Nigel Sims

[Villa Lew]

Very sad news, along with Jimmy Rimmer, my favourite Villa keeper. When I saw him last May at VP, he did look very frail. Only Peter Mac left of the '57 team.

RIP Nigel

[thick_mike]

Dad talks about him very fondly. A great keeper by all accounts at a time when you had to have a heart of a lion to do the job.

RIP a Villa great.

[andyaston]

RIP, another part of our living heritage passes.

[SteveN]

A very good keeper and a regular when I first started watching.  I remember Spur's Bobby Smith, a big bully of a centre forward, bouncing of him like a baby when he tried to shoulder charge him.

RIP Nigel, another hero from my childhood sadly gone.

[cdbearsfan]

RIP.

[in exile]

Rest In Peace Nigel

[The Left Side]

RIP Nigel

[pooligan]

Nigel was the keeper when i first started watching the Villa .To a young lad like me ,he seemed a beast of a man and was a favourite of the crowd R I P Nigel

[nigel]

Was named after Nigel, in 59, so has always been a bit of a hero of mine.
Had the privilege to meet him at his book signing a few years back.

He couldn't understand why I was so pleased to meet him. "I'm just a normal bloke"

RIP, Nigel, you were never 'Just a normal bloke' to me

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Sad news. RIP Nigel.

[Desi]

My all-time favourite Villa keeper.

Loved the 'big man'.

RIP

[JD]

RIP Nigel. Very sad.

[brian green]

Lovely man.  Great Villa man.

The story I have told of him a number of times typifies his big heart to match his big physique.

He got injured in the days before substitutes so he stayed on the pitch and played centre forward.  Under his green keeper jersey he had a claret and blue shirt that was hanging in tatters.  I imagine he only wore it for luck.  All twenty stones of him charged around after the ball like Incredible Hulk bursting out of his clothes.  I don't think he actually touched the ball but the crowd roared him on.

Sleep on Villa hero.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

just seen this posted on a Villa site:

The arrangements for Nigel Sims funeral;
Mon 5th February, 2.30pm at Morriston Crematorium. The address is 36 Heol Pentre Felen, SA6 6BY.
The family contacted Aston Villa, the club never bothered responding.

[Pat McMahon]

just seen this posted on a Villa site:

The arrangements for Nigel Sims funeral;
Mon 5th February, 2.30pm at Morriston Crematorium. The address is 36 Heol Pentre Felen, SA6 6BY.
The family contacted Aston Villa, the club never bothered responding.

That is a full month after his death. Why do funerals in England take so long to organise? In Ireland a 2 day turnaround is standard.