Comments for Villa's Greatest Heroes: Gerry Hitchens at http://www.avfcblog.com , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.avfcblog.com Mon, 12 May 2008 10:02:31 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2114/70/#comment-15313 What a player! The amazing thing about his 90-odd goals was that he made most of them himself by dispossesing defenders or by angling his runs from the corners of the box to turn inside the centre-half[no twin centre backs in those days just man for man marking]. The forward line that won the 2nd division title in 59/60 had Jimmy McEwan and Peter Mac on the wings. Jimmy was an old-fashioned Scottish ball dribbler who looked about 44 but had tremendous skill and a bag of tricks; Peter was robust, direct, in-your-face, push and run and a genuine world star. What a combination, they ran defences ragged. Ron Wylie was the inside forward 'schemer' but unfortunately most of his killer passes seemed to go to the rough and ready play-boy inside-left Bobby Thompson who could be relied on to sky the majority over the bar. With steadiness under pressure he would have been the most prolific scorer of the lot because he knew exactly where to place himself in the 6yd box. Great days and this team was effectively the one which won the first ever League Cup in '61.At that stage the youth policy was really paying off with Deakin and Burrows in the squad. What might have been.... - salty Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:29:47 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2114/70/#comment-13974 That game where Villa beat Charlton 11-1 was also the first game my dad ever saw, as an 8 yr old lad. He broke his leg and was in hospital, and who shows up but 3 quarters of the Aston Villa squad, Gerry Hitchens included. They offered him the chance to watch the game, and since that day he's been a Villa fan, and even inspired me to be one from the age of 1 day. ;) - Dizzy Mugs Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:32:50 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2114/70/#comment-13784 i saw this guy play,whilst i was only a youngster my self but have great memories of standing on the witton bank watching gerry hitchens the goal machine,it was just a shame the new england manager refused to play him but we all know what alf ramsey acheived, the rest is history i also remember signing derek dougan who later became a wolves great. villa were living on past memories a bit like today, but oh what memories not all good though i.e relagation to the 2nd and then the third division - oldman villain Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:25:42 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2114/70/#comment-13782 thanks, another very entertaining article - ohiovillan Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:52:51 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2114/70/#comment-13781 Awesome stuff. Had never heard of the guy before now and feel quite saddened that not more is made of the story of this prolific player. - Luke Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:49:50 +0100