Ron Saunders - the greatest

[dave.woodhall]

Going over the H&V archive I came across this and thought it needed a re-release.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2025/02/11/ron-saunders-the-greatest/

[Pete3206]

Bravo!

[dcdavecollett]

Great article. One minor quibble: when Ron walked away we were about eighteenth rather than mid-table.

[olaftab]

18th was mid table in them days🙂

[dcdavecollett]

An interesting view!

[olaftab]

Fabulous  memories.  And yes I was gutted when Andy left and it was truly WTF moment when Ron signed Wkthe. Thanks for posting

[martin o`who??]

Forget naming a stand aftet him, they should rename the entire postcode after him.

[Footy-Vill]

Thanks Great Read! Fascinating really.

Like great players of years gone by it would be interesting to wonder how a great manager would get on with coaching and managing players today .

[Legion]

Done.

[Villan For Life]

That’s a wonderful read.

[ROBBO]

My only visit to Wembley was to see Ray Graydon make the penalty on a rebound. Andy Gray best centre forward i've ever seen. So many memories in that article, many thanks.

[Louzie0]

Thanks, Dave.

[Mister E]

That's a great summary of the greatest period in the club's recent history. I first watched Villa play at VP in 1967 - a game that relegated us to the 2nd tier - and feel immensely privileged to have followed the team home and away during the reincarnation period through the 1970's. Much of what you've written, Dave, captures those halcyon days.
The 1976-77 is still my favourite team, although - obviously - the team of 1980-83 is the most successful.

[Dick Edwards]

That 76/77 side was the real deal. If we’d had a bigger squad, significantly fewer injuries and hadn’t had two League Cup Final replays and a rearranged fixture pileup to deal with we’d have gone very close to winning the league.

[Witton Warrior]

I was fortunate enough to meet SRS twice in the late 70's and, even as a rebellious teen, could not help but call him "sir" something I have never done to anyone since.
He was an absolute force of Nature and I am glad I never had to work for him but by Heaven he made those years fantastic