clarity was Sid.   It was a filthy night and he stood like a dripping wet bag of bones with his shirt and shorts hanging off off him like a clothes horse.   He started to run with that flat footed style of his, barely lifting his feet like a skater who has forgotten to put on his skates.   Then he made a tackle and there was a collective intake of breath all around the ground.   We knew that a legend was among us.

That memory and the memory of Tottenham's Bobby Smith trying to shoulder charge Nigel Sims over his goal line are probably the last ones which will depart my ancient brain.
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Online AndyB6

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2012, 09:29:01 PM »
I was at David Platt's home debut vs Plymouth Argyle in 1988 - 5:2 victory (he had already scored on his away debut and also scored vs Plymouth).
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Offline steffo

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2012, 09:34:50 PM »
I do recall Mr Cowans full home debut in 1977 v Derby (I do believe) and a 4-0 win. He looked like a streak of piss but scored. He kept his place for the rest of the season in perhaps on one the finest front six we have ever paraded.

Cowans, Cropley. Mortimer, Deehan, Little and Gray.

All these played on the last game of the 1976-77 season when we stuffed the Baggies 4-0 at home. A lovely way to start the summer.

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Offline lazy villain

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2012, 09:38:25 PM »
Dean Saunders home debut in 92 against Liverpool. What a day on the Holte that was...especially when Rosenthal hit the bar!!! In fact, what a season that was!! Happy days.
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Online dave.woodhall

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2012, 09:40:40 PM »
Ugo's debut at home to Norwich.*










*...and counting....
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Offline Yossarian

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Re: Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2012, 09:57:48 PM »
Gary Penrice's debut against Luton. We lost 2-1.
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