Andy Gray - 60 Today

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

One of the most exciting players and best goalscorers I've had the privilege to see in my life time...and he was Villa!
Used to love the journeys home after matches in my mate's Capri, listening to Tony Butler...and the number of Villa fans who used to phone in: "What about The Villa Tone?....Andy Gray's great" etc.
I remember thinking that with the team we had at the time and with Andy Gray at number 9 we could beat anybody!
 

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

JG tell your Dad I love him.  Oh Andy your the Greatest the Holte End say, Oh Andy Oh Andy we're be with you all the way.

Ditto.
Had forgotten the song ww...thanks for the reminder!

[Dr Butler]

the big fella in action.

UTV
The Doc

[castlefields_villan]

One of the most exciting players and best goalscorers I've had the privilege to see in my life time...and he was Villa!
Used to love the journeys home after matches in my mate's Capri, listening to Tony Butler...and the number of Villa fans who used to phone in: "What about The Villa Tone?....Andy Gray's great" etc.
I remember thinking that with the team we had at the time and with Andy Gray at number 9 we could beat anybody!

"'ello Tone - Tone what about the Villa"
"What about 'em"
"Thanks Tone"

[The Laughing Policeman]

His bravery in a Villa shirt was incredible -he'd throw himself at any ball into the area and frequently win it.Cost him a lot in injuries over the years but oh the memories.

I remember him being interviewed on one of the Sat lunchtime football shows (Saint&Greavsie?) and they showed a couple of clips of him heading goals about a foot off the ground. The interviewer asked if he was worried about getting his head kicked off. In true Andy Gray style his reply was if it goes in the net and counts as a goal for The Villa it's OK by him.

[Pat McMahon]

His bravery in a Villa shirt was incredible -he'd throw himself at any ball into the area and frequently win it.Cost him a lot in injuries over the years but oh the memories.

I remember him being interviewed on one of the Sat lunchtime football shows (Saint&Greavsie?) and they showed a couple of clips of him heading goals about a foot off the ground. The interviewer asked if he was worried about getting his head kicked off. In true Andy Gray style his reply was if it goes in the net and counts as a goal for The Villa it's OK by him.

It wasn't for us but I loved that diving header a foot off the ground he scored for Everton v Sunderland when they won the league in 1985. That summed him up.

[castlefields_villan]

His bravery in a Villa shirt was incredible -he'd throw himself at any ball into the area and frequently win it.Cost him a lot in injuries over the years but oh the memories.

I remember him being interviewed on one of the Sat lunchtime football shows (Saint&Greavsie?) and they showed a couple of clips of him heading goals about a foot off the ground. The interviewer asked if he was worried about getting his head kicked off. In true Andy Gray style his reply was if it goes in the net and counts as a goal for The Villa it's OK by him.

It wasn't for us but I loved that diving header a foot off the ground he scored for Everton v Sunderland when they won the league in 1985. That summed him up.

That's so right Pat - when he went to Everton he seemed to re-ignite his career - they were a good team and he was formidable with Graham Sharp up front.  In a way that 1985 championship winning Everton side, to me, was very comparable to our 1981 side - used very few players and no real weak links and good to watch.

[The Laughing Policeman]

I also remember when he was sold to Wolves, Ron Saunders gave an interview to the Evening Mail about the shit storm that had erupted over the sale. In the interview Ron said Andy was spending more time on the treatment table than he was playing. And if he was the manager of a factory and bought a machine for £100,000 which kept breaking down and sold it for a million quid he'd be called a great business man.

[West Derby Villan]

What I will always remember about Andy, was the reaction to scoring goals, he loved it as much as us, True Villan

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

I remember one afternoon standing in the chicken run at Upton Park when Gray scored in about the 5th minute against the Spammers, we always won at Upton Park, happy days.

Yes I was there, a one nil victory. I got in the ground late, just as he was celebrating the goal. Upton Park silent (no celebrating away fans in those days obviously. Very dodgy down there back then).
I remember the day we signed him as we beat the Blues at Villa Park.

[Rudy65]

His bravery in a Villa shirt was incredible -he'd throw himself at any ball into the area and frequently win it.Cost him a lot in injuries over the years but oh the memories.

I remember him being interviewed on one of the Sat lunchtime football shows (Saint&Greavsie?) and they showed a couple of clips of him heading goals about a foot off the ground. The interviewer asked if he was worried about getting his head kicked off. In true Andy Gray style his reply was if it goes in the net and counts as a goal for The Villa it's OK by him.

It wasn't for us but I loved that diving header a foot off the ground he scored for Everton v Sunderland when they won the league in 1985. That summed him up.

That's so right Pat - when he went to Everton he seemed to re-ignite his career - they were a good team and he was formidable with Graham Sharp up front.  In a way that 1985 championship winning Everton side, to me, was very comparable to our 1981 side - used very few players and no real weak links and good to watch.

Although suprisingly he left Everton quickly after that season when he returned to VP.

Would we have won in 81 and 82 if he had stayed with us? Goals ratio with Withe and AG was similar but the former had abetter injury record

[castlefields_villan]

His bravery in a Villa shirt was incredible -he'd throw himself at any ball into the area and frequently win it.Cost him a lot in injuries over the years but oh the memories.

I remember him being interviewed on one of the Sat lunchtime football shows (Saint&Greavsie?) and they showed a couple of clips of him heading goals about a foot off the ground. The interviewer asked if he was worried about getting his head kicked off. In true Andy Gray style his reply was if it goes in the net and counts as a goal for The Villa it's OK by him.

It wasn't for us but I loved that diving header a foot off the ground he scored for Everton v Sunderland when they won the league in 1985. That summed him up.

That's so right Pat - when he went to Everton he seemed to re-ignite his career - they were a good team and he was formidable with Graham Sharp up front.  In a way that 1985 championship winning Everton side, to me, was very comparable to our 1981 side - used very few players and no real weak links and good to watch.

Although suprisingly he left Everton quickly after that season when he returned to VP.

Would we have won in 81 and 82 if he had stayed with us? Goals ratio with Withe and AG was similar but the former had abetter injury record

That is just so difficult to decide - it must be said his (and the team's) form dropped around the time he left - and he didn't stick around for us to find out if he could re-build his career. I remember losing a game 3-0 at home to Man. Utd. around that time and we were woeful.

[JG]

Peter Withe & Gary Shaw are quite rightly club legends & wonderful, fabulous players. However I've always been told that Dad & Brian were better players respectively (although why would anyone tell me different?). Peter is the last Villa player to score 20 league goals for Villa, Dad the last to score 25. Dad won PFA player & young player of the year in 77, which only Ronaldo & Bale have repeated before or since. The argument id make for Dad is that 76-78 there weren't many, if any, better strikes in Europe or possibly the world. That's some statement but apparently he was that good for a while. Dad also always says Brian is the most naturally talented bloke he ever played with. But Peter will always have a special place with Villa fans, he was fantastic

[castlefields_villan]

Peter Withe & Gary Shaw are quite rightly club legends & wonderful, fabulous players. However I've always been told that Dad & Brian were better players respectively (although why would anyone tell me different?). Peter is the last Villa player to score 20 league goals for Villa, Dad the last to score 25. Dad won PFA player & young player of the year in 77, which only Ronaldo & Bale have repeated before or since. The argument id make for Dad is that 76-78 there weren't many, if any, better strikes in Europe or possibly the world. That's some statement but apparently he was that good for a while. Dad also always says Brian is the most naturally talented bloke he ever played with. But Peter will always have a special place with Villa fans, he was fantastic

I've supported The Villa since I went to my first match in 1967 - with the greatest amount of respect to Peter Withe - who will always be a Villa legend (and not just for scoring the goal that won the European Cup) But Andy was dynamite esp in the 76-77 season and to this day the most exciting player I've ever seen in Villa shirt - he was still only 21 then and I imagined him being our number 9 for years and years.

[LTA]

I also remember when he was sold to Wolves, Ron Saunders gave an interview to the Evening Mail about the shit storm that had erupted over the sale. In the interview Ron said Andy was spending more time on the treatment table than he was playing. And if he was the manager of a factory and bought a machine for £100,000 which kept breaking down and sold it for a million quid he'd be called a great business man.

Anyone whose read Andy Grays book will know he didn't pull any punches with his views on Ron Saunders.