Gordon Cowans - still going

[Brend'Watkins]

He was and remains my favourite Villa player, the most elegant footballer you could wish to see.

Even his slide tackles were elegantly executed.

Only he could do them, timing, execution, bravery, it was his, not copied from another player and obviously not possible to pass on to other players. You could either do it, or you couldn't. 

[Risso]

I remember the fuss when Graham Taylor as England boss, brought Sid back for one game, dropping Paul Gascoigne in the process. You'd think Taylor had shat in the Queen's bedroom such was the national outrage.

[jwarry]

He was and remains my favourite Villa player, the most elegant footballer you could wish to see.

Even his slide tackles were elegantly executed.

Only he could do them, timing, execution, bravery, it was his, not copied from another player and obviously not possible to pass on to other players. You could either do it, or you couldn't. 

Alex Cropley could do it and it’s entirely possible he taught Sid to do them

[ez]

Sid is probably the player I've seen play more than any other as I had season tickets from the late 70s to the mid 90s. My favourite all time Villa player. Fans of other clubs speak well of him too.

[Proposition Joe]

I remember the fuss when Graham Taylor as England boss, brought Sid back for one game, dropping Paul Gascoigne in the process. You'd think Taylor had shat in the Queen's bedroom such was the national outrage.

Was that a friendly away to Ireland, played during the afternoon on a weekday for some reason, or is my memory playing tricks on me?

[cdbearsfan]

I can definitely remember England playing Ireland during the day and discussing it at school. I think it was 1-1 and both goals scored by Villa players?

[LeeB]

I remember the fuss when Graham Taylor as England boss, brought Sid back for one game, dropping Paul Gascoigne in the process. You'd think Taylor had shat in the Queen's bedroom such was the national outrage.

Was that a friendly away to Ireland, played during the afternoon on a weekday for some reason, or is my memory playing tricks on me?

It was a qualifier not a friendly, but yes it was a Wednesday afternoon I think.

I once asked him at a Q&A about that, and how I felt it was disrespectful as he was a better player than Gascoigne.

He pretty much laughed at me and said he wasn't fit to lace Gascoigne's boots.

[Brend'Watkins]

He was and remains my favourite Villa player, the most elegant footballer you could wish to see.

Even his slide tackles were elegantly executed.

Only he could do them, timing, execution, bravery, it was his, not copied from another player and obviously not possible to pass on to other players. You could either do it, or you couldn't. 

Alex Cropley could do it and it’s entirely possible he taught Sid to do them

I remember Alex Cropley with great fondness.  He was a very good at full bodied slide tackles. Never as good or accurate as Sid though. Sid didn't just slide tackle, it was like he was navigating the curve on a Speedway Bike he managed the tackle and the control of the ball in a movement and then come away with it.   

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Sid didn't just slide tackle, it was like he was navigating the curve on a Speedway Bike he managed the tackle and the control of the ball in a movement and then come away with it.   

Poetry in motion, not something you'd normally say about a tackle but that was Sid.

[clash city rocker]

I'll never forget that pass of his to Daley away to smethwick that set up an amazing goal. Stood behind the goal and going mental when it went in.

[Virgil Caine]

It has been written on here before but it is worth repeating, when asked by a journalist if he had any ambitions David Platt is rumoured to have said 'I'd like to make a run that Sid Cowans doesn't spot '.

The best footballer I have seen at Villa Park and one worthy of being called 'professional'. I never saw him feign injury, attempt to get an opposing player booked, argue with a referee or make ridiculous salary demands. I cannot remember him ever being cautioned or even spoken to by a Ref but that might be rose tinted glasses. One thing I really admired was that he was naturally two-footed and could ping a 30-40 yard pass with accuracy with either his left or his right foot, watch the You Tube excerpts of the FA Cup tie at the Bitterdome to see two masterful examples of his art. One defence splitting pass to Derek Mountfield and the other a raking 50 yard pass for Tony Daley to run in a score.

[Toronto Villa]

As our favourites get on in years, if we dig up an old thread to share good news can we add - not to worry or something at the end of the title? Like we do with Paul McGrath. There have been so many recent passings or bits of unfortunate news it would be nice to know immediately that things are well.

[Villa in Denmark]

It has been written on here before but it is worth repeating, when asked by a journalist if he had any ambitions David Platt is rumoured to have said 'I'd like to make a run that Sid Cowans doesn't spot '.

The best footballer I have seen at Villa Park and one worthy of being called 'professional'. I never saw him feign injury, attempt to get an opposing player booked, argue with a referee or make ridiculous salary demands. I cannot remember him ever being cautioned or even spoken to by a Ref but that might be rose tinted glasses. One thing I really admired was that he was naturally two-footed and could ping a 30-40 yard pass with accuracy with either his left or his right foot, watch the You Tube excerpts of the FA Cup tie at the Bitterdome to see two masterful examples of his art. One defence splitting pass to Derek Mountfield and the other a raking 50 yard pass for Tony Daley to run in a score.

It wasn't a rumour. Platt said it in an interview with BRMB after his move to Bari was announced.

[Exeter 77]

One thing I really admired was that he was naturally two-footed and could ping a 30-40 yard pass with accuracy with either his left or his right foot, watch the You Tube excerpts of the FA Cup tie at the Bitterdome to see two masterful examples of his art. One defence splitting pass to Derek Mountfield and the other a raking 50 yard pass for Tony Daley to run in a score.

He even managed to head their only chance off the line that day.

[Flamingo Lane]

I'll never forget that pass of his to Daley away to smethwick that set up an amazing goal. Stood behind the goal and going mental when it went in.

One of my favourite ever goals, I too was stood behind the goal - lunchtime kick off, I recall, and heavy rain.