In 1971 I endured a 15-hour trip to Gillingham on a Wednesday night to see Aston Villa play out a boring 0-0 draw in what was then called the third division. I went to every game at home, and all but two away from home that year, but Gillingham stands out, and not just because of the bloody tedious journey and match. Geoff Vowden made his debut for us that night, which made the whole frustrating experience worthwhile. It meant I had the opportunity to boo when his name was read out on the tannoy system before the match. Vowden, you see, was from the dark side. He was one of them.
I use this to illustrate how deep the attachment of your football club can be. Beyond your immediate family it can be the longest relationship many of us enjoy (or endure) in our entire lifespan. How strong the ties that bind and how much you can loath your rivals.
Well for me, I suspect today will be that day that those ties are forever loosened. Not discarded, I don’t think you ever really do that (although I was once told that a very dear mate and fellow Villan had the word ‘Spurs’ etched on his satchel at school, but he always denied it) but maybe a fracturing of the relationship that means it will never be the same.
Today is the day our Chairman decided to recruit a new manager whose previous job had been to manage over on the dark side. Not just manage, but to the delight of all of us at Villa Park, manage them so badly that he succeeded in fulfilling our dreams and getting them relegated… Twice!!! His other managerial achievements included leading Glasgow Rangers to a record ten games without a win and succeeding in getting Them to finish third in a two- horse race (not to mention a 5-1 humiliation at Villa Park – oh well, go on, mention it).
On the message boards they say, give him a chance. One muppet even comparing it with Cloughie moving from Derby to Forest (which, incidentally, he didn’t do). Oh yes, the Brian Clough that got Derby promoted, won the league and got to the semi-final of the European Cup. Excuse me if I fail to see the direct comparison.
No, for me the nearest equivalent is seeing David Cameron lose the next general election really badly, and the seeing the Labour Party decide to make him their next Leader. We haven’t always made The wisest choices in terms of leadership, but we could surely never be that downright stupid, or deliver our supporters such a kick in the teeth.
I should wish him luck, because he is so deeply disliked even by those prepared to grin and bear it, that he is going to need it. Signing a bunch of cheapskate no-hopers whilst selling our best players, and getting less than 4 points out of the first 3 games and you’ll see the knives out from all those who deep down know this was a ridiculous move by a Chairman and CEO who know little about football, and nothing at all about the culture and values of those of us who have it burned into our souls.
four wins out of five and he’ll be the messiah….
I don’t believe in Messiahs and four wins out of 20 and hecould be out of work. Perhaps Ferguson’ll take him on if he thinks he’s so bloody good!
Nice one randy ha ha ha
Ah Happy Days! I Can Remember When Villa and Halifax Town Were In That Same League!
And me. Standing on the terrace at the Shay (the other end was a grass bank). From memory, we lost 3-1, I recall a ludicrous goal where someone named something like Kirby hit the post, the ball bounced out, hit our goalkeeper John Dunn, on the back of the head as he was diving that late to try to get it, and went in.
Happy days my arse, chased all the way back to the station by skin headed nutters!
great post Bob and if you do not mind will use it on my blog
be prepared for some stick though
Carry on Ian. As a Labour councillor over the last dozen years… it’s water of a duck’s back mate.
Tell you what Bob from Lerner’s point of view he was determined to show who was boss and this meant with few choices what happened is that AM because he will agree to all become the choice.
NOT good enough for us is it ?
Hey Bob; Dry your tears, something to cheer you up, I’ve just been on the Daily Record’s sports blog http://www.Daily Record Sports(I think, but it shouldn’t be a problem googling it)Faulkner your chief executive and McCleish your new manager have a great article on there ,telling the D.R.s readers how confident they are about the new era about to enfold for Birminghams 2nd team. The glory days are on the way back, Big Ecks European,International and Premiership experience will guarantee it; although he didn’t mention his Coca-Cola Champonship league experience. So Bob; happy days.
Oh, I see, it’s football. I thought it was the Tiddleywinks (midland division) over which you were becoming so tired and emotional. Just remind me, Councillor,how old are you exactly?
77
Well then, at your age you should calm down, dear, and pop off to cuba or North Korea for a rest. All this fuss over a footie club – quite ridiculous!
Mind you, to be fair, every man’s hobby is always and forever inexplicable to every other man.
This is definitely true. My father loved horse racing, (including watching the damned nags walk round in circles for half hour before they even ran) my brother went to something called Formula 1 and I’m told some people even watch golf. Strange folk indeed.
In retrospect Steve McClaren probably should have been given a chance. I don’t understand what Randy’s up to.
Yes, I think people would have been sceptical about MacLaren, but at least he wasn’t a proven failure.
and yet McClaren rejected for the reasons we saw when fans heard about AM
I do wonder if AM was a target while back ?
A Fawlty Towers DVD ………………………….. £10
A night at the Comedy Warehouse ………….. £25
Hire Ken Dodd for the evening ……………….£2000
Aston Villa appoint a manager ………………. Priceless
For all those other purchases there’s an MBNA card
Bloody he’ll! I thought Blues were cheapskates, but Ken Dodd, only £2,000 for the night. Incredible.
Hi Bob; I see you have resurrected your old pal Duffers, the doyen of drivel, I know we’re all for free speech, tolerance, etc, but surely he streches the limits of any principles we socialists and football fans have. Cant you impose a rule, stating that participants on this site have to talk sense, and have a little knowledge of the subjects they are posting on, that should surely disqualify Duffers immediately. Here’s a little item to try and relieve the pain and heartbreak over your new manager. My son bought me an official Leeds United mug in a beautiful presentation box, for Fathers Day; I wanted it on display, pride of place on the mantlepiece or in the China cabinet, my wife was having none of it,” the only mug in this house, is sat on the sofa playing with a laptop”, says she, but then what does she know? It looks like your new manager is going to raid the Glasgow Huns for A. Mc Gregor, S. Naismith, S. Whittaker, S. Davies; and with his little mascot Barry Ferguson, so as he predicted/promised, the glory days are returning to Birminghams 2nd team. I’d have thought Bob, that with all the problems that we are going to face fom these slash and burn merchants, all over the country,and with your track record on fighting for your community in Sandwell, and the greater Birmingham area over the years, the wellbeing of your community(seeing as we are limited in what we can do to oppose a reactionary Government like this, in our own areas)would create more angst than the appointment of a new manager to a nondescript, run of the mill football team. P.S. surely that was a windup, the reply to the request from Duffers about your age,surel you aren’t 77.
Your missus beat me to it. The words Leeds United and Mug seem to go so well together.
Bob (aged 82 and a half)
Mr Piper,you are old enough to know better especially at 82 and a half,support your team regardless of who is in charge,the managers and owners will come and go but the club will allways be there, How come you have stuck by the Labour party who have shit on good old reds like your good self far more than the Villa will ever do,and by the way Ron Saunders said to support Mcleish and if its good enough for him it should be good enough for you x
Steve, You’re right, the club is really it’s supporters, the others are just hired hands passing through. But I think over the last week the owner (and his fat pudding of a CEO) treated us with contempt, and I had rather hoped that after
that greedy fat bastardEllis had left, things like that would never happen again.But answer me this: If Hughes was unacceptable for walking out on Fulham, and MacLaren was rejected because he wasn’t popular with the fans… How come we end up with McLeish?
Bob, is there any chance you could tell me what you would have bought to the ‘Good Friday agreement’ table if you were called upon to represent us?
Not really sure what you are asking, Gary, I think by the time the Good Friday agreement was signed all of the negotiations had been completed on the basis of a phased reduction in troop numbers and the early release of political prisoners in exchange for a continued cease fire and a phased decommissioning of weapons. My only argument with the agreement was why it took so long. As we are soon to find out with the Afghans, calling people terrorists and refusing to negotiate is a recipe for disaster.