Villa Central Defenders Over The Years

[Damo70]

Evans & McNaught
Evans & Keown in the second half of our promotion season once Evans was fit again
Mountfield & Keown (who apparently couldn't stand each other)
McGrath, Mountfield, Neilson
McGrath & Teale
McGrath, Southgate & Ugo
Mellberg & Laursen
Dunne & Collins in their first season

[Lastfootstamper]

Jimmy Dugdale

I was at the Villa v Albion testimonial game for Jimmy Dugdale in the mid eighties. George Best made a cameo appearance in a Villa shirt.

Bradford fire fundraiser, I thought?

[Damo70]

Jimmy Dugdale

I was at the Villa v Albion testimonial game for Jimmy Dugdale in the mid eighties. George Best made a cameo appearance in a Villa shirt.

Bradford fire fundraiser, I thought?

Yes, I think you are right. On a Friday night I think. Although I am sure I also went to a Villa v Albion Jimmy Dugdale testimonial.

[Chico Hamilton III]

It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin.  The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland.  This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.

I got chatting to an Irish Villa fan called Con whilst on holiday in Tenerife about ten years back. I started telling him all about Con Martin and his stints at centre half and in goal. I needn't have bothered as it turned out he knew Con Martin personally and was well aware of the story.

Slight tangent but Mick Martin, Con's son, used to live down our road when we were kids. He was playing for the Albion at the time. Drove a big white Sweeney-style Granada and he always waved at us as he took evasive action to avoid running us over when we were playing football in the road. A few of us knocked on his door once and asked him to sign his Panini 1978 sticker. He was a really nice fella. I think he signed for Newcastle after West Brom 

[Damo70]

It is traditional at this point that I mention Con Martin.  The only player to my recollection who not only played for Villa in goal and at centre half absolutely on merit but also for the Republic of Ireland.  This was not putting on the keeper's jersey after an injury but selection as goalkeeper.

I got chatting to an Irish Villa fan called Con whilst on holiday in Tenerife about ten years back. I started telling him all about Con Martin and his stints at centre half and in goal. I needn't have bothered as it turned out he knew Con Martin personally and was well aware of the story.

Slight tangent but Mick Martin, Con's son, used to live down our road when we were kids. He was playing for the Albion at the time. Drove a big white Sweeney-style Granada and he always waved at us as he took evasive action to avoid running us over when we were playing football in the road. A few of us knocked on his door once and asked him to sign his Panini 1978 sticker. He was a really nice fella. I think he signed for Newcastle after West Brom

Panini '78 was the first Panini album I got and the only one I ever completed. I will always remember completing the book with the sticker of Wolves manager Sammy Chung.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Mark Delaney never let us down when moving into central defence.
Class act who suffered with injuries because of his commitment. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Leighton Phillips.

Centre half?

Yup, he started off as a midfielder but dropped back to partner Chris Nicholl in defence. Using his intelligence of reading the game and his natural skills, he was more of a sweeper, teaching Franz Beckenbauer everything he knew.