The men we couldn't do without - Bruce Rioch

[dave.woodhall]

Dave Collett's turn to look back in anguish.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2021/12/30/the-men-we-couldnt-do-without/

[dcdavecollett]

The very end of this has been clipped; it referred to Derby's and Bruce's fine season in 1974/5, when they won the league.

Villa didn't do too badly that season either!

[Allan C]

That brought back so many memories for me as this was the time I started going down the Villa with my dad. The kit they are wearing is probably my favourite kit too. What a fabulous time to be a fan

[dave.woodhall]

The very end of this has been clipped; it referred to Derby's and Bruce's fine season in 1974/5, when they won the league.

Villa didn't do too badly that season either!

I've no idea what happened but the full director's cut has now been added.

[Mister E]

What a great time to be a Villa fan! THAT night - at a rain-drenched and almost packed Villa Park - when we saw off Arsenal is one of my favourite memories. Witnessing a top-rated 'keeper, Wilson, being totally intimidated by both players and the Holte End was something I'll never forget.

[steamer]

"Bruce Rioch, superstar, how many goals has he scored so far "
" Those city fans will never forget , that 45 yarder in the net " Memory could be playing up a bit on the distance
Think last game was away to the tripe and pigs trotters brigade , Burnley, 3rd round of the cup . We lost 1-0

[adrenachrome]

"Bruce Rioch, superstar, how many goals has he scored so far "
" Those city fans will never forget , that 45 yarder in the net " Memory could be playing up a bit on the distance
Think last game was away to the tripe and pigs trotters brigade , Burnley, 3rd round of the cup . We lost 1-0

I remember:

Bruce Rioch, superstar
In between the posts
And underneath the bar

and

The City fans will never mock
When they remember Bruce Rioch

I prefer your memory to mine.

[nigel]

"Bruce Rioch, superstar, how many goals has he scored so far "
" Those city fans will never forget , that 45 yarder in the net " Memory could be playing up a bit on the distance
Think last game was away to the tripe and pigs trotters brigade , Burnley, 3rd round of the cup . We lost 1-0

I remember:

Bruce Rioch, superstar
In between the posts
And underneath the bar

and

The City fans will never mock
When they remember Bruce Rioch

I prefer your memory to mine.

My memory one is (to the Christmas carol, Noel)

Rioch, Rioch,
Rioch, Rioch
Born is the king of Villa Park

[wittonwarrior]

I remember plenty of moans about him when he played for the Villa - he was good but no world beater (except for when we were playing the blues but so was Gaby)

[dave.woodhall]

I remember plenty of moans about him when he played for the Villa - he was good but no world beater (except for when we were playing the blues but so was Gaby)

When did he play against them?

[dave shelley]

I don't remember if it was on here or Facebook that I posted: Bruce Rioch was the last player I got really upset about us losing.  When we signed him for that 100 grand after all the 20k's and less, I genuinely thought that all the shit I'd witnessed up until then was truly behind us. 

As he developed into the tremendous player he was, a 1970's Grealish if you like, I was naive enough to believe that we were seriously going places.  Then the noises started about leaving and when he went I was devestated and thought to myself was it worth getting so het-up about a footballer? and the answer was no, a complete waste of energy over something I had no control over so ever since then when good players have left us I've just shrugged my shoulders, felt a twinge of disappointment; naturally and looked forward to the next one emerging. 

Bruce Rioch was a great player for us and brought us a powerhouse style of football I had only ever seen glimpses of in my time up until then of watching the Villa.  In my time of watching the Villa, only Stan Lynn and Harry Burrows had a shot as hard; or harder than Bruce Rioch.

[olaftab]

Who remembers Bruce Rioch with the pioneering thin plaster on his wrist to allow him to play? This was first in football at the time. We so needed him to get back in the team and recover from a bad patch we were going through.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

We'll sing a song of victory
When Villa win Division Three
The City fans will never mock
When they remember Bruce Rioch

[martin o`who??]

I remember being gutted when he went to Derby County.

[Bernie]

We'll sing a song of victory
When Villa win Division Three
The City fans will never mock
When they remember Bruce Rioch

. Sometimes finished off with:-
"Dave Latchford's a silly get
 A 25 yarder's in the net."