Villa myths

[Damo70]

I had a year off from the Holte End in '85-'86 and had a season ticket in the Trinity with my mate and his dad. I remember at that Southampton game us looking with shock at the lack of people in The Holte as it got closer and closer to kick off. I was at the Bradford game as well. I seem to remember Ormondroyd causing our defence a lot of problems. Possibly why we signed him and I think that was the first thing that spang into my mind when he joined. Although after all these years, someone with a better memory than me might tell me my mind is playing tricks, Ormondroyd didn't play and I am thinking of one of the Futcher brothers!

[Steve R]

......the state of the pitch in the 1980's was a consequence of the ground being built on what was once a lake.

State of the pitch - not so much - but lake ? - no myth (actually ornamental pond)

That was the myth - the reasons for the state of the pitch. A man made pool would have no adverse effect on drainage.

[dave.woodhall]

It was no myth that the closure of Ansell's led to the water table rising in Aston.

[Meanwood Villa]

Christian Vieri about to sign for villa in the summer of 1998.

He was going to be Dwight Yorke's replacement if I remember.

I remember it being on teletext as a rumour and in one of the papers. I remember calling 'clubtalk' or whatever it was called and it was there too.

Was the rumour based on the fact he had played against us in the Uefa Cup?

I heard he was so impressed with the atmosphere at Villa Park for the Atletico match he was desperate to come, even paying for Gregory to go and watch him at the world cup.

[cheltenhamlion]

The Park Gate? I wouldn't walk there from mine. I do know it however and it is a jolly nice pub. Foods alright un all.

[Dave P]

Doug giving his card to a Sporting Lisbon executive at a England v Portugal junior game circa 2003 after watching Cristiano Ronaldo.

[bilsim]

The new trinity road stand incorporating the gable from the old one.

[supertom]

Dion Dublin and Michael Oakes being impressive in the showers.

Didn't we reject Oliver Bierhoff at one point, back in BFR's days?

[supertom]

That Villa fans sing "Veela - Veela" in squeaky voices
The Wolves never shut up about it.
On the Championship video you hear us singing at Molineux just like anyone else - why do they keep on about it?

I worked with a Bluenose once and he used to sing that to wind me up. Apparently he reckoned the sing it at the Sty when we're there sometimes.

[supertom]

Remember hearing on the radio that Gregory was close to getting a deal done for Alan Shearer at the time we were doing quite well, and he was having a tiff with Ruud Gullit. I it may have been while we were top. Ruud of course didn't last much longer than that and we sadly never get Shearer. I doubt there was ever anything to it though.

It's one of those things where we're going well but it seemed like we needed a couple of good signings to really cement our place and it never came. Where Dougy was concerned, if he did put his money in his pocket, it usually felt 6-12 months after we really needed it.
Likewise we'll all wonder whether signing Benty a year or two earlier might have seen us finish 4th or higher.

[Mortimer's Bear]

That Villa fans sing "Veela - Veela" in squeaky voices
The Wolves never shut up about it.
On the Championship video you hear us singing at Molineux just like anyone else - why do they keep on about it?

I worked with a Bluenose once and he used to sing that to wind me up. Apparently he reckoned the sing it at the Sty when we're there sometimes.

We won't be there again for a long time.

[itbrvilla]

Does anyone remember 'the list' in the Mercury?  Remember Batistuta name poking out from behind a hand.

[GarethRDR]

Shoot magazine did a feature on David Platt possibly returning to Villa in the summer of 1995. Imagine how excited I was as a 18 year old who'd been incredibly depressed when he left.

I remember that.  The article was him having already signed, had pictures of him in the shirt.  Then the back page of the magazine revealed it was all an April Fool's joke.

[danno]

Remember hearing on the radio that Gregory was close to getting a deal done for Alan Shearer at the time we were doing quite well, and he was having a tiff with Ruud Gullit. I it may have been while we were top. Ruud of course didn't last much longer than that and we sadly never get Shearer. I doubt there was ever anything to it though.

It's one of those things where we're going well but it seemed like we needed a couple of good signings to really cement our place and it never came. Where Dougy was concerned, if he did put his money in his pocket, it usually felt 6-12 months after we really needed it.
Likewise we'll all wonder whether signing Benty a year or two earlier might have seen us finish 4th or higher.

not quite a myth iirc, Gregory enquired about Shearer Newcastle rebuffed it straight away and sent Gullit packing.
It was never close to being done though.

[Vancouver]

Shoot magazine did a feature on David Platt possibly returning to Villa in the summer of 1995. Imagine how excited I was as a 18 year old who'd been incredibly depressed when he left.

It was in April '95 - an April Fool's Day prank. Imagine giving a front cover to that! I was so excited when I read it and couldn't believe they'd been so cruel.

I remember in the 80's they did an Ian Rush to Everton front page story