Sir Graham

[Rotterdam 82]

Became our manager 33 years ago today.

[LeeB]

Thank God.

[rob_bridge]

A great day - the equivalent of Narsil being reforged

[eamonn]

Thank God.

Jesus died at 33.

[john e]

Thank God.

Then he signed him

[sid1964]

I wonder what Doug said to SGT to persuade him to leave the 1st Division and become a manager of a 2nd division club? - still remember the chaos at Ipswich trying to get in on for our 1st game in the league that season.

[LeeB]

I wonder what Doug said to SGT to persuade him to leave the 1st Division and become a manager of a 2nd division club? - still remember the chaos at Ipswich trying to get in on for our 1st game in the league that season.

Fuck all from what I can gather, it was more like he chose us, and Doug was lucky (again). Had he had his way we'd be marking the 33rd anniversary of hiring Dave Bassett.

[Charlie8182]

I wonder what Doug said to SGT to persuade him to leave the 1st Division and become a manager of a 2nd division club? - still remember the chaos at Ipswich trying to get in on for our 1st game in the league that season.

Fuck all from what I can gather, it was more like he chose us, and Doug was lucky (again). Had he had his way we'd be marking the 33rd anniversary of hiring Dave Bassett.

Blimey yes, Bassett looked certain to become our manager, I remember one of the exact sports headlines.."Come and get me Villa", but he took over from SGT at Watford instead which didn't work out.

[dave.woodhall]

I wonder what Doug said to SGT to persuade him to leave the 1st Division and become a manager of a 2nd division club? - still remember the chaos at Ipswich trying to get in on for our 1st game in the league that season.

He'd gone as far as he could at Watford, knew he needed a big club on his CV to get the England job and we were available. His old friend and namesake Dick still ran his shop on Witton Road and the rest is history.

[CT]

It's a shambles!

I talked to SGT at Villa Park following an away game at Sheffield United. He took the time to answer my question in the most humble way, when it would have been far easier to ingore it.

I remember going to a North Stand forum where he told everyone a few home truths.

[Billy Walker]

What might have been, if he'd stayed?  I reckon we'd have been up there competing with George Graham's Arsenal and Ferguson's Man Utd on a pretty regular basis - Doug Ellis permitting, of course.

[Damo70]

Became our manager 33 years ago today.

In that case I left school 33 years ago today (apart from going back to sit exams). I ducked into a shop to avoid the old eggs and flour shenanigans going on in the shopping centre and saw his picture on the front page of the Birmingham Mail. I couldn't believe it.

[Steve67]

I see the appointment back then as a guy coming in to really organise a brilliant club that had fallen from grace, and see something similar today.  I honestly think Villa is ripe for the picking.  Great owners and well run, with the right Manager, for some of you that is Dean, for me, I'd really like us to be more ambitious.  A Graham Taylor type appointment right now, might just save us and move us to the next level.  Admittedly, Dean may also do that too but I can't see it.

[Sexual Ealing]

There are a few more 'big clubs' than was the case back then.

[Brazilian Villain]

There are a few more 'big clubs' than was the case back then.

Plus the criteria for what is a "big club" has changed and is more fluid e.g. Leicester are now more attractive for an ambitious manager than some traditional big clubs.