Ray Graydon talks...

[Dr Butler]

Ray speaks about the Villa and this bit about those stripey tossers did not surprise me

Q] What was your worst injury?

A] I was pretty lucky in that I didn't have too many problems but there was one that stood out was after a tackle by Albion's Len Cantello.

He came in behind me, went through me and I suffered damaged knee ligaments.

I was in plaster from the tip of my toe up to my groin and it took longer than a broken leg to repair.



http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5080255,00.html

UTV
The Doc

[class-of-82]

Class player for us alongside Keith Leonard up front what a great pairing for us in an era when a players performance for the team was never in doubt.

Also another reason why I hate those stripes shits so much

[villampls]

He is still my all time favourite player. Scored the only goal in my first ever Villa game. I met him when I played in a charity game at Villa Park and I was absolutely speechless. Still my biggest Villa regret is not getting his autograph and/or a photo.

[Nelson Lodge]

Graydon was the middle one of 3 players whose careers the stripey filth effectively ended in the 60s and 70s.

First was John Woodward who was purchased from Stoke in anticipation of Hateley's imminent departure to Chelsea. In only his third game, at the Hawthorns on 15/10/67, Doug Fraser did him. Woodward had scored 2 goals in the previous game in a 3-0 win. Whether Woodward would have been any good long term we shall never know. Certainly his come back attempts at Villa failed. Went onto Walsall I think.

Then Graydon on 10/11/76 at the Hawthorns. Len Cantello did him.

Last but not least Alex Cropley on 10/12/77 at VP courtesy of Alistair Brown.

I was at the games for Woodward and Cropley but not Graydon.

Add to this the gloating from their fans in 1959 when we were relegated, no wonder I hate them with a vengeance.
Should you live by, work with or know any of their supporters and we go down, they will be every bit as obnoxious, probably more so, than any bluenose rag.

[Rudy65]

My fave player of the mid 70's. Had a number 7 on the back of my shirt.

He used to live close to my parents and I remember knocking on the door to ask for his autograph as a 10 year old. He duly obliged and I went away a very happy boy

[dave shelley]

I really enjoyed Ray Graydon's time at the Villa.  Ray had genuine pace, he could go past defenders, he was a good crosser of the ball and he had a great shot on him.  A great asset to Aston Villa during his time here.  I was disappointed when he left; which was remarkable in a way as, before he signed, I'd never heard of him.

[castlefields_villan]

I'd never heard of him when he joined us - didn't we exchange him for Brian Godfrey (with perhaps a bit of cash going to Bristol Rovers as well) ?   I was always an admirer of Godfrey and if anything was a tad disappointed when we first let him go.

Ray Graydon was a player who progressed with the club through the good times of the early to mid 1970s and played well for us in all 3 divisions.  A good hard working professional who I believe had earlier become a qualified electrician.

(However I'm struggling to think of another player who missed 2 penalties within about 15 minutes or so of each other - RG v Leeds - Centenary Celebration Match - 1974).  I'll give 2 points for anyone who can tell me

A) The opposition and the score
B) The opposing Manager

(No google allowed !)

[dave.woodhall]

I'd never heard of him when he joined us - didn't we exchange him for Brian Godfrey (with perhaps a bit of cash going to Bristol Rovers as well) ?   I was always an admirer of Godfrey and if anything was a tad disappointed when we first let him go.

Ray Graydon was a player who progressed with the club through the good times of the early to mid 1970s and played well for us in all 3 divisions.  A good hard working professional who I believe had earlier become a qualified electrician.

(However I'm struggling to think of another player who missed 2 penalties within about 15 minutes or so of each other - RG v Leeds - Centenary Celebration Match - 1974).  I'll give 2 points for anyone who can tell me

A) The opposition and the score
B) The opposing Manager

(No google allowed !)

Leeds, 2-1 I think (might have been 1-0), Brian Clough.

[Witton Warrior]

Watched Ray from '74 onwards - he slowed down towards the end of his career with us and some of the lads referred to him as "the crab" due to more sideways movement! I remmeber him going and us not having a dedicated winger - there were chants of "we want a winger" when things weren't going well for a couple of seasons until Mr Morley caught fire.

Was lucky enough to meet him at Walsall one day when I was on a training course - I didn't ask him about the '75 Final but his run for the cross very early in the 2nd half when we beat Manure 3-2 (76/77?) - was the ball out? He laughed and said it didn't matter as we beat them - top man...

[Dr Butler]

I'd never heard of him when he joined us - didn't we exchange him for Brian Godfrey (with perhaps a bit of cash going to Bristol Rovers as well) ?   I was always an admirer of Godfrey and if anything was a tad disappointed when we first let him go.

Ray Graydon was a player who progressed with the club through the good times of the early to mid 1970s and played well for us in all 3 divisions.  A good hard working professional who I believe had earlier become a qualified electrician.

(However I'm struggling to think of another player who missed 2 penalties within about 15 minutes or so of each other - RG v Leeds - Centenary Celebration Match - 1974).  I'll give 2 points for anyone who can tell me

A) The opposition and the score
B) The opposing Manager

(No google allowed !)

Leeds, 2-1 I think (might have been 1-0), Brian Clough.

any of you learned fellows know why were Leeds are opponents that night ? 

UTV
The Doc

[dave.woodhall]

They were league champions, I suppose.

[Dr Butler]

They were league champions, I suppose.

cheers Dave,  I must be getting confused in my fat old age as I thought the Champions were Derby County.

UTV
The Doc

[castlefields_villan]

Spot on guys - we lost 2-1 to Leeds and the game was during Brian Clough's 44 day reign as their manager - funny how I can't remember any mention of that game during the film about his time there  - that was one game that they won !!

[Dave Cooper please]

Spot on guys - we lost 2-1 to Leeds and the game was during Brian Clough's 44 day reign as their manager - funny how I can't remember any mention of that game during the film about his time there  - that was one game that they won !!

It's mentioned in the book by David Peace I think.

[castlefields_villan]

Watched Ray from '74 onwards - he slowed down towards the end of his career with us and some of the lads referred to him as "the crab" due to more sideways movement! I remmeber him going and us not having a dedicated winger - there were chants of "we want a winger" when things weren't going well for a couple of seasons until Mr Morley caught fire.

Was lucky enough to meet him at Walsall one day when I was on a training course - I didn't ask him about the '75 Final but his run for the cross very early in the 2nd half when we beat Manure 3-2 (76/77?) - was the ball out? He laughed and said it didn't matter as we beat them - top man...

We had a definite hold on Manure at VP - at that time - correct me if I'm wrong but as I remember

1974-75 (Second Division) Won 2-0
1975-76 Won 2-1
1976-77 Won 3-2
1977-78 Won 2-1

how nice that would be these days

also if I remember correctly we lost a two goal lead to only draw in 1978-79 and lost during a particularly bad spell for us 0-3 the following year, but I won't dwell on that.