I sit here still pondering on just how Villa got to its current state. Reflecting even further, I also wonder if anything has really moved on since 1945, nearly 70 years ago. We can point to short periods of success of different qualities in the 1970s/80s and mid-1990s, and one or two other good blips, but the really good years only amount to some 15 years out of 70 years. Okay, I’ll be generous and say 18 years to include the 3 x 6th-placed years under O’Neill.

That’s 25% (mixed and flitting) worthwhile results since World War Two. Boy, this “sleeping giant” has certainly slumbered! And slumbered so much that it’s mostly been out of touch with the rest of football development, particularly since 1961, the year when football was turned upside down. Even the year itself could be turned upside-down (to read the same)! It was the year when modern football really started.

It was in 1961 that a professional footballers’ strike was threatened. At the 11th hour, the authorities climbed down and agreed to remove the fixed wage structure that had been operating for 60 years. Aston Villa opposed that move, but that was a bit rich as Villa opposed the introduction of the fixed wage structure in the first place (in 1901), and chairman Fred Rinder was always an ardent opponent of the system. He fought for years to have the system abolished. After all, Villa had carried all before them in the 1890s partly because they were paying their players higher wages than pretty well any other club.

Villa, after all, was the first Superclub.

For those that are interested, some of Villa’s top players got £6 per week in 1900 – an income that in those days was on a par with what the best people people were earning in the traditional professions. The typical players’ wage in the top-flight, however, was then £3 or £4 per week.

Villa had to develop different methods to find success in the early 1900s, as they did in the 1960s. The difference in the 1960s was that Villa did not have a board that was properly football-savvy nor commercially aware; they had somehow dragged Villa through the years since 1945 and were unable to bring in sufficient extra revenue to pay the higher wages to attract top players from 1961. The likes of Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea and Spurs thrived and also made sure they had effective youth development schemes while Villa effectively dropped theirs (in 1962) to keep costs down! Even the training ground went to save on expenditure. In 1964 Villa managed to sell star youngster George Graham to Chelsea for £5,000. He thrived at Chelsea (under Tommy Docherty) and then Arsenal, and for Scotland. Villa could have claimed at least £25,000 for him (which was then a going fee for such a young and talented player) but the board did not seem to have a clue.

Villa was known to be a homely club. But the custodians had become too comfortable in their seats. They sat and gloried in the fame of times past. Well, the chairman (Chris Buckley) had played in the 1910 championship team.

After Rinder died in 1938, Villa seemed to go to pot. Stories of financial wastage and lack of foresight were common at Villa Park from the 1940s to the 1960s. After manager Joe Mercer was sacked from Villa in 1964 for no fault of his own and after being very ill, he said “We always seemed to be worried about money at Villa.” Properly backed, Mercer led Man City to the championship in 1968 and the Cup the following year.

In the years to 1961 and after, Villa’s board believed in their version of the old way of doing things, even to the extent that after Villa suddenly and unexpectedly won the Cup in 1957, Eric Houghton (then the team manager) was not even invited to the head table at the club’s subsequent celebration dinner. And they didn’t even pay him the bonus that had been promised to him by the previous (late) chairman if he won a trophy.

Houghton said afterwards: “We won the Cup, but the board then didn’t seem to know what to do”.

We all know about the wonderful revolution at the club in late 1968 and the remarkable recovery that saw the League championship and the European Cup being won by 1982, but then Doug Ellis took over (again) and caution ruled once more as the club was substantially in debt and was suffering decreasing ‘gates’ because of the recession of the time. Miopic vision again became entrenched when Doug Ellis brought in his own henchmen onto the board. The promise of the 1990s now seems to have been an accident and probably only came around as a result of Graham Taylor’s work, quickly followed by the extra cash being available in the then newly-established Premier League. The appointment of Ron Atkinson and then Brian Little as managers helped to work some wonders.

More money became available after Villa was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1997, but despite the additional income obtained from Yorke’s sale, substantial player investment seemed to be difficult for Ellis, despite his stated ambition to win the League. By 2001 the gravy-train had largely come to a halt, although money had somehow been found to re-build the Trinity Stand.

Forty years on from 1961, in June, 2001, The Times (in writing about the then-big Gareth Southgate dilemma at Villa) declared: “Many believe that his stance reflects [the fans’] own disillusionment with a nondescript club.”

Nowt changes much, does it? That Villa could be referred to as “a nondescript club”, I mean. Thirteen years on and that description can still be applied, though Villans would not use that term. Villans, understandably, prefer to use more positive terms like “a sleeping giant” rather than use a term that might seem derogatory.

Yet, within that often very sad and often mis-managed most recent 70-years-worth of history, there have been the moments that remain with us and will for as long as we live. These moments have been enough to sustain us and cause us to believe that Aston Villa is a football club that is worthy of regeneration and is able to act as a standard bearer for Midlands football. And – I have to say it; it’s the bottom line after all – we love the club.

Wanted: one custodian with empathy and ability to put it all right. Financial rewards: none.

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John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.

Comments 108

  1. Trinity

    Hello, John.

    Your knowledge of Villa’s and English football history is impressive.

    Thank you for the real perception of Villa’s history so well expressed in your leader. True, there probably won’t be any financial reward for any would be custodian. Nevertheless who really buys a Prem League football team to turn a profit?

    Amen to a wealthy, empathetic and football savvy custodian for Villa. It would do the midlands a world of good.

    UTV

  2. Frem

    You know your shit John 🙂 Fair play

    I saw a few days back that we are the 4th most successful English club which I never new. Chelsea are only one trophy away though from becoming level with us which is sad becasue they have no history. Dam it would have been great to win the League cup to keep that going

    I’d like to think the new owners will be in before the WC but its gone dead at on that talk. After seeing that Chelsea are only one trophy away, I want to win more then anything now and hopefully have long term sucsess with a new owner who knows hows to run a club and has good backing to keep us winning

    we can dream

  3. John Lerwill

    Frem: I saw a few days back that we are the 4th most successful English club which I never new. Chelsea are only one trophy away though from becoming level with us…

    How so, Frem. I have Villa down as having won 19 major domestic trophies, while Chelsea have won 14.

    OK, I’m not including European successes in those figures, but I think Villa is still somewhat ahead.

    And, of course, Villa’s trophies were spread over 110 years. Chelsea didn’t start winning anything until 1955 (nearly 60 years ago). They’re still babies! 😉

  4. steamers75

    Hi John , real good write -up ,
    about 17 years ago l nearly bought coleshill town , l sat talking to a few mates on a sunday and we had been over to Holland to play some of the teams over there , one team was Ajax and the team we played were made up of players who never quite made it , but were a good team , we drew 2-2 , but what surprised me was this team belonged to the proffesional team Ajax and we went into their clubhouse and it was a family affair , there were 2/3 year-olds just playing in the sand pits and the parents were eating/drinking in the club house and you could see how close it was ,although we couldnt put names to them at the time but a few of the proffesional players were there mingling , that was what l thought l could reproduce at Coleshill , even to this day there is nowhere for the kids/youths to go up here , l was told it would be around the £800’000 /£1000’000 and my wife said she could raise that but she would have to look all through the books , so we started the process and l spoke about the ideas l had (Ajax)and the stumbling block was , the idea l had about building a bigger clubhouse to house the family idea l had — no go , the place is out in the sticks so l couldnt see a problem but some of the land was owned by the council and l couldnt get through to them , l explained l wanted to get the kids off the streets as well as getting the locals involved with the team/club but these councilours have their heads so far up their arses l was wasting my time , so l just gave up the idea , , this town is expanding now and still nowhere for the kids /youths , oh hum ,

    lm thinking of moving now as l heard steamer is looking to move up here ,
    and no l wouldnt join a villa fan consortium , to many chiefs ……….

    fucking rain !!!!!!!!1

  6. John Lerwill

    S75:

    Wow!! What a story!

    Your vision is something my wife and I share … we’ve said that we’d like to buy a small club on the very lines and for the purpose about which you’ve spoken. We’ve never had chance to follow it up because of health issues (mainly hers).

    But I think you have another point. That is, that taking over an dputting right a Premier League club is an altogether different ballgame these days. Ideally we will get a new owner who can empathise with the fans in the best sense, and make shares available for the fans. But will we?

    It’s certainly not a task for the feint-hearted.

  7. steamers75

    JL
    shame that mate . that we didnt have something like this to get to know each other then ,
    it wasnt something for me to be the Big I Am ! as a kid we had youth clubs, scouts ect , now theres nothing really for the kids , and the clubs there are cost money , l know because my daughters dance school cost a bloody fortune when you added the fees and costumes , same with her kickboxing class , l had a word with the owner about him giving a couple of kids free lessons , thankfully he did and one has become a champion,
    onto professional clubs , one of our lot owned Northampton Town , thing is he was always in the box sitting with Doug at villa park , and it caused a riot down there and one time we had to go down and have a word with some of their fans to lay off , and we got him to sell up , they were going to hang him , and to be honest l love the bloke but he was wrong ,

    sorry to hear about your wife , all the best

  8. steamers75

    JL
    was just thinking ,its a shame we never met before and got this football club thing going as we could have took some of the lads and lasses off this site to help out , obviously we would be co-chairman and we would need a board (to pin the notices on ) and Jenny would be …. well just there looking gorgeous xxxx

    SWW could have been the club mascott – coco the clown for the kids ,(wouldnt need an outfit either )
    Frem – maintenance lad and on saturdays he could be the topless barman for the ladies ,
    Brazil -could be our agent for sending some samba kids to join our football team ,
    Prox – well we would have to find him a nice cosy chair for in a corner and make sure he got a guinness in his hand , so people would know the club is open , and maybe just like Betty’s hotpot in corrie , he could knock up a Irish stew (what ld give for a bowl of that now ) , (why do l get the picture of father Jack in my mind whenever l think of Prox!!! ,)
    Runtins- could sort some entertainment nights with his Talented family ,
    Mark – we could have a Boogie night as well
    Matt- keep the website up to date and the programes , and do a disco night (24hour) once a month.
    B62 -could be our club doorman and part time yob,
    Droyd – could run the burger van
    Steamer could help out with scarecrow duties and keep the birds off the pitch . in between his Village Idiot job
    Andrew P, Andrew S, Bibulus, – could be stadium stewards (would have to wear a moody look though)
    Ian – keep us upto date with new beers ect coming onto the market , and sort out our end of season tour in canada ,
    PP – could be the PA on match days , and bingo caller on a sunday afternoon (for fund raising )

    what an oppotunity we missed

    steamer
    what you mean them 3 named as stewards always look miserable and moody

  9. steamer

    John,
    Great leader, funnily enough one of the things that draws me to AVFC is the thought of the club being restored to the pinnacle of the game, until the last three years i would bet that most footy fans would have a soft spot for our club, unfortunately i would say that most would want us relegated after the way we’ve stank the league out under the two useless Jocks.
    I had a few games for Coleshill, lovely people, just before Ellis sold Villa a couple of disillusioned Villa box holders bought the club and sank a good few ££££ into the club, probably a good decision.

  11. southwestvillan

    ST75,

    I am also thinking of buying a club and using it on you and your old mate Steamer, not a proper club probably one of those virtual clubs like those virtual baseball bats.

    Steamer,

    You never completed a game for Coleshill in fact you never finished a game for anyone.

    UTV

  12. The Droyd

    Not going to offer any of my thoughts on the Villa here, just wanted to say what an excellent article you have written there John and what a good addition you have been to this site.

    steamers75 – Would happily run the burger van 🙂

  13. southwestvillan

    John,

    Another great article and a couple of things caught my eye:

    “but the board did not seem to have a clue”

    “but the board then didn’t seem to know what to do”.

    Seems not much has changed in 50 odd years.

    UTV

  15. John Lerwill

    ST75

    Well organised! 🙂

    Droyd

    Ta, muchly! 🙂

    SWV

    That was exactly my point, mate! 😉 … Even 70 years, I’d say.

    Ian

    My real name is Bonnie Prince Charlie! 😉

  16. steamer

    Perhaps that’s the answer, take over a club and mould it ala Bromsgrove Sporting a true community club who get good crowds. I’d like to take over the mongrels and announce on the pitch that i was closing them down, the ultimate chuckle and cheap at £5.

  17. steamer

    Saw George Graham make his debut versus Liverpool (2-0) stood out even then, sure he scored, the reserves won the Central League that year. We had some potential at VP with the reserves, Lew Chatterley, Graham Parker, Bobby Park, Alan Baker, Chatterley could hit a chud, scored the winner V Man Untied one year with a fantastic volley.

  18. runtings

    Great read John and right up there with your excellent and informative write ups

    Also great artcals and comments i have read since i last posted

    For me taking a club forward and allowing it to realise its full potentail needs two main ingredients – one is a chairman with vision and ambition and a manager that is the right fit for the club

    Chelski and citeh have spent nearing 2 billion between them i believe
    chelski so far has just thrown money at it and have managed to wn everything
    Citeh have spend a huge amount on there first team but are now lookng at one n one out
    Citeh thou have spent 200mil on there acadamy and i hear they won 7 out of 8 lge’s last season so there vision is clear and with strong foundaton unlike chelski who loan out some of the hottest youngsters in europe and end up selling most

    But even though it takes money managers like simone prove that you can get a club to compete by doing the right things in the right way

    With a owner that can invest enough to aquire a quality first team and fight of interest from other clubs by giving there top players the going rate for top class along with a big focus on youth and development you can do what athletico did to chelski which is knock them out of champs lge and thrash them in the super cup

    We as a club are all about missed oppertinities and not getting the balance right within the club
    Hopefully the next owner will bring the right man in to allow the club to begin to finally fullfil its true potential

    sorry for any bad spelling n advance

  19. John Lerwill

    Steamer: Chatterley could hit a chud, scored the winner V Man Untied one year with a fantastic volley.

    It was so, so sad that players like him, Slogger, Withers, Johhny McLeod and some others disappeared into the ether after Villa got relegated. They were great, great servants and in a better team they might (today) be more talked about. Willie Anderson wasn’t bad either.

    Well, the team (the squad) wasn’t so bad actually. It was mainly the injuries that sank Villa in ’66-67, plus the loss of Hateley and Woosnam.

    And, yes, Graham did score on his debut. My dad saw that match (his last ever visit to Villa Park) and came back enthusing about him.

  20. John Lerwill

    Runtings: …We as a club are all about missed oppertinities and not getting the balance right within the club
    Hopefully the next owner will bring the right man in to allow the club to begin to finally fullfil its true potential

    Yes, hoping for the ideal is all we can do really. We can’t mould the owner into what we want; to do the right thing – we have to take what we can get it would seem.

    But this is why i.m.o. it’s so important to have fans involved in the running of the club and/or having the likes of Graham and Ian Taylor to advise the board/owner. If Lerner were to stay and change his approach I would be perfectly happy – but I guess that’s like hoping for Fred Rinder to reappear to proffer his experience.

  21. steamer

    John,
    Hearing Stan Crowther’s died aged 78. Think he was the first man to play in the FA Cup for two teams in the same season. 1957-58 for Villa and Untied.

  22. John Lerwill

    Oh, crumbs.

    That just leaves Sims, Sewell and Supermac from the Cup-winning team.

    Yes, Steamer, you’re right about him playing in the same season for 2 clubs in the Cup. The cup-tied rule was dispensed with to allow Man U to sign him after the Munich disaster. And he played in 2 successive cup finals too – for two different teams.

  23. proxopera

    “why do l get the picture of father Jack in my mind whenever l think of Prox!!! ,)

    Hmmm, is it because you’re a racist bastard who reverts to national stereotypes to make up for the obvious shortcomings in your own immoral personality and because you like hurting the feelings of sensitive souls like me ??

    Anyway , i dont drink that tourist horsepiss, the best microbrewery in Ireland is from my neck of the woods and their award winning stout is too good for mealy-mouthed little toe-rags like you , next time I’m over I’ll bring you over a few bottles of o’hara’s stout eventhough your not worthy.

  24. Jenny Truman

    Evening lifers 🙂

    A splendid article as always from our treasured historian Mr. L and reading about AV’s rocky road reminds us that we can go that way again, a sobering thought indeed. I am still in denial of our situation and prefer to believe we have a buyer.

    IF only we could get an amalgamation of Carl Chinn (for the brummigan history) John L (for the Villa history) Ian Taylor (knowledge and passion) Sheik Monseur (for the doe) and Frem ( for the laughs) oh and a top notch manager.
    Very interesting story St 75 – how great would that be having a football club – and even greater having us lot running it. I can’t get Phoenix NIghts out of my head though when imagining any venture for the Lifers.

  25. Jenny Truman

    John – as for it being a sleeping giant – I still think it is – we have the history – fabulous stadium and training facitlities – the second city location – and the supporters. All we need is the right personnel – it is all ready to go.

  27. Jenny Truman

    Had they ran out of blarney stones when you came into the world Prox – sorry for the racist stereotype – but all the Irish men I have met are silver tongued charmers . There’s always the exception I guess. 🙂 🙂

  28. Andrew P

    Steamer 75, thanks but I don’t think I’d make a very good steward. “You want to run on the pitch? Go ahead and give that gob shite Holt a kick up his fat arse from me.” Again that whole thing about showing people where their seat is. Jesus, How complicated it is? It’s a letter with a number after it. “Do you know the alphabet? Yes. Can you count to a hundred? Yes. Well go and find your own seat you lazy bastard.”

  30. steamers75

    prox
    me racist . l have irish , west indian , scots , italian ,polish , arab all in my family , and when your over let us know , i look forward to this O’hara’s stout , couldnt you post me and steamer some over for the world cup ,(will pay the post ) toe rag ..indeed . l resemble that remark !!!!

    yea jenny , l wanted to buy the old cop shop and turn it into a kind of club for the kids and youths , l wanted a dance school, MMA/boxing , rehearsal room, and games room and room for the parents , but since my B/H l havent got a chance now , mind l could win the lottery , l was worried about my daughter hanging around the streets , so l built a big kind of summerhouse with heating ,Tv , Stereo 3 piece and last week she had 12 mates stop , bit sneaky l know but at least l know where they are and are not getting into trouble costs a fortune in take aways for them and then the caff next day ,

    well all the women are away for this weekend , so lm now off for a 3 day bender ,

  31. Jenny Truman

    st75 – lucky girl . It’s hard letting them go – I’m thinking of getting mine electronically tagged . The younger one is a nightmare and she is only 14. There is this huge audience of boys that follow her around twitter, instagram, snap chat – or whatever it’s called – whereas we only had access to who we met face to face, these days they have hundreds at their finger tips. (if only we had had that :-))

    Prox – so I’ve heard 🙂 and St75 is a dead ringer for Leonardo di Caprio too 🙂

  33. steamers75

    Jenny . mines 14 going on 18 and lv told her when she ‘s 35 she can do what she likes , and l know what you mean with the boys , got to admit l give em a hard time when they come knocking the door ,)) she races me to the door ))

    Prox
    lm going to M& S to get some of this beer , love micro brewery stuff , me and steamer found this beer called Dark once pored it looks like guiness but tastes bloody lovely , thing is we cant remember where we drank it and we havent seen it since , if anyone reading this knows of it let us know , and will you be coming to brum when your over , maybe we could sort a meet up with the rest on here as well ,

  34. proxopera

    Let me know what youse think of it ? I absolutely love the stuff.
    Yeah , I ‘d love to meet up with a few lifers , though it’ll be later in the year, I want to get a match in as well and hopefully a full english in steamers caff. Are the breakfasts complimentary for your irish brethern?

  35. Ian

    So you want a beer competition huh? I’ll put any of a dozen micro-breweries around here up against whatever you can brew in Ireland or Brum. 🙂

  37. Trinity

    Tried a brew called 3 Dogs Brew in York, tasted like munching on pine needles. I was suspicious of the name, wondered what 3 dogs had to do with it, especially after seeing an add for the stuff. There’s 3 dogs standing round a well each with a leg cocked:)
    I like a nice stout or cider on tap. Best Guiness I ever had was at the pub next to the Comfort Inn on Railway St in Brum.
    Nasty Habit. I’m just trying to picture an advertisement for that. It must be okay.

    Have a good day/night wherever you are.

  38. proxopera

    Theese moose-boys are getting obstreperous !

    We were brewing a 1000 years before you lot stopped running around with the arse out of your trousers.

  39. John Lerwill

    Jenny: as for it being a sleeping giant – I still think it is …

    Totally agreed! I was really trying to make a subtle hint to some potential owner that though there appear to be negatives there is great opportunity also … it just requires the owner to be open to the possibilities and how they can be achieved.

  41. southwestvillan

    Jenny,

    ST75 looks more like Leonardo the mutant turtle on this one you have to trust me.

    All this talk of beer and the good old black stuff, I worked over in Belfast a few years back when the troubles were still on and the guys I was working with took us out to a boozer in Bangor and I had the best Guinness I had ever tasted it was like sucking a Badger through a straw.

    UTV

  42. steamers75

    Prox
    l thik Brazil is coming over again later in the year , you’ll get a grand welcome off our caff owner Brendan , Celtic and Athletico Bilboa fan , think he goes to more Athletico games ,
    there’s a micro brewery not far from me called Church End Brewery , , when you go you can buy a coffin shaped glass holder that holds about 10 small glasses which have most of the beers on tap that week and they are numbered , thing is it took me and some mates 3 lots as we forgot what number drink we were drinking , good fun though , l chose R.I.P and was told after my 5th pint they dont usually let you have more but as l was still standing l could have another , typical scenario when l got home , fell asleep and woke next morning with my head in my chinese , l love cold curry next day , )) theres also a good beer pub called the Craven Arms off Gough street , in birmingham center , maybe a good meet up place , who remembers the Greyhound pub on Bath Row , only sold cider , great place , and the monkey house( only cider ! well thats what they called it ) down cato street nechells , where you put you hand into the jukebox to select you record , skinhead moonstomp –Symarip …Always reminds me of Boots ,,,,,god bless mate , he would have loved this site ,

    Brasil if your reading this , your e-mail is not accepting mate ,

  43. steamers75

    SWW
    jealous fuck !!!! l remember that thing you turned up with that you pulled in the Gary owen , and your mom made her stop in the garden shed !!! short memory ,

    steamers gone to get a new car fitted to his exhaust ………

    Jenny xxxxx
    my daughters gonna love me soon , l got these lights that you fit underneath your car and a Klaxon that can play any tune , she hates my car , but l pick her up from dancing and theatre workshop . lol xxxxx

    more beers lads .

    Ian when l first went to Canada there was a iceblue berry cider made by a brewery called Okanhagen ,, thing is when l was over last they had stopped making that one , l drank all they had in Eastside Mario’s in Toronto ,still cant remember how l got back to the hotel , lol

  44. Trinity

    All this talk about stouts and ales is making me thirsty.

    JL + Jenny

    Agree that Villa has a ton of potential. It is a “sleeping giant” in that respect, at least.

  45. steamers75

    does anyone think that with Glazer passing away it will make a difference with his sons running Manure , will they want to carry on , did any of these billionaires know he was on his way out , just a thought

    Trinity
    snap , lm on way to M&S

  48. southwestvillan

    ST75,

    Aagh the Garryowen club one of our old haunts if there wasn”t a fight by 11.00 the bouncers would come in and start one, happy days, the Oirish club in digbeth another beauty then off to the manzil for a ruby and the 200m dash.

    UTV

  49. southwestvillan

    Apparently Malcolm Glazer has never set foot inside mould Trafford what is it with these americans you whack all your spondullux into a soccer club and cannot be bothered to visit, mentalists.

    UTV

  50. DarrenO

    All this talk of drink is making me thirsty, and it’s only lunch time, i’m a cider man myself and wholeheartedly recommened Bulmers aka Magners but Thatchers Old Rascal that I found while in London was also lovely, pity I can’t get it here in Dublin.

    any more ITK moments of inspiration that anyone is aware of, slowly sinking between end of season and start of world cup morbidness and only a rumour of Bill Gates being seen in the Bullring may jolt me out of this.

  51. Andrew P

    Only drink cider on really hot days. We went to Sweden with Villa a couple of times and they served draft pear cider over ice. Really refreshing and just what you need on a hot day after a pint or twelve.

    Otherwise, it’s real ales any day for me. The best thing about a Villa game last season – in fact, the only good thing about a trip to Villa last season – was the guest beers in the Bartons Arms. There was one called Bonobo brewed by a micro-brewery in Nottingham. It was a black IPA – a black pale ale, not sure how that works? – but it was great beer. Really good beer.

  52. B6toBrasil

    Morning Lifers

    S75/Steamer

    I was reading the Vila book Steamers/C Crew etc and it took me on a trip dowm memeory lane.There were 3 or 2????? pubs at te back of NS Station what were there names?One was the Gluepot.what were the others called please?Noses pubs I think.
    S75 you nob,how did you get my (incorrect) email anyway??
    Where is Ged??Jed???Gerry??
    My email villajoeB6@yahoo.co.uk
    Cheers

  53. southwestvillan

    B62B,

    Noses pub was the guilded cage we used to pay it a visit on many occasions when we got bored, shakespears was ours along with numerous others, we used to give the gypos a hovel to go into so we knew where to find them.

    UTV

  55. southwestvillan

    Darren,

    Thatchers do one called Katy which must be drunk cold it is 7.4% and anymore than four bottles gives you the Douglas Bader effect, fecking rocket fuel.

    UTV

  60. southwestvillan

    John,

    Classic film kids playing football in the street — quick here comes the rozzers run for it, all before playstations and computer games what a golden age, kids nowadays never leave their bedrooms unless they need to go out and get more drugs.

    UTV

  61. steamer

    Our first team could do with a few sessions with W.K. Hunt. Funny, i had a few refs with that name.

    Watching Chubby i felt like punching my lappie, one cliche after another, the best being “We’ve all got to pull together.” Wonder if that included Lerner.

    Rather drink Domestos than something call Thatcher’s.

    B6B,
    The Crown was there also The Top Ten Bar ( 60’s That may have been The Glue Pot ) and one with a train theme. Always used The Gilded Cage and The Imperial Hotel.
    Now, The Briar Rose.

  67. steamers75

    Ian
    l can imagine , “just down the road ” over there probably about 200miles lol

    SWW
    l remember your kid telling us about the football in the street and how he used to have to give
    the other kids some sweets to let you play with them , jeez even they saw then you were crap ,

    Trinity
    l have no idea how much manure would be worth but it makes you wonder , if it was just the old man really interested ,

  68. Ian

    200 miles is just about right. People here don’t give a thought to driving 200 plus miles. Even for a lunch date.

  69. John Lerwill

    SWV: kids nowadays never leave their bedrooms unless they need to go out and get more drugs.

    Or to buy a Big Mac. Now 1 in 4 are obese, apparently.

    You wouldn’t have believed that in the 50s …

    That’s “progress” I suppose!!

  70. bibulus

    SWV – Kids nowadays are the first generation in modern history to have a life expectancy five years less than their parents generation due to inactivity. In fact inactivity is officially a bigger threat to health than smoking.
    Take a look – http://www.designedtomove.org/en_US/?locale=en_US – its criminal!

    Keep the beer tips coming boys, enjoying the leffe beer at the moment – only just realised how potent it is though! was thinking i was going soft in my old age.

    UTV!

  71. Jenny Truman

    Evening lifers
    loved the oirish club in Digbeth SWV . Some amazing mad times in there on a Saturday night.
    Roy Keane goes Celtic . Two of the Glazer family want out of Man U
    No news on AV 🙁
    What are klaxon lights ?

  72. Jenny Truman

    That’s shocking reading Bib – but given the low priority sport is given in the curriculum and the sale of school sports fields I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised . It’s v worrying .

  73. Jenny Truman

    Amusing how OS site has an article on Hutton’s international game last night as if he’d never left the place or been training with the kids . Persona non gratis returns . You couldn’t make it up.

  76. steamers75

    Jenny xxxx Klaxon – if you can remember the horn sounds in the 70s which was like a small tune , and the general Lee in dukes of hazard had them , the one l got ,you can play your own tunes over it , lm after the sound of the Borg , Saying Resistance is futile ….lol and the lights are the ones that fit onto the underneath of your car , the ones l got can be one solid colour or like a disco , its just to wind my girl up when l pick her up from dancing , the other girls love my car , she doesnt , xxxxx

    Ian . in the book lm Deano , and my brother is Roff , and if you have read some of Clarky’s comments , l own the hat he’s on about , and if your name is not on it you were not a steamer , l will put it as my avatar , on the villa blog a few weeks ago someone called washy washy ,(spoke to all of them and no ones come forward ) mind you saying “have you heard of the steamers “and baseball bat threat does not go together and if it was one of our lot he would of got slaughtered off the rest coming out with such a statement ,

    Have a good weekend all . l know lm going to ,,,,,,,,,,

    Jenny my love xxxxx

  77. Mark King

    john

    with his knowledge of prostitutes should fit right in in the prem Lambert might even stay but only if we get cheep whores no call girls 😉

  80. steamers75

    Private Eye wrote about him a couple of years ago and l think we could get in the same shit as the noses , similar types , and Trump might want to turn BMH into a golf club

  81. Clive Evans

    Too true Steamer75 – exactly my thoughts on seeing the Twitter link.
    Guess his staff will have a few ‘tricks’ up their ++++++
    Do you think Mr Lerner will give a monkeys where the money comes from afterwards?

    I’m in UK in July but I guess I will miss some pre-season stuff as I return on 24th

  83. B6toBrasil

    Thanks for posting that John.
    Flippin eck,that`s all we need an opportunist wit dubious motives and background.I wrote on Monday there are worse owners than Lerner.Let`s pray this fella doesn`t get his claws into AVFC.

    S75 I`ve sent you a message.

  86. Frem

    If there are 6-8 interested parties than that can only be good, but I still don’t think we will have a new owner come September.

    New home kit coming out on Monday. Still with Macron though

    I see the Nigeria keeper was part of the match fixing with a truly brilliant OG, but it was disallowed. I mean what a twat. All the reports before the game about match fixing you would of thought they would have forgot about it but to throw the ball in your own net after all that… unbelievable

  88. Jenny Truman

    St 75 🙂
    There are now photos of Borat in his mankini as Aston Villa’s away kit and Borat in full Aston villa kit signing contract . Made me laugh – typical villa 🙂

  93. John Lerwill

    Steamer

    Well, I did enjoy it, but it’s a long screed to summarise that…

    To have any chance of competing for even Champions League football (not to mind winning the league), Villa would require the kind of gargantuan investment that is almost impossible under FFP.

    If they unearth any young stars through their academy, they are likely to be prized away by the highest revenue clubs, who can afford to pay the highest salaries.

    The latter para overlooks the Atletico Madrid/Southampton syndrome completely.

    There IS hope … but Villa’s situation will require superb management.

    We’re not asking for much! 😉

  94. steamer

    Typical of AVFC, no news about anything unless you want to waste yer £££ on a season ticket or a crappy shirt. No respect whatsoever for the fans. Even BS is better than silence, dunno though.
    Any decent recipes for quiche or flan ?

  95. muz1

    Steamer,

    Hello mate, I suppose BS is better than silence as we are all use to it by now. If the truth was told we’d probably find it hard to believe anyway after all the years of carp we’ve had to listen to.

  97. steamer

    You couldn’t make it up could you ? the moron who produces the mealies fanzine ‘The Lulu’ gets booted out of UKIP for racism and a UKIP councillor at that, who’s the racist club now dummies ?

  98. @RonnieBiggs

    Hi John,

    Worried we’ll get a chap with loads of dosh but very low morals and no connection to the local area. Under Randy ‘Acorns’ was impressive. If the new owner has a few quid then he’ll surely knowmore about footy than Mr Lerner but is that tattoo of his done in Henna by chance, he lost interest in his new toy pretty fast I’d say…

  99. John Lerwill

    Ronnie,

    Perhaps he saw an edition of the ‘Peaky Blinders’ and then had second thoughts!

    It’s a great shame it didn’t work under RL i.m.o. He has a good living ethos it would seem but totally lacking about running a sports outfit.

  100. steamer

    The longer this farce goes on the more worried i’m becoming. I think Lerner will sell just to get rid of us and it won’t matter who he sells to. Although indications are that negotiations are taking place the signs are that Lambert will stay, how ridiculous ? what has the bloke got to do before he gets booted, its obvious that he’s a lame duck. So how will things improve with another dummy as owner, Faulkner still hanging around and a discredited Lambert wasting even more £££ ? Three years down the line we’ll be in the same boat.

  101. John Lerwill

    Steamer!

    I had to read twice that you had written that! I thought it was a message from Frem!

    Yes, there’;s room for pessimism, I agree, “but what’s the point of worryin’, you know it ain’t worthwhile…” – as they once sang on the Western Front.

    Who knows, Lambert might have learnt from his mistakes!

  103. steamers75

    Prox
    l dont use this term lightly , but that beer is the “dogs Bollox” only downside is that l have to go to M&S to buy it and l have to go the Fort Shopping , l got 12 bottles and l have one left , so easy to drink , l did have to ask a woman (aged about 70 ) if she could see the words O’Hara’s , as l never had my reading glasses with me , so back down tomorrow for some more ,might get steamer a bottle , thanks again mate , pity no other shop sells it , Irish stout lads , give it a go , all the best prox ,

    jenny xxxxxxxxxx

  104. @RonnieBiggs

    John, you’ve finally shed some light on my mysterious link to the Villa.
    ‘Chief Inspector Chester Campbell, a detective in the Royal Irish Constabulary who is sent over from Belfast to Birmingham to clean up the city and purge it of the gangs’
    I’m obviously related to CI Campbell and was sent over/will be sent over to Birmingham many generations later to purge Villa Park of Lerner, Faulkner and Lambert.
    God it’s all so clear…

  106. proxopera

    Glad you liked it S75, It is quite special , aint it ? So finally we agree on something and can converse with something approaching civility , lets not make a habit of it yeah ?Enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

  108. proxopera

    Hey Gibbo ,
    I think O’hara’s marketing are following the trail of ex-pats to promote their beer so I know its in Canada but I doubt its too widespread. check out their website for local suppliers.
    Is stout popular in Canada?

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