Chris Nicholl RIP

[tomd2103]

Encountered him a few times in a football when I was a lot younger.  A strange mixture of a really nice guy, but also one of the scariest people I've ever met.  Some of the stories about when he was a manager are legendary.

[Legion]

Such a shame. A lovely man.

[TopDeck113]

That's sad news.  Like many others will always remember him for the equalizing goal at Old Trafford. 

Two more personal memories.  One is a car journey when my mate's dad who was driving subjected me, his son and another friend of mine to a twenty minute rant about the sale of Chris to Southampton and his replacement being a loser in that League Cup final.  Apparently, it was decision that showed that it was time for Saunders to go and that whoever Ken McNaught was, he wasn't to lace Chris Nicholl's boots.  A rant that my mates and I would refer back to in the subsequent four or five years...

The other memory, which I'm sure I've shared before, is from my primary school summer fete.   I guess Chris can't have been with Villa that long and no doubt was arm-twisted into opening proceedings and then signing autographs for us kids.  Anyway, I didn't have a "proper" autograph book, but my mum gave me a small handbag notebook she had spare.  Needless to say, the floral design on the front was the excuse for much piss-taking by my contemporaries in the queue for a signature.  Anyway, when it came to getting the book signed, Chris asked me my name, wrote me a message along with his signature and - I like to think he'd heard some of the comments from the other kids - as he passed the book back to me, said that it was a very nice book.  Either way, with a few words, a Villa player made the seven or eight-year old me very happy and after he left us throughout the rest of his playing and then managerial career, whenever I heard his name mentioned I had a warm glow because of that moment.

[Villan For Life]

That’s sad news. I used to see him in the Black Eagle in Hockley and was in awe of him even then. He still had a real presence about him and must have been a formidable opponent.

RIP Chris.

[astonvilla82]

When they talk about Aston Villa legends, Chris is at the top table as far as I am concerned

[Leicester_Villian]

Always remember telling him to pass the damm ball ….. next it’s in the net ….RIP Chris …. A true gentleman

[Brend'Watkins]

The goal in the Old Trafford replay, 40 yarder was it? and the 4 he scored at Leicester are imbedded in my memory. Sleep well Chris.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

When they talk about Aston Villa legends, Chris is at the top table as far as I am concerned

Same here. As others have said, a great player, great man. That goal, together with P.Withe's Rotterdam shin-in, was probably the most memorable Villa goal in all my Villa supporting years. What he was thinking, I have no idea but like others, I was fortunate to be right behind the goal.

RIP Big Chris and thanks for everything.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Another rock who was instrumental in our 70s march to greatness. RIP

[Bernie]

Another Villa hero gone.
Thanks for the memories Big Chris and RIP.

[Pat McMahon]

Agree with all the above comments, a great player for us who was part of an incredible journey from division 3.

The 1975 final was the first trophy we won in my lifetime but a tiny part of me was annoyed at Mel Machin for punching away Nicholl’s header as it would have been one of the all time great headed goals at Wembley. That would have given him the distinction of being the only Villa player to score in 2 league cup finals for us.

He also seemed very down to earth and self deprecating when interviewed - an all round good guy. RIP Chris

[olaftab]

That's sad news.  Chris was an absolute rock and a leader in the teams that gained promotion from the old third and then second divisions, and won two league cups.  I was there at the game at Filbert Street when he scored all four goals, but of course the crowning glory of his time at Villa was that goal - glorious in its execution, and made all the more memorable by the occasion, the importance of the goal so late in the game following incessant pressure on the Everton goal, and for the explosion of noise that erupted on the ball nestling in the net.  RIP Chris Nicholl, and thank you for everything.

This for me as well. RIP Chris.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

A true Villa legend and all round nice guy.
There will be a lot around the football world who will have memories of Big Chris. He was involved in management as well, most notably at Southampton. Two players who he gave league debuts to were Shearer and Le Tissier.

[Exeter 77]

Chris was the first Villa player I encountered in the flesh when I was about 4 years old. I met him again many years later when he was managing Walsall and mentioned this to him and he gently told me off for making feel old.

[BC Villain]

Sad news.  I knew he'd been in poor health for  while.

Disappointed that nothing has been put out by the club yet