Our Charlies Birthday

[Steve kirk]

Our Charlie Aitken is 73 today, a very Happy Birthday to one of my early heroes 659 games in total for his beloved Villa.

[dave shelley]

I saw his debut against Sheffield Wednesday.  Johnny Dixon's last game before retirement.  Happy Birthday Charlie you never got the international recognition you deserved.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Happy birthday Charlie.
One of my all time Villa heroes.
Agree ds - how was he never a fixture in the Scottish team for years?

Saw him at VP not long ago and he looked very sprightly.

[The Left Side]

Didn't he have a shop in Olton or Acock's Green after he retired?

[dave shelley]

Just thinking about Charlie here and, it's a pity in a way he was born five or so years too early.  He just missed out on the real post-war glory years for us.  He was definitely part of the renaissance culminating in a league cup win before moving on.  I am so glad he has something tangible to look back on for his long, loyal service to Aston Villa.

[newtonsballs]

A professional and a gentleman. Happy birthday Charlie and many more of them.

[SoccerHQ]

Happy birthday to our record appearance holder.

Like Ron Saunders I honestly thought he was older than that.

[pooligan]

Happy birthday Charlie. One of my all time  Villa greats.Not the greatest player but  gave everything he had and  was better than given credit for.I can see him now with his dark black hair making sure whoever the winger he was up against did not get past.

[ROBBO]

Somebody may correct me but i remember a goal he scored running from inside the Villa half with the ball, i think it was against Derby County.
Great defender and Villa through and through,although as a Kid Johny Dixon was my favourite always treated Refs with great respect.

[nigel]

Happy birthday Charlie.
One of my favourite players and the best left back I've seen at the Villa.
Found out recently that he lived just up the road from my in-laws in Bercot.
I was told that even back then he watched his diet of food and drink, which I reckon was quite rare in the 60's and 70's. Probably why he was able to go on for so long.

[Ron Manager]

Mick Wright and Charlie Aitken. A full back pairing that reeked of class. Was at his first and last game. I remember Billy Walkers wife presenting him with a silver salver or something like that. The only one of Mercers Minors who lasted the course.

[Witton Warrior]

Whenever fans of other teams mention great servants I immediately tell them about Charlie Aitken - joined at 17 and played for 17 years - never gave less than his all - a true Villa Legend

[Rupert]

Happy birthday Charlie, met him down heathrow about a year ago what a nice bloke, he was shocked that i knew who he was.

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

Didn't he have a shop in Olton or Acock's Green after he retired?

Yes, a jewellers shop in Acocks Green - I remember seeing him in there quite often when passing during the 80's.

[not3bad]

Happy birthday Charlie!