Honouring Ron Saunders

[MotoMkali]

4 hours ago, hippo said:

Yeah tag on with " @ bet 365" and we could make a few quid in sponsorship as well.

If it was 2017/18 we could have had 'Do you want to unibet against us?'

[MikeMcKenna]

Ordinarily I am against the deification of players or individuals. However, I make two exceptions: 

Peter McParland who 60+ years after scoring two to beat Manure in the FA cup final, attends Villa Park every time he can and........

Ron Saunders who brought more happiness to Villa fans in living memory. 

Naming the North Stand for him would be an insult. Needs to be the Trinity or even better the Witton Lane stand to remove the current stain.

Edited December 14, 2019 by MikeMcKenna

[Five Ken McNaughts]

The Trinity Road stand is such an evocative Villa name, I would be sad to see it changed. And while the North Stand carries no such fondness (and is the only part of Villa Park to remain from the Ron Saunders era) it would feel a bit like personalising a chipped mug. My personal preference is for a statue outside the Holte End (with the potential for it to be moved to a redeveloped North Stand – named the Ron Saunders Stand – however many years down the line that may be).

Edited December 14, 2019 by Five Ken McNaughts

[OutByEaster?]

Please do vote on this poll - the more votes we have, the more influence the result will have on the club.

 

[Davkaus]

On 14/12/2019 at 11:35, Five Ken McNaughts said:

 And while the North Stand carries no such fondness (and is the only part of Villa Park to remain from the Ron Saunders era) it would feel a bit like personalising a chipped mug

I couldn't agree more with this. I brought a mate along to a game last season, he's not a Villa fan, and we could only get seats in the north stand. It was honestly embarrassing. It's a complete shithole, and not something I want Ron's name anywhere near.

I can just imagine the name being unveiled with his family thinking "oh, they picked the shit one".

A statue would be fitting. Failing that, rename one of the suites?

Edited December 16, 2019 by Davkaus

[Rob182]

On 14/12/2019 at 02:12, MikeMcKenna said:

Ordinarily I am against the deification of players or individuals. However, I make two exceptions: 

Peter McParland who 60+ years after scoring two to beat Manure in the FA cup final, attends Villa Park every time he can and........

Ron Saunders who brought more happiness to Villa fans in living memory. 

Naming the North Stand for him would be an insult. Needs to be the Trinity or even better the Witton Lane stand to remove the current stain.

This is why I voted the 4th option.

[mjmooney]

Why can't we vote for more than one? A stand name AND a statue, please. 

[rodders0223]

Rename the Doug Ellis stand.

[GarethRDR]

48 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

Rename the Doug Ellis stand.

This and a statue.

[SuffolkVillan]

Like some others have said, my ideal would be a statue and when the North Stand is replaced the new one bears his name.

[Mantis]

2 hours ago, rodders0223 said:

Rename the Doug Ellis stand.

This would be my preferred option too.

And then we can rename the North Stand after Salifou.

Edited December 16, 2019 by Mantis

[V01]

3 hours ago, mjmooney said:

Why can't we vote for more than one? A stand name AND a statue, please. 

Rename the Doug Ellis.

[LondonLax]

6 hours ago, Davkaus said:

I couldn't agree more with this. I brought a mate along to a game last season, he's not a Villa fan, and we could only get seats in the north stand. It was honestly embarrassing. It's a complete shithole, and not something I want Ron's name anywhere near.

I can just imagine the name being unveiled with his family thinking "oh, they picked the shit one".

A statue would be fitting. Failing that, rename one of the suites?

This is my thinking as well. If we rebuilt the stand and named it after him that’s one thing but picking the run down stand and adding his name would be pretty disrespectful. 

[maqroll]

I think the club needs to redesign the North Stand ASAP and name it the Ron Saunders Stand. 

[avfc1982am]

My point in this would be that any redevelopment of stands would probably require renaming due to offsetting costs which would imo take any shine off his name being used. For example, 'The Ron Saunders Brand Name Stand'. Doesn't feel right. It would also be quite some way off happening.

I think a statue commissioned by the club and funded by all would be a wonderful way of paying homage. Maybe even a duel statue with him and Barton would be pretty cool too. Something like them sitting together in the dugout(No dugout obviously, just a bench) would be class. Life size figures that everyone could take photos next to. between the stairs at the bottom of the Holte.  

[The Fun Factory]

At the moment I would prefer a nice statue in front of the Holte End. Renaming the worst and most worn out stand at Villa Park to our greatest manager (if Ramsey is seen as a secretary rather than manager) would be a bit naff. If we do build a new north stand then rename it the Saunders or Rotterdam stand.

[Guest av1]

Whatever people's thoughts about the Witton lane stand they are never going to take Doug's name off it imo. 

Back on topic. Rename the North stand. 

[Dave-R]

The Ron Saunders Villa Park, has a nice ring to it I think and that would be Honouring him in my eyes. If we can't take it that far then I think a statue would be lovely.

[DaveAV1]

I think we should name a set of goals at one end The Ron Saunders Goal. That set should be 110% of the normal size and should always be the end which we are attacking. 

Edited December 16, 2019 by DaveAV1

[nick76]

Witton Lane should be renamed.  I have no dislike for Doug but didn’t think at the time he should have it and still don’t now.  I know it won’t happen though.