Villa Debuts where you can say "I was there!"

[Mister E]

Too many to remember, although the first one would have been that of John Phillips' debut as Villa keeper. Don't remember anything about it really.
Andy Gray's debut sticks out in my mind, as does Brian Little's.

Big Ron's debut at Sheffield Wednesday. came back to win it from 2-0 down. Debutant Regis, debutant Atkinson (D), a disallowed effort from a young Yorke and an emphatic winner from debutant Staunton.

I was there; a classic game and what a performance from the away fans.

Dennis Mortimer, 4-1 West Ham. We were terrific, West Ham supine and I freely confess I thought he was no more than tidy and wondered what the fuss was about, as I'd known nothing of him at Coventry.

Yep, remember that welll, and I likewise was a little underwhelmed with the debutant.

[Mister E]

I was at Hillsborough in 1998 when a 17 year old Gareth Barry made his debut.

Talking of Hillsborough, how many made their debut in 1991?

Let's see:  Steve Staunton, Dalian Atkinson, Paul Mortimer, Cyrill Regis, Shawn Teale.......any more?

Of course Big Ron made his debut as manager as well.

Kevin Richardson?

[FrankyH]

Think I saw Paul McGrath's at Forrest away (and Kent Nielsen) ? He made have played the week before in the friendly against Hibs at Villa Park.

[andyh]

I remember my first real way game being Man City, many moons ago.
I am sure that it was Sid's debut game.

[silhillvilla]

The Ugo "debut" v Norwich wasn't actually his debut but yes that was a mind blowing performance.
The Grays at Bradford - unforgettable.
Nigel Callaghan scored on his debut ?
Platt at Blackburn - scored in front of us.

[pedro25]

Last time we beat Man U at home, August 95 (Hanson "You'll never win anything with kids" etc) Savo, Draper and Southgate made their debuts as did a young Ricky Scimeca coming on late for Yorkie.

[pedro25]

Ian Taylor's home debut v Chelsea when he scored a header at the Holte.  Carew and Young's home debut v West Ham, Carew scored the winner.  Milner scored on his home debut v Spurs?  Phillips scored on his debut v Bolton as well.

[silhillvilla]

Crouch debut scored
Zat Knight v Chelsea scored

[Lambert and Payne]

Gareth Barry, Dion Dublin, Alan Thompson, David James

[Lambert and Payne]

Almost forgot Luc Nilis (however its spelt) home debut and his brilliant goal vs Chelsea. Oh what might have been...

[Steve R]

Too many to remember, although the first one would have been that of John Phillips' debut as Villa keeper. Don't remember anything about it really.
...

0-0 at home to Small Heath in the old second division. 54,000 crowd, god awful game.

Tony Hately was in the Small Heath team, and also Dick Edwards pocket.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Didier Six's was probably the most high profile debut I've seen

[Chico Hamilton III]

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

There was a bloke in the Villa end at Fulham that night in a man united shirt with Djemba Djemba on the back

[Damo70]

The first one I can remember was Mark Walters coming on as a sub towards the end of the '81-'82 season in a 4-1 home defeat to Leeds. Ones that stand out since then are Curbishley signing from Blues then coming on as a sub to make his debut against them on Easter Monday, McMahon v Albion, Didier v Man U, the two Gray's at Bradford, Platt at Blackburn, Callaghan (he scored) and Ormondroyd at home to Sheff Wed, Cascarino at Derby and the six debuts in BFR's first game. Everyone talks about Deano's home debut but I remember he actually had one dissalowed at Leeds in his first game. Then of course there was Benteke's debut a few weeks back. Oh, and Mark Lillis and Malcolm Allen at Leicester in '87!

[Vancouver]

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

There was a bloke in the Villa end at Fulham that night in a man united shirt with Djemba Djemba on the back

I posted that earlier. We must have been standing right by each other