AvfcRigo82 Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Very sad to learn of this. Watched an interesting documentary about him a few months back, As stated already he built the foundations for the club's most successful spell in our history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhavenhibby Posted August 13, 2018 Visiting Supporter Share Posted August 13, 2018 So sad to hear this. Was the Villa manager through a large part of my Villa supporting days through the 70's and have fond memories of following him and his teams in that era. Some great days and memories...........................thanks for that Ron. Thoughts are with him and his family. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted August 13, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted August 13, 2018 He didn't do rotation at all. Won the league with fourteen players. Most of the XI never missed a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhavenhibby Posted August 13, 2018 Visiting Supporter Share Posted August 13, 2018 (edited) Aye mjm.......totally different from the modern squad game. When we turned up to see the Villa we could name the side before it was announced, barring injuries. Edited August 13, 2018 by newhavenhibby 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 My thoughts are with him and his family. I wasn't alive during his tenure but my Dada instilled in me his obvious importance. Since reading this book... I've really had a good understanding of his talent and significance. I recommend it. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tegis Posted August 13, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted August 13, 2018 1 hour ago, mjmooney said: A great man, and my all time hero. My Dad had Alzheimer's, and it's **** ing evil. I just LOVE that this quote is firmly recorded and saved. I've replayed it 10 times. LEGEND!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krisagg75 Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 next to my immediate family the most important person in my life growing up.the screen saver on my phone and laptop is ron on the town hall balcony holding the championship trophy smiling. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 4 hours ago, mottaloo said: Eammon Deacy (RIP) was a regular 12th man. Reading that team list took me back to my youth on the Holte (left side) when, if we'd lost then my whole weekend was ruined.....and I still had my homework to do on Sunday (Sorry...a bit off topic there) The sub I was thinking of was Nigel Spink. But you’re right we’ve wandered off topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Met him a number of times at BMH - what a man always had time for the average fan - you were still scared to cross him mind. 110% best wishes to Ron & his family 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hooter Posted August 13, 2018 Visiting Supporter Popular Post Share Posted August 13, 2018 Very sad news. When I was a kid I harboured dreams of being a sports journalist, and I wrote to Saunders when he was manager of Small Heath to ask if I could do an interview for the school magazine. (I did one with Barton the previous month). Ron's secretary rang me, and off I went to interview him in his office. I had my tape recorder running and he gave me nearly an hour of his time, answering every question I asked. At the end I turned off my tape and we chatted for a few minutes, during which he uttered the legendary phrase "yes but everyone in football knows Gary Newbon is pig ignorant". Off I went to write up the interview, and couldn't resist including that quote. Once published I sent Saunders a copy in the post. I was sitting in a History class a couple of days later when the school secretary hoiked me out of class. "Mr Saunders has been on the phone and wants to see you in his office immediately, he sounded pretty angry" Off I went to catch the No. 8 bus, more than a little concerned. Looking back he did it brilliantly. His secretary gave me a stern look and said "go through". He sat with my printed interview in his hand and said "Gary Newbon is pig ignorant...?" As I shuffled uncomfortably he roared at me that I'd never be a journalist if I didn't respect the privacy of off the record comments (he was right, I never was !) . Once I had stopped apologising he pressed his intercom "send him through". In walked a very serious looking Noel Blake. "If you ever do that to me again it'll be this fella that you'll be dealing with not me...". "Show him out Noel". I proper shit myself, but looking back he was trying to teach me something in his own rather unique style. Wish him all the best. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talldarkandransome Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Both of my parents had versions of this horrible illness. It's very true that you lose them twice. Best wishes to Ronnie and the rest of his family 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Sad, sad, so very Sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withes_shin Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 First Villa manager i remember. The original and still the best. give it 110% Mr. Saunders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIVillan Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 Agree with everyone else - Best Manager we have had. Right Im digging out my copy of Ron Saunders Scrap Book for my reading tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIVillan Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 On 13/08/2018 at 11:00, danceoftheshamen said: Without doubt the best manager we have ever had. What a team he built before he was disgracefully treated by the numpties in charge and walked. Ellis was also a disgrace for practically removing all trace of that teams success as his balloon ego couldn't cope with it presumably as he wasn't in charge at the time and instead presided over 35 years of drudgery & second ratedness which saw us descend from Champions of Europe to multiple relegation's and a couple of League cups. I personally have been waiting, and waiting...... for a team to emerge which is fit to lace the boots of that Saunders team and have seen nothing close in nearly four decades now. So best wishes to Ron and i hope the club do the right thing by naming a stand or erecting a statue of him as the guy is a legend at Aston Villa. Much more of a legend than Ellis who was like a ball and chain around the ankle of Villa for so long despite admittedly rescuing the club in his first tenure. Such a shame to see Ron and his family suffering especially with the football disease (Dementia). I can only thank him for the amazing memories i have of watching that incredible team grace the Villa Park turf and my day in Rotterdam which, although at the time we were managed by Tony Barton, was for certain Ron's team. I remember it like it was yesterday Jimmy Rimmer Kenny Swain Ken Mcnaught Allan Evans Colin Gibson Des Bremner Gordan Cowans (Sid) Dennis Mortimer (Cap't) Tony Morley Gary Shaw Peter Withe Was it not Gary Williams instead of Colin Gibson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danceoftheshamen Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 Gary Williams played a big part too yes. He & Colin Gibson both were great. They pretty much shared the LB spot for a couple of seasons i remember but Gibson played 44 games over the course of the 1980/81 & 1981 /82 seasons with Williams being injured and going on loan to Walsall for a while at some point as i remember too. I just preferred Colin Gibson personally for some reason but you are correct that Williams pretty much took over the position in the European cup season although that was technically under Barton. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIVillan Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 I was only a kid of 9/10 at time just have Williams in my head more than Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dave-R Posted August 14, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 14, 2018 This will be my first post and I think it should be and hello all. Firstly my heart goes out to Ron and his family, dementia is a horrible thing to go through and for family to deal with. My mums partners mother has dementia and she doesn't even know who her own son is anymore. what is really heart breaking is when someone who has achieved so much in life, yet dementia takes place and they can no longer remember there accomplishments/life's work. We can remember for them but it's never the same as the person themselves remembering, those that did what they did for the benefit of others or those who paved the way to make this world a batter place, only to see memory fade, it is such a saddening and heart breaking time when this happens. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withes_shin Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 I recall reading a snippet once about an elderly husband whose wife was in care with dementia and he would visit her everyday to have a chat etc. The nurse said to him one day something like "why do you visit everyday when she doesn't remember you?" He replied "because I remember her" 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinker Posted August 18, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted August 18, 2018 Knew how to get 110% out of the men he had at his disposal, theres very few managers who are capable of thst. His memory may fade but his achievements will live forever, 1874 and he's the best yet ...UTV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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