The Aston Villa Greatest Ever Team – Part 2: midfield and strikers


In the first part, we looked at the payers laying claim to be Villa’s greatest ever goalkeeper and greatest defenders. Based on a 4-4-2 formation, it’s now time to consider the four midfielders and two strikers who have gone down as claret and blue legends, deserving of official recognition as Aston Villa GOATs.

In terms of midfielders, there has been quality wherever you look down the years. From the likes of Frank Moss and Vic Crowe in the 1940s and 50s, through Alan Deakin, Bruce Rioch and Frank Carrodus in the 60s and 70s, we have had some top-drawer talent in the middle of the park.

More recently, the likes of Des Bremner, Mark Walters, Tony Daley, Ian Taylor, Lee Hendrie, Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov have all distinguished themselves in our famous colours.

But there can be only four, and two of them pick themselves. Not only were they League champions in 1981, but they were also key men in the European Cup win the following year and racked up well over 900 appearances between them in Villa colours.

‘Sir’ Dennis Mortimer and Gordon Cowans speak for themselves. Mortimer was a Christmas present to the fans, joining on Christmas Eve 1975 and racking up League Cup, League Championship and European Cup and Super Cup honours in his 10-year stay at Villa Park. It is an eternal disgrace he was never selected for England at full international level.

‘Sid’ Cowans was a mainstay of the midfield alongside Mortimer during Villa’s golden era at end of the 1970s and the early 80s. His range of passing was unsurpassed, a classy player who enjoyed three separate spells at Villa Park and he would have made many more appearances (maybe even challenging Charlie Aitken’s record) had he not been blighted by injuries throughout his career.

Choosing wide players is more tricky as the game has evolved down the years with wingers falling in and out of fashion over time. One player takes his place having been part of that ‘golden’ generation which was, to my mind, broken up far, far too soon. Tony Morley was a skilful, nippy winger with an eye for the spectacular goal, none better than his Goal of the Season against Everton back in 1981.

Notching up 180 appearances for Villa and winning 6 international caps for England, Morley’s most memorable moment in a Villa shirt was providing the cross from which Peter Withe scored the most famous goal in Aston Villa history.

“Shaw, Williams, prepared to venture down the left. There’s a good ball in for Tony Morley. Oh, it must be and it is! It’s Peter Withe.”

On the other flank, a little more leeway may be needed. Johnny Dixon was a one-club man, accumulating 430 appearances and scoring 144 goals in a 16-year career with Villa, and he remains the last Aston Villa captain to lift the FA Cup. Dixon was an inside forward in old money, so to play him out wide might need a little creative licence.

Peter McParland is another veteran on the 1957 FA Cup-winning side, more at home as a left-winger or a striker than playing on the right. McParland made over 330 appearances in claret and blue, scoring 121 goals and making the Northern Ireland squad at the 1958 World Cup. He also has the distinction of being the first player to score in both an FA Cup and League Cup final.

So, two from three: Dixon, McParland or Morley? Most of our fanbase today are too young to clearly remember, much less appreciate, Dixon and McParland so for that reason alone I think Tony Morley gets a place. His role in our most iconic moment grants him a status few have achieved and his premature departure speaks to another element common with ‘legends’ – what might have been.

The last spot goes to Johnny Dixon – by a whisker. His long service, huge appearance total and his 4-year period as Villa captain just gives him the edge over Peter McParland.

Almost there.

To whittle it down to just two strikers from the dozens (and dozens) we have seen down the years is almost impossible, and certainly unfair on many great players. Eric Houghton (who managed the club to the 1957 FA Cup victory and was also a director of the club), Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring, Gerry Hitchens and Tony Hateley all have outstanding records for Villa.

More recently, Andy Gray, Gary Shaw, Peter Withe and Dwight Yorke are modern-day heroes. Despite dividing fans’ opinions as his career at Villa Park petered out, Gabriel Agbonlahor made over 400 appearances for the club and remains the leading scorer in the Premier League era, achieving cult status for his match-winning goals in local derbies. But a Villa legend? Maybe, but nowhere near good enough to fit into the all-time XI.

Brian Little’s career was blighted by injury and was tragically cut short at the age of 26. That may just have cemented his legendary status at Villa – he was on the cusp of a move to St. Andrew’s when he was forced to ‘hang up his boots’ and maybe would have been remembered less fondly had he completed the move?

Little has remained inextricably linked with Aston Villa ever since he walked through the door as an apprentice in 1969. He won the FA Youth Cup in 1972, the League Cup in 1977 and again as Villa manager in 1996. He is still involved to this day as an advisor to the Board and doing honourable work with the Foundation. A Villa legend in the truest sense of the word.

Completing the line-up (and this might not be the most popular or indeed expected choice) is Billy Walker. Most of us will never have seen him play but his record and reputation bestrides B6.

He made 531 appearances (second only to Charlie Aitken) and scored 244 goals – he remains Villa’s all-time leading goalscorer, just ahead of Harry Hampton’s 242. He was born in Wednesbury and joined Villa in 1915, remaining there until his 1933 retirement. He captained club and country, making 18 appearances for England and scoring on his international debut.

So the all-time legends XI according to a highly sophisticated scientific formula [Eh? Don’t you mean ‘show of hands’? Ed.]:

Rimmer, Gidman, Aitken, McGrath, Evans, Mortimer, Cowans, Morley, Dixon, Little, Walker.

The debate continues on the forum – have your say. It’s high time the club fully recognised the legends of our history. The Hall of Fame is a start, but much, much more work needs to be done.

A club museum needs to be created to celebrate our rich and successful history, with the legendary players who have been mentioned in this article (and the previous one) front-and-centre, as well as the numerous others for which there was space.

Aston Villa – by far the greatest team the world has ever seen. Let’s hope the club themselves wake up and recognise this and make significant strides to promote our proud history as they seek to create the bright future previous owners could never manage.

Previous Article by JPA – The Aston Villa Greatest Ever Team – Part 1

It would be remiss of me not to mention our mighty leader’s new book!

A fascinating look at his battles and victories (it says here…)

You can see all the details, how to buy and the reviews at: The Fear.net/ and on Amazon (if you don’t have Prime, it is cheaper to buy directly and means he can donate more to the AVFC Foundation: Amazon and reviews there: Fear Conquers All – Reviews

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