Feb 1988 - Villa v Monaco

[Chico Hamilton III]

Was it just me who thought that Gareth Williams had the potential to become a Villa great? didn't he end up being a postman or something?

Mention for Tony Hately as well


 Football: Williams steals stars' limelight (411)

By DENNIS SHAW

9 February 1988

The Times



English

© 1988 Times Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved


Aston Villa ......... 3 Monaco .............. 0
 
Gareth Williams, born in the Isle of Wight, upstaged France's league from the millionaire's playground of Monaco at Villa Park last night.
 
William's second half goal, later supplemented by Birch, the substitute, diverted the limelight from Hoddle and Hateley in a value-for-money start to the club's three-match tour.
 
Despite the defeat, Monaco, who continue at Newcastle tomorrow and in Hoddle's testimonial at White Hart Lane on Monday, performed with both control and finesse. They could now however keep Villa down as Gray added a third.
 
As Monaco paraded their two England internationals, Villa used the occasion to introduce a pair with rather less auspicious backgrounds in Platt signed from Crewe and Williams, from Gosport.
 
Villa's newcomers strove engagingly to bridge the pedigree gap but fortune was not on their side. When a three yarder fell to Platt he contrived to impetuously hump it over the crossbar.
 
This effort compared unfavourably with own by Hateley, whose father Tony scored at the ground with many a spectacular header back in the 1960s. Hately junior confounded defenders who chose to ignore him by reaching a ball that seemed beyond his reach to flick a header unluckily against an unright.
 
As one would expect of the French they played with a certain laid-back poise especially in engineering an opening for Ferratge who forced Spink to go down in a hurry.
 
It was clear from their buildups that they use Hoddle's consummate passing skill at every opportunity but on this occasion he found the tenacious Gray unprepared to allow him to give an exhibition.
 
Frequently there were hints that Villa's industry would outweigh Monaco's sense of style. So it proved after 53 minutes. Gage's right wing centre swerved enticingly away from Ettori luring the French keeper too far forward and leaving Williams with a far post tap in.
 
Suddenly, the French side's pride was at stake and they tested the alert Spink with shots by Hoddle and Bottiston.
 
----------------------------------------------- ASTON VILLA: ----------------------------------------------- N Spink; K Gage, B Gallacher, A Gray, A Evans, M Keown, T Daley (sub, P Birch), M Lillis (sub, D Norton), A Mcinally, D Platt, G Williams AS MONACO: J-L Etori; M Amoros, L Sonor (S Salamon), R Vogel (sub, M Revelli), P Battiston, J C Metais, J-M Ferratge, M Dib, M Hateley, G Hoddle, Y Fofana (sub, Da Fonseca) Referee: P Curry
   

[fbriai]

Good work, Chico. That was a great night. I seem to remember only the Holte and the North Stand being open, while the programme was a single sheet of paper.

[Dave Javu]

One of the few Villa players I've seen out being totally bladdered, around 1989/1990 in Mere Green. I think the place was called The Conservatory then.

[Des Little]

I went to that game...bloody hell it seems a lifetime ago now.

[fbriai]

I went to that game...bloody hell it seems a lifetime ago now.

Ain't that the truth.

[Charlie8182]

I also went to that game, I remember Birchy scoring at the Holte End - watched by only about 5000.

[waynejames]

I sat in the North Stand upper upper for this one. First time i ever sat up there for a game and i felt rather special moving away from the Holte End for the evening!

[VILLA MOLE]

I listened to this game on the phone on Villa Clubcall 0898 121148 if I remember rightly, those were the days

thought it finished 2 nil ?

[Ron Manager]

I think I was in the North Stand. I can only just about recall him. Obviously didnt leave a big impression on me. The Williams who was a postman was John Williams of Coventry City.

[Witton Warrior]

I listened to this game on the phone on Villa Clubcall 0898 121148 if I remember rightly, those were the days

Oh good heavens - Clubcall - I remember calling it when we had no money and pretending it was a wrong number when my wife walked in once - it was like I had been caught watching porn!

[PeterWithesShin]

Ah clubcall. Those scam ads on teletext "Superstar to join Villa?" and after 17 hours on the phone some nomark would be mentioned.

Actually that remindsme of fuss over small heath ripping off their fans for some shite gift like a free watch. All they had to do to claim their free prize was call a premium rate number and the call cost something like £30. And the watch was probably one of those cheap digitals you buy at the local garage.

[Damo70]

I think I was in the North Stand. I can only just about recall him. Obviously didnt leave a big impression on me. The Williams who was a postman was John Williams of Coventry City.

Am I right in saying they called John Williams 'The flying postman' because that was his job before he played league football and he had also won some race for football league players? Would I also be right in saying that Gareth Williams left us for Barnsley, as did Lee Butler?

[VILLA MOLE]

I listened to this game on the phone on Villa Clubcall 0898 121148 if I remember rightly, those were the days

Oh good heavens - Clubcall - I remember calling it when we had no money and pretending it was a wrong number when my wife walked in once - it was like I had been caught watching porn!
[/quote





it was more expensive than porn

[Chico Hamilton III]

I listened to this game on the phone on Villa Clubcall 0898 121148 if I remember rightly, those were the days

Oh good heavens - Clubcall - I remember calling it when we had no money and pretending it was a wrong number when my wife walked in once - it was like I had been caught watching porn!
[/quote





it was more expensive than porn

"Hello, this is Dervid Platt, thank you for calling Aston Villa Clubcall....."

I got a warning at work after we got a phone bill which identified an unusually high number of calls to a premium rate number. My boss at the time called the number and knew straight away who the culprit was.

[Ron Manager]

I think I was in the North Stand. I can only just about recall him. Obviously didnt leave a big impression on me. The Williams who was a postman was John Williams of Coventry City.

Am I right in saying they called John Williams 'The flying postman' because that was his job before he played league football and he had also won some race for football league players? Would I also be right in saying that Gareth Williams left us for Barnsley, as did Lee Butler?

Correct.John Williams was a postman in Handsworth, I think. A fying winger who over acheived for a short time. I think you are right re the other two.