The men we couldn’t do without – Dwight Yorke

[dave.woodhall]

Dave Collett kicks off a fine storm.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2025/09/07/the-men-we-couldnt-do-without-dwight-yorke/

[Exeter 77]

My memories of the good times with Dwight Yorke have always been tainted by the way he left but this had begun to soften in recent times up until I read his foreword to Richard Sydenham's book Nobody Remembers Second. In it Yorke bleats about not getting the credit he deserves at Villa because of the way he left.

Edit: Modified for a typo which completely changed the meaning of one word.

[Legion]

Done.

[brontebilly]

Yorke was waiting a while to get his chance as the main man. Brave call from Little at the time to bomb out DA when the side was struggling. Forgot about Fashanu's stint!

[Duncan Shaw]

Good article, finishes before he really hit the heights though, the Little seasons where we challenged, top 4, cup semis, winning league cup.
For 3 seasons - his last 2 with us and his 1st at Manure, I thought he was genuinely the best striker in Europe, absolute class!
His leaving and subsequent behaviour did leave a sour taste though, but can there ever have been many better value signings?

[Brend'Watkins]

Most definitely one of the best players we’ve had in my lifetime. He broke my heart like no other in the way he left us. Any fondness I had for him was taken away by who he signed for when we really were on the cusp of something. No surprise that he had a stint with the vile Katie Price. Hope he gets over the fact he will never get a shot at the Villa manager’s job, the fact he felt and might still feel he’s somehow entitled to it is beyond me.

[Lucky Eddie]

Grade I A tw@t

[Nev]

I was very vocal about his talents early on, so was hugely excited with the impact he made. However it made his departure, particularly the manner of it, all the more difficult to take.

It's made me cynical to the point that I just shrugged my shoulders when Joe went and didn't care for Emi's tears.

I just feel sorry for all those who are yet to watch their heroes turn their back on the club.

[cdbearsfan]

Yorke leaving was The Day The Music Died for me. Have been largely ambivalent about the departures of all the others since.

[Rigadon]

If ever a player ruined their 'legacy' with fans it was him.   

[aj2k77]

Also a total waster of a father.

[Ian.]

Yorke leaving was horrible at the time, I was gutted. Platt before him was a hard one to take. Both wonderful players who have been dickheads since leaving.

I have great memories of Taylor and Atkinson’s time here, however I can’t believe and I certainly don’t remember Big Ron buying that many centre forwards!

[PeterWithesShin]

He was fantastic at times, a fave memory is singing us his song at Wembley after the Leeds game. Always struck me as a massive twat though, and I knew someone that spent a lot of time with our players back then and they said he was a twat as well.

[Exeter 77]

Yorke leaving was horrible at the time, I was gutted. Platt before him was a hard one to take. Both wonderful players who have been dickheads since leaving.

Yorke far more than Platt. The kissing Man Utd badge, the assertion Small Heath are the biggest club in the city and times he thought he should get the manager's with virtually no experience or much evidence of the appropriate talent in that regard. Platt in contrast has been mostly silent about Villa.

[Mellin]

Yorke leaving was The Day The Music Died for me. Have been largely ambivalent about the departures of all the others since.

Same. I was only a pup. Would've been about 12. Remember seeing the headline outside the newsagents next to the Moby Dick on Turves Green. Was gutted, as being a kid I hadn't realised how inevitable it was.