Tom Watt on Talk Shite

[amfy]

I remember when I was 13, staying with my nan in Kingsbury for the summer in 1978 and wandering down to Bodymoor Heath. I sat on the grassy bank and watched Andy Gray keeping Alex Cropley company as he got back into shape after his broken leg.

As they got into the car, I suddenly got up and raced along the top of the bank to catch them at the gate for an autograph, but it was a close thing, so in the last few yards, I really hurtled down the side of the bank towards the gate in an effort not to miss them - and of course, landed flat on my face in the ditch!

I stayed there for a moment - simply massively diappointed that I'd missed them, but when I looked up, there was Andy Gray - leaning out of the car and asking if I was OK. So I tried to pick myself up with any dignity I could muster, and got my autographs, and ran all the way back across the water park because I was just so excited - it felt like the most momentous thing that had ever happened to me!

[PeterWithe]

Thats a great story.

[Dr Butler]

brilliant Amfy....

[JG]

I'm 34 years old and it's still weird hearing my Dad spoken about with such affection, especially as he was considerably younger than I am now at the time. Everyone's Dad is their hero, but it's a bit strange when your Dad is others peoples hero too. Thanks once again for all the kind words & sharing your memories, it's the only way I get to experience this part of my Dad's life. Very much appreciated.

[dave shelley]

BTW JG, my son shares his birthday with your dad.  1978.  His name isn't Andy sadly.

[Dr Butler]

gutted when Villa sold your Dad....JG

but great to hear he still feels for us....and they always say...once a Villa man always a Villa man...

UTV
The Doc

[PROVERBS1966]

I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.

[Rudy65]

I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.

Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that

[JG]

I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.

Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that

The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane

[Rudy65]

I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.

Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that

The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane

Willie Johnstone gets sent home and I'm shaking hands with him 3 days later as we receive our schoolboy medals for winning the Midlands U14 cup. Awestruck for the wrong reasons

[Pat McMahon]

I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.

Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that

The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane

IIRC the player who many thought should not have gone to Argentina was Gordon McQueen as he was carrying an injury. Ally McLeod gambled and took him, but he didn't play at all ( I think).

I remember Jock Stein being in the studio saying that he would definitely have taken Andy Gray to Argentina - though he himself was coming back from injury. We played Leeds midweek in April and Andy Gray played part of the game and showed he was back to full strength in a great performance as we won 3-1. I can't remember if he scored though.

He scored the 2 best hat tricks I ever saw - v Ipswich and Albion in that wonderful 76-77 season, and one header in that Ipswich game was the bravest I ever saw. I reckon he was our first superstar.

[Damo70]

I'm 34 years old and it's still weird hearing my Dad spoken about with such affection, especially as he was considerably younger than I am now at the time. Everyone's Dad is their hero, but it's a bit strange when your Dad is others peoples hero too. Thanks once again for all the kind words & sharing your memories, it's the only way I get to experience this part of my Dad's life. Very much appreciated.

My wife sold a car to your dad a year or so back. I'm not brave enough to wake her up to find out when exactly! By sold a car, I mean he bought it from the dealership she works for. He didn't buy her car. I'm guessing it has been quite a few years since he bought a second hand car.

[Pat McMahon]

Sorry about this being on the wrong thread but, as we're discussing old songs, do any of you old  'un's remember this?

He's up, he's down,
He's in the Rose and Crown,
Barry Hole, Barry Hole.

This was after he got fined by the club for being out drinking when he shouldn't have.  Someone else was to but for the life of me I can't remember who.  Dick Edwards???

Dave, was it Ferguson?

[JG]

I remember they picked Joe Harper for the World Cup in Argentina instead of your Dad, total joke. I used to love his arms held aloft celebrations stood in front of his adoring Holte End. UTV and Wembley here we come, is this the year FINALLY.

Andy got sent off against the czechs in 76 for fighting and was never favoured after that

The one great regret of his career, he should have been at that World Cup. I thought Willie Johnstone went instead though, then got sent home for a failed drugs test? My grandma had World Cup merchandise with him in the squad, it was so assumed he'd be on the plane

IIRC the player who many thought should not have gone to Argentina was Gordon McQueen as he was carrying an injury. Ally McLeod gambled and took him, but he didn't play at all ( I think).

I remember Jock Stein being in the studio saying that he would definitely have taken Andy Gray to Argentina - though he himself was coming back from injury. We played Leeds midweek in April and Andy Gray played part of the game and showed he was back to full strength in a great performance as we won 3-1. I can't remember if he scored though.

He scored the 2 best hat tricks I ever saw - v Ipswich and Albion in that wonderful 76-77 season, and one header in that Ipswich game was the bravest I ever saw. I reckon he was our first superstar.

Given a choice he'd rather head the ball than kick it. Bit of a lost art these days, heading, although I did enjoy Sinclair's v Stoke the other week. I said to my lad that his Grandpa would of been proud of that one

[He wears a magic hat]

My memories of Andy Gray as a starry eyed 8 year old

Grandad brought me a u mbro boxed away kit. It was before numbers were popular on replica shirts. I got my dad to draw a big number 9 so my mom could use it as a template to cut one out of some material and sow it on the shirt. It guaranteed that I was then Andy Gray in the street football or up the park after school. 😄

Literally pissing my pants when my dad return from a function with a 10 x 8 gloss signed picture of him. It was pinned on my bed headboard.

Crying and telling my dad I was never going with him again when he was sold.

Vaguely remember a song that went

Hark now hear the villa sing a new king born today but can't remember the rest or if indeed it was ever a song sung on the terrace