This was posted by OriginallondonLion on the Lerner thread and deserves its own post to a true Villa great.
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Tony was hero to Villans of my age. He seemed to have his own personal gravity, less than any centre half, because you would see him jump up before the defender – hover in the air, head the ball precisely where he wanted it to go and come back to earth after the centre half. In the precision of his heading Villa have had no equal since. It helped that Tony had a flat forehead, many of today’s black strikers have a very round skull which makes control far more difficult. Because his heading ability was so good Tony’s footwork was criticised by comparison, but he was no slouch and he improved that aspect of his game with different coaching at Chelsea.
If you were at White Hart Lane for the 5-5 draw you would not forget it. Spurs were London’s best team, Villa’s away record wasn’t good so I travelled in hope rather than expectation. I bought a Villa rosette outside for luck. Ha! On a dusty pitch Hateley appeared in white boots, the looked like plimsolls but were probably tennis gear. Just after half time Villa were 5-1 down – I tore the rosette in half and dropped in on the terrace. The Spurs fan next to me commiserated but more goals seemed inevitable.
Incredibly Hateley scored four goals all with his white boots and had then tucked a goal-bound shot under the keeper which kicked off the line by I think Joe Kinnear. The Spurs fan, a stranger, insisted on buying me a new rosette on the way home.
RIP Tony…i recall that Spurs game. I think John Sleeuwenhoek, Alan Deakin played. Was Colin Withers in goal. Someone remind me who else was in that team. Alan Baker, Harry Burrows, Ron Tindall?
RIP Tony.
I worked with Alan Deakin down Metro Cammel for a while, Langford.
Top bloke.
Badger…thats interesting. My Dad worked there, presuming that you are talking about the Wahwood Heath factory. Used to go to their kids xmas parties there. Late 50s, early 60s
Yes, Washwood heath, mid 80’s.
Great job, but bloody hard work.
It made me laugh working there, because they paid the National award, or as it was still called then, the “war bonus”.
Anyway I digress.
My old man rated him highly and said only Bobby Moore kept him out of the England side but think he had a big leg injury that finished him in the game???
Yes…I think his knee was fucked up. Goes to show how you just couldnt retire after football in those days. Modern players, 4 seasons at the top and they are made for life. Thats what pisses me off about alot of todays players…feigning injuries, etc…how times have changed. My dad passed away mid 70s. He was a carriage builder, and yes your right it was really hard graft.
Jimmy McEwan…Phil Woosnam? Nigel Sims, Charlie Aitken?…fuck me, my memory is struggling, somebody help. Im sure Bill will help me out 🙂
Vic crowe,Geoff sidebottem, Fraser, ron wyle ?
Oh yeah…cheers BB
J slwenokeok. Baker Chatterley, Gray am, Lee, macewan, woosnam Burrows, cannot remember all Langford
Bill…cheers mate. Was Lew Chatterley in our side then? Barry Stobart?….fucking memory. Could easily look it up but wanted to test my memory as well. Derek (mohican) Dougan?
Fuck me remember him when he ran onto the pitch with that haircut the crowd was stunned , I laught my head off.
Bill..yes mate. He had the mohican donkeys years before Beckham. What a character the Doug was. Do you remember that he once sparred with the Brummie boxer Johny Prescott and floored him. 🙂
No, god the Prescott’s live by me every morning he ran passed my house training.
Langford he came to us in 1962, I just came out of the army then and married.
Great article and just goes to show how things have changed.
RIP Tony
sorry mate, never saw the one you posted yesterday but deserves a stand alone one anyway
No worries mate, I was a bit “emotional” and forgot to even say “RIP”.
Very remiss of me.
And yes, deffo deserves a seperate one,
Great post orilonlion,RIP TONY
Another one of our greats gone but will never be forgotten R I P Tony.
Well I hope his relatives do not read this “tribute”……can’t even praise a giant without stupid swearing…and at your ag as well.