Charlie Aitken RIP

[Jon Crofts]

I remember Billy Walkers widow presenting him an award at Villa Park for breaking Billy’s record, possibly at the home game against dirty Leeds in our first season back in Division 1.

[papa lazarou]

Very sad news. Like many on here I started going in the late sixties and Charlie was the consumate professional in many a substandard team. A no-nonsense player, no risks taken and fit as a fiddle.
In the early seventies various regional Lions Clubs would arrange visits from players for an evening's chat and I was at one in Brownhills when Charlie and Ian Ross visited. An enthusiastic fan insisted on buying them a drink and being presented with a pint Charlie said " I can't drink all that".
Thanks and RIP Charlie

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

So sad to hear this, when I started watching Villa in the late '60's,  Charlie was always there, I thought he always had been and always would be!
RIP Villa man

This.


I feel very sad.

[lennythekad]

Sad news indeed. Whenever I think of Charlie it’s his stooping header at the near post in a 1-0 win at Bradford City in 1972. One of his rare goals. RIP Charlie 😔

[BC Villain]

Would be nice to think that Charlie's memory and long service to Villa could be be commemorated as part of the new North Stand development.

[Allan C]

So very sad. Charlie was already a mainstay when my dad first took me down in 1969. My mom’s favourite player. The shirt I wore to go to games was a “Charlie Aitken shirt” So many happy memories stem from this player. RIP

[Somniloquism]

Shame the BBC has ignored the news totally. I never expected the coverage of Charlton on the main pages. But a player with a club record appearances for a team and he doesn't even appear under the Villa page or the local Birmingham News page, or even a line in the match report.

[SoccerHQ]

Shame the BBC has ignored the news totally. I never expected the coverage of Charlton on the main pages. But a player with a club record appearances for a team and he doesn't even appear under the Villa page or the local Birmingham News page, or even a line in the match report.

The news has only broken in the last few hours so eventually they'll be a paragraph or two on their Villa page.

Very sad. Always remember him being part of our pre match presentations when I first went in the 90s so of course never saw him play but knew early on what he'd achieved by being our record appearance holder.

Thought at one stage likes of Barry and Agbonlahor would break that record but neither got close which shows the service he gave us.

Hopefully he gets a fitting send off v Alkmaar.

[Clampy]

That such sad news. Before my time but a name I think every Villa fans knows and feels a fondness with.

RiP Charlie.

[colin69]

Didn’t go to my first game till 1978 so never got to see him play but obviously knew all about him. My stepdad and grandad were always telling me what a great player he was for us.
Very sad news indeed.
RIP

[Lizz]

Sad news, RIP.

[DeKuip]

He played in my first ever Villa game aged 5 (me, not him), my first two Wembley finals, my first game abroad and I’d guess nearly all of my first 100 games.
Thanks for the memories Charlie. A true club legend and a good man. RIP.

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

I grew up in Acocks Green and as a kid used to see him in the antique shop he opened there after he retired. He played all through my early years watching the Villa. RIP Charlie.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

That is sad news to come home to: his playing days were before my time admittedly, but everyone young and old recognised him as a legend and one of Villa's greatest servants.

RIP Charlie. Condolences to family and friends. X

[john2710]

Sad news, a legend & very much part of our history from the dark days of the late sixties to our return to the First Division. A one club man, a record 561 appearance's & part of the fabric of the club since the day he joined.

RIP Charlie, I doubt we'll see your like again.