Villa v Birmingham city 1983.

[bertlambshank]

Kevan Broadhurst never played another game after this.  An honest hard working player in his mid 20's career finished by McMahon.  Comments ?

Dont worry he has made their hall of fame.
Yes they have one,but its not very big.

[andrew08]

Isn't Noel Blake, and I stand to be laughed at for all time for this if wrong,  one the England Youth coaches these days?

[bertlambshank]

Isn't Noel Blake, and I stand to be laughed at for all time for this if wrong,  one the England Youth coaches these days?

Yep.

[Damo70]

I think he is U-18 coach and Kenny Swain is U-16 coach. One is a Villa legend for winning the league and European cup and the other is a Small Heath legend for once scoring in a victory over Villa and once headbutting a Villa player.

[andyaston]

That Blues side has to go down in history as the most thuggish bunch ever to take part in top flight football. Leeds and Wimbledon side don't come close to them.

[dave.woodhall]

That Blues side has to go down in history as the most thuggish bunch ever to take part in top flight football. Leeds and Wimbledon side don't come close to them.

I can never understand why a strict disciplinarian such as Saunders allowed them to go rampaging around on and off the pitch like they did.

[Damo70]

He took over in '82 and by '83 Dennis and Van Den Hauwe had gone. By '84 Coton, Blake, Gayle and Harford had gone (even though he had signed the latter three) leaving just Hopkins from the wild bunch I think. The question would be whether they went due to their behaviour or finances or both.

[London Villan]

I know my Blues mates idolise that 1982/83 team... sums it up really.

[Villan For Life]

He took over in '82 and by '83 Dennis and Van Den Hauwe had gone. By '84 Coton, Blake, Gayle and Harford had gone (even though he had signed the latter three) leaving just Hopkins from the wild bunch I think. The question would be whether they went due to their behaviour or finances or both.

This could be an urban myth, but I think Blake was moved on because he was seeing his daughter and Ron was not happy.

[dave shelley]

He took over in '82 and by '83 Dennis and Van Den Hauwe had gone. By '84 Coton, Blake, Gayle and Harford had gone (even though he had signed the latter three) leaving just Hopkins from the wild bunch I think. The question would be whether they went due to their behaviour or finances or both.

This could be an urban myth, but I think Blake was moved on because he was seeing his daughter and Ron was not happy.

Wasn't that Howard Gayle?

[Villan For Life]

He took over in '82 and by '83 Dennis and Van Den Hauwe had gone. By '84 Coton, Blake, Gayle and Harford had gone (even though he had signed the latter three) leaving just Hopkins from the wild bunch I think. The question would be whether they went due to their behaviour or finances or both.

This could be an urban myth, but I think Blake was moved on because he was seeing his daughter and Ron was not happy.

Wasn't that Howard Gayle?

It could have been. I was told that it was Blake by an ITK source. The whole thing is no doubt a bit of a myth.

[Damo70]

It was Gayle. I think part of the problem may have been Gayle's Renault Fuego ending up upside down in a garden in Dovehouse Lane Solihull with Saunders daughter in it at the time. The crash definitely wasn't an urban myth as it was in the papers at the time. Whether Saunders daughter was really in the car at the time may or may not be true.

[Damo70]

I know my Blues mates idolise that 1982/83 team... sums it up really.

He should idolise them. They were one of a select few of Blues sides not to get relegated. Well, not until the next year anyway.