When Big Ron paraded his eight new signings in the Summer of 1991, few could have imagined the significance many of them would have had on the club, and the intertwined stories and tragedies each would bring to Villa and the fans.
Time also lends us a sadder and more introspective view on those featured here – it is incredibly hard to believe that half of these players are no longer with us. Holte Enders in the Sky, indeed.
As football fans of a certain longevity or vintage, we draw associations with certain players and resonate with others more than some. No matter how long or short your Villa fandom is, however, what remains true is that all of those players who don the claret and blue grab a place (however big or small) in our collective memory as Villa fans. As our own lives progress, those memories grow and diverge as players move on and careers develop.
When Les Sealey joined Villa, it was on the back of winning the Cup Winners Cup with United, so it was no great surprise that he was the starting goalkeeper for the season. However, Nigel Spink replaced him midway through and Sealey never played for the club again. Indeed, my overriding memory of Sealey is him playing against Villa in the 1994 Coca Cola Cup Final after first choice United keeper Peter Schmeichel was suspended. I vividly remember the front of the Sports Argus leading with the fact Schmeichel would miss the game after he was sent off in a league match – clearly perceiving it as a boon for Villa. Sealey was helpless on that glorious day at Wembley, but his presence underlines those strange connections and links football can throw up, further embellished by the fact the goalkeeper he relaced that day ultimately ended up at the Villa too. Sealey passed away in 2001, aged just 43 – the first of this group to leave us.
The League Cup campaign of 1993-94 includes memories of many of these players – not least Shaun Teale and his diving headed goal (and iconic celebration) in the seminal Tranmere semi-final. Signed from Bournemouth, Teale formed a strong partnership with Paul McGrath through the Premier League runners-up campaign and then the League Cup win. Ultimately he was replaced by another, younger defender also in this picture. 147 appearances for Villa is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, and in another twist of the footballer’s journey, Teale left to join the very club against whom he scored that iconic goal – Tranmere Rovers. Last seen ‘modelling’ the club’s 2019-20 third kit based on the legendary green, black, and red Muller away kit from 1994.
Paul Mortimer had already left the club long before the League Cup campaign of 1993-94, making just 12 appearances after failing to establish himself under Atkinson. Arguably the Valley and Charlton Athletic was his spiritual home with 199 of his 265 career appearances coming either side of his brief Villa spell. Incidentally, he is the only player in this picture that I don’t remember seeing play.
It’s easy to forget that Kevin Richardson joined Villa having previously won League titles at Everton and Arsenal – as well as the FA Cup and (like Sealey) the Cup Winners Cup. He was ever present in his first two season at Villa Park and became an integral part of Atkinson’s dressing room and side – ultimately captaining the team. The abiding memory will be of him lifting the League Cup in 1994 – but we should remember he was also named Man of the Match that day after controlling midfield with a panache and industriousness we came to love. Somewhat bizarrely, I was mascot that day at Wembley and will always remember Richardson’s kindness in involving me. It felt a proud day for the club when he won his solitary England cap later that season against Greece. He followed Atkinson to Coventry in 1995 as he made way for another future League Cup winner and all-round cult hero, Ian Taylor in Villa’s midfield. Last seen coaching Newcastle’s U18 academy teams.
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Steve Staunton was signed from Liverpool for what would turn out to be the first of two spells at Villa Park. In the spell beginning with this picture, he made 208 appearances and cemented the left back spot over the Premier League runners up campaign and then 1994 League Cup win. He was also on the bench when Villa beat Leeds at Wembley in 1996 and ‘won’ the Inter Toto cup in 2001 during his second spell. A seasoned Ireland international, it is his international career that also reminds us of the pride we have with those connected to Villa and part of this shared history. In USA 94, along with McGrath and Andy Townsend, the Villa connection with Ireland gave life to a World Cup for which England failed to qualify. I will always be incredibly fond of the Irish white away kit worn over that campaign and ‘Stan’ was a big part of that. When he became Ireland manager, although a little fearful on his behalf, again those Villa links and memories served as a quasi-support and well-wishing.
Of all the players in this photo, Ugo Ehiogu is the player I saw most for Villa and arguably formed a lynchpin to my own developing support. As his career progressed, I could align that with my own fervour. When he died in 2017, I was genuinely shaken and sad, a knock to your own consciousness as those who you have built your own memories and ideas of depart.
My first memory of Ugo is at the best hazy, and at worst made up, but centres on an U21 game Villa played against Inter Milan. I’d somehow ended up in a box, watching this rangy centre back called Ugochuku being shoved up front and scoring a couple of goals. I’d decided he was the best player on the pitch. The die was cast. Latter memories are firmer – another player involved in the 1994 League Cup final campaign, although a non-playing involvement in the Final. When you are drawn to the images and videos of the non-playing track suited players celebrating that final win, you are reminded of the ebullience and freedom of youth displayed in the likes of Ugo and Dwight Yorke. Only made sadder when aligned with his early death.
I was aggrieved when he left for Middlesbrough, but prefer to fondly remember his return to Villa Park in 2001 when he scored for England there against Spain. Incidentally that would rank second in my list of Ugo goals at Villa Park – after the ultimately fruitless 90th minute ‘winner’ against Trabzonspor in the 1995-95 UEFA Cup. A giant of a man sadly missed.
Yet another sadly departed player shown here is, of course, Dalian Atkinson, unlawfully killed by police action in 2016. Atkinson made just 85 appearances for Villa but amongst those are some truly iconic moments that will remain pivotal pieces of Villa history – just ask my 10-year-old son. The MOTD Goal of the Season for 1992-93 was rightly his for the stunner against Wimbledon in the rain, umbrella and all. The partnership with Dean Saunders that developed was my first experience of what a strike pairing could do and was finely captured by the now departed Heroes and Villains fanzine as ‘Deano and Dalian’s Excellent Adventure’ in the style of Bill and Ted. Again, the League Cup campaign is awash with fine and lasting memories of Dalian – of course the Final and the joyful first goal but let’s not forget that crucial consolation at Prenton Park in the Semi Final to make it 3-1 going back to Villa Park, and no less important the only goal in the 4th round away at Highbury in the fourth round, resplendent in green and black. RIP Dalian, another of the Villa family dearly departed.
Last but not least, our final player pictured here is Cyrille Regis. Perhaps best – and rightly – remembered for his exploits at other Midlands clubs, Regis still made 52 appearances for Villa, scoring 12 goals. His picture still hangs in the Academy building at Villa Park, visible for all to see in the Family Fun Zone, an important reminder of a genuine Midlands footballer and stand-up bloke. Another Holte Ender in the Sky, Regis left this earth in 2018.
Of course, we can’t forget the other Atkinson in this picture – then manager, Ron. He probably deserves a piece all of his own, and despite the blurring of his legacy more recently following comments about Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly, he remains fondly remembered by Villa fans. My own favourite soundbite from Big Ron – of which there are many – was when discussing playing United in the aforementioned League Cup Final; “I tell you something – we’re a better team than that Legover Warsaw that they played in the Cup Winners Cup”. Hard time predicted for United then and we all know what happened. And that was Big Ron.
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