One of my favourite H&V features is the fives that are usually on the inside back cover (I`m old fashioned in thinking that there`s still a paper copy of every edition somewhere). I`ve written my own list of fives, but they`re a bit more Villa-inspired than the usual obscure eighties bands and Albanian bank holidays that get put out.
Heroes:
Paul McGrath. The most obvious. From the first time I saw him (that friendly against Hibs) to the last (Helsingborg away) the great man was class personified. I don`t have to tell anybody who saw him play how good he was and if you didn`t see him you pretend you do because you don`t want to be left out.
Brian Little. When the role of great Villa moments is called out, he`ll be right in with the best. Hat-tricks in semi-finals, winners in cup finals, sheer and absolute magical talent. He wasn`t a bad manager either, and when the call came once more, he answered. We will never see his like again.
Dennis Mortimer. For years he was as good as any midfielder in the country. The most important moment of winning the league was his goal against Liverpool. And he picked up the trophies. The greatest photos of all time and they`re of him. Not only that, but from that moment on he`s made it obvious that he doesn`t give a toss who he upsets. Total, utter respect.
Bruce Rioch. Heroes are like loves; you never forget your first one, even if they do break your heart eventually. He got called all sorts when he left but we soon realised that for years he`d been too good for us and the only reason he stayed so long was because we were Aston Villa. Nobody since the King has ever hit a ball as hard, or so well.
Peter Withe. History has treated some players better than others, and for some inexplicable reason Withey`s in the latter camp. His exploits get overlooked now, with one exception, but during those two glorious seasons more than anyone he was the man. Not only did he score goals but he was the player who had the strongest bond with the fans. Maybe it`s because he`s kept a low profile for years, but whatever the reason a serious revision is due.
How to get more H&V:
1) Digital-only Subscription
Buy the digital edition of Heroes and Villains for access on your computer and mobile devices, including an archive of back issues dating back to 2013.
Digital-only link: https://shop.exacteditions.com/heroes-and-villains
2) Branded App
Buy a subscription to the digital edition of Heroes and Villains on your mobile device. You can download it from the App Store here: http://appstore.com/heroesandvillainsthevillafanzine
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