First Villa Hero

[Godfrey Brian]

Brian Godfrey- a gritty, hardworking, determined and fearsome yet skillful member of the pretty poor Villa sides when I started following the team as a kid in the sixties. Captain of the '71 League Cup Final side.

[Simon Page]

Pongo Waring, because the way my dad spoke about him I assumed he must still be playing (plus the old man led me to believe Pongo was the sixth Marx Brother for a while). See also Frank Moss Jnr, Mush Callaghan, Frank Broome and George Cummings. Then I realised it was the 1970s and it was Andy Gray briefly until I saw Brian Little live.

It's still Brian Little.

[Dick Edwards]

Bruce Rioch

Me too.

[TopDeck113]

When I asked for a number to be sewn on the back of my first Villa shirt (early 70s with blue lion), I was told that because the white tape in my mum's sewing box was straight it could only be numbers 4, 7 or 11.  I chose 4 and with it Bruce Rioch.

[Border villan]

Slogger Sleeuwenhok.
To a youngster his surname was exotic.

[nigel]

When I asked for a number to be sewn on the back of my first Villa shirt (early 70s with blue lion), I was told that because the white tape in my mum's sewing box was straight it could only be numbers 4, 7 or 11.  I chose 4 and with it Bruce Rioch.

Wasn’t Rioch 8?

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

You mean Tulip!

[Border villan]

You mean Tulip!

Always Slogger to me!

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

You mean Tulip!

Always Slogger to me!

True.

[Villa Lew]

The GREAT Peter McParland

[Small Rodent]

Andy Gray until he sodded off, then Gordon Cowans. I still have a Christmas card from 1979 signed by him and Mr Saunders.

[TopDeck113]

When I asked for a number to be sewn on the back of my first Villa shirt (early 70s with blue lion), I was told that because the white tape in my mum's sewing box was straight it could only be numbers 4, 7 or 11.  I chose 4 and with it Bruce Rioch.

Wasn’t Rioch 8?

You made me doubt myself for a minute so I've just checked my "A Complete Record..." and in the season (72/73) when I would have got the shirt for my birthday he only ever wore the number 4.

[garyellis]

Brian Godfrey- a gritty, hardworking, determined and fearsome yet skillful member of the pretty poor Villa sides when I started following the team as a kid in the sixties. Captain of the '71 League Cup Final side.

On the basis it is your first Brian is a good shout for me too.
We did not have much to choose from in them days but he was as hard as nails and gave everything for the club.
Was in tears when we sold Bruce Rioch but that was later.

[TelfordVilla]

I think there had been years of decay before 71 when the club started back to the top. Rioch was the first top quality player we had seen for many years. That was what hurt so much when he left. It's how our newer fans will be feeling if/when jack eventually leaves.

[Flamingo Lane]

Brian Godfrey- a gritty, hardworking, determined and fearsome yet skillful member of the pretty poor Villa sides when I started following the team as a kid in the sixties. Captain of the '71 League Cup Final side.

I don't think there was a Villa fan who was not sorry to see Brian Godfrey leave the Villa, but as the makeweight to allow us to sign Ray Graydon from Bristol Rovers it was a great piece of business, for both clubs as it turned out, I think.