The Unsung Heroes Aston Villa xi

[cdbearsfan]

Kevin Keegan was top scorer in 1981/82 with 26 goals for Southampton, not sure he deserves dropping.

[dcdavecollett]

So he can be our first 'guest' player, then!

Though Keegan started the competition injured and wasn't fit until after the qualifying group, if I remember correctly.

[Hillbilly]

I've always said that England would have had a great chance of winning the WC in '82 if they had had a policy of picking midlands players with a few guest players from the rest of the country, the opposite of the current system, whereby the squad is full of players from Manchester Liverpool and London and a few others!

Back to '82, how about this for starters? Shilton, Anderson, Swain, Gibson, Statham, Cowans, Robson, Mortimer, Morley, Withe, Regis, Shaw and Francis.

Of the above, those not playing for midlands clubs at the time of the WC had started their careers in the region.

Not a bad squad, eh? though it is missing the great Graham Rix, of course...

You could probably have done the same for Scotland. Off the top of my head - Evans, McNaught, Bremner, Gray, Gemmill, Robertson, Burns, McGovern, Gillespie, Hendrie plus a sack of potatoes in goal.

[LeeB]

I've always said that England would have had a great chance of winning the WC in '82 if they had had a policy of picking midlands players with a few guest players from the rest of the country, the opposite of the current system, whereby the squad is full of players from Manchester Liverpool and London and a few others!

Back to '82, how about this for starters? Shilton, Anderson, Swain, Gibson, Statham, Cowans, Robson, Mortimer, Morley, Withe, Regis, Shaw and Francis.

Of the above, those not playing for midlands clubs at the time of the WC had started their careers in the region.

Not a bad squad, eh? though it is missing the great Graham Rix, of course...

You could probably have done the same for Scotland. Off the top of my head - Evans, McNaught, Bremner, Gray, Gemmill, Robertson, Burns, McGovern, Gillespie, Hendrie plus a sack of potatoes in goal.

The sack of potatoes was unlucky not to get more caps ahead of Alan Rough.

[Damo70]

I've always said that England would have had a great chance of winning the WC in '82 if they had had a policy of picking midlands players with a few guest players from the rest of the country, the opposite of the current system, whereby the squad is full of players from Manchester Liverpool and London and a few others!

Back to '82, how about this for starters? Shilton, Anderson, Swain, Gibson, Statham, Cowans, Robson, Mortimer, Morley, Withe, Regis, Shaw and Francis.

Of the above, those not playing for midlands clubs at the time of the WC had started their careers in the region.

Not a bad squad, eh? though it is missing the great Graham Rix, of course...

You could probably have done the same for Scotland. Off the top of my head - Evans, McNaught, Bremner, Gray, Gemmill, Robertson, Burns, McGovern, Gillespie, Hendrie plus a sack of potatoes in goal.

I can't recall the Hendrie from that period that you put on the list. Who did he play for?

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm guessing John Hendrie?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hendrie_(Scottish_footballer)

[LeeB]

I'm guessing John Hendrie?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hendrie_(Scottish_footballer)

Lee's uncle wasn't he?

[Hillbilly]

I'm guessing John Hendrie?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hendrie_(Scottish_footballer)

Lee's uncle wasn't he?

Cousin I think.