Our 1,000th player is on the horizon

[cdbearsfan]

Centre-half who made one sub appearance at QPR under Paul Lambert, I can't say I remember it. Since went on to accumulate over one hundred appearances for both Bristol City and Blackburn, and has spent the last four years in America with LA Galaxy, DC United and Atlanta United. Has also managed three caps for Republic of Ireland.

[edgysatsuma89]

Centre-half who made one sub appearance at QPR under Paul Lambert, I can't say I remember it. Since went on to accumulate over one hundred appearances for both Bristol City and Blackburn, and has spent the last four years in America with LA Galaxy, DC United and Atlanta United. Has also managed three caps for Republic of Ireland.

Fair play to him. You can't be going round called Derrick though and be under 50.

[ADVILLAFAN]

I thought he was a left back. Irish I think.

[PeterWithesShin]

Made 1 sub appearance for us. Has had a decent career at Bristol City and Blackburn and then the US.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

How low can you go..?

My first new player was number 669, Gary Penrice, in 1991.

I assume you mean seeing their Villa debut, rather than the player that goes back furthest that you have seen at any time in their Villa career.

#518  Peter Broadbent making his debut for us v Sheffield United in 1966.

https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/peter-broadbent

[Exeter 77]

Was it Cox that scored the first ever League goal? An own goal for Wolverhampton.

Yes, in Villa's first ever League game which finished 1-1.

[algy]

How low can you go..?

My first new player was number 669, Gary Penrice, in 1991.

Number 668 was Dwight Yorke but he'd already played for Villa, twice the season before under Taylor, before my first visit to Villa Park. In fact Penrice was the only player signed by Venglos (not counting the famous Ivo Stas who never played).

Lowest number seen: 582, Sid
Lowest debut I can remember: 667, Tony Cascarino
Actual lowest number debut: 653, David Platt

[Scratchins]

Lowest number seen   396 Johnny Dixon
Lowest debut              475 Harry Burrows

[cdbearsfan]

582 is my lowest, I'd imagine will be for a few people. Nigel Callaghan at 659 lowest debut I saw, separated from 660 Ian Ormondroyd on alphabetic order. Seems like most of our debutants in my first season played their first games away or in night games that I wasn't yet allowed to attend.

[AV82EC]

How low can you go..?

My first new player was number 669, Gary Penrice, in 1991.

Number 668 was Dwight Yorke but he'd already played for Villa, twice the season before under Taylor, before my first visit to Villa Park. In fact Penrice was the only player signed by Venglos (not counting the famous Ivo Stas who never played).

Exactly the same for me, there was probably nearly a whole season between Yorke and Penrice making their debuts which in the modern era seems bonkers. It seems mad now that a new Manager coming in made no new signings (the Stas debacle aside).

[Villan For Life]

Of the players that I saw play then Sir Brian is my first at number 555 so I’m happy to have a club legend as my pick.

Thinking of debut appearances I think mine must be Peter Withe at number 615, saw him at Leeds in 1980.

[cdbearsfan]

Fewer subs in those days plus everyone played their first teams in virtually every game. Even in the Simod Cup we only ever had one player who didn't also play in the league (Alan McLoughlin, if anyone cares).

[MorrisNielson]

I have deliberately kept my powder dry on this as I had been informed the club would be putting something out this summer. Us like-minded individuals have been ticking the players off for the last few years knowing the 1000th player was not far off. Its all not quite as black and white as it should be. What we have for a better word is ‘legacy issues’ from the two main sources: Tony Matthew’s first edition Complete Record & Micheal Joyce’s Football League Players' Records. I’m glad the club have gone with this number, as I believe it’s the most accurate. The major wrinkles have been ironed out. Reading the list this morning I have sighed a few times at the few first names that didn’t get updated, but you can’t have everything. Overall, I’m quite happy the club have published the list.

[AV82EC]

Fewer subs in those days plus everyone played their first teams in virtually every game. Even in the Simod Cup we only ever had one player who didn't also play in the league (Alan McLoughlin, if anyone cares).

Yep, the modern penchant for it being a squad game with virtually a whole team of reserves on the bench has changed things somewhat drastically. 115 years to get to 660 odd then 35 years to get to 1000.

[PeterWithesShin]

Charlie Aitken for oldest player seen.