Brilliant interview - and Thanks Big Ron for such happy memories. One of The Villa's greatest managers, who left the Villa to soon..... All the best Ron UTV
Big Ron is an absolute legend. We need to see more of him. As a black man, I have to say that he has done far more for integrating black players (and fans) into the English game than anyone else. He almost single handedly changed the culture in this country. There’s no question about that. He is Mr. Diversity. Thanks for the interview.
Thanks for your comment but I believe that a man should be judged by his actions, not just words. Of course he shouldn’t have made those comments but I’ve known so many people throughout my life who are trained to say all the right things, but do absolutely nothing to help diversify in this country.
One of my favourite ever episodes. Loved Big Ron’s time at the Villa - brilliant memories. Thanks for doing this one lads. Amazing trip down memory lane 😊
Such happy days - I know it’s no longer PC but I can’t help thinking “big fat Ron’s Claret & Blue army” - massive memories and one of my favourite managers and times as a Villa fan… Be well Ron UTV 🦁💪
I don't half get some funny looks when i do occassionally sing that 'un - but ppl join in. It ain't often, ofc, but when the oldies come out, that's alwaysi n there
Brilliant mate. I still sing it. Did all home and aways under Ron. Sheff Wed away - his first game - we sang Big Fat Ron’s Claret & Blue Army” for about 45 mins solid prior to kick off. The Wednesday fans just started cheering us in between.
I am a 57 year old Villa fan can just about remember the 80/81 season and 82 Saunders and Barton sides but Rons era was my favourite, we had great players during his time but he attracted them to the club, he is one of Villas best managers and he remains my favourite and he is a nice guy aswell. Thanks for the great memories Ron they were good times to be a Villa fan.
Sadly there aren’t enough characters like Ron in the game today. He’s aging but he’s still got it. I’ve always said the same as him about the 92/93 season regarding Dalian getting injured and the introduction of Fergie time in that Sheff Weds game they won. One of the games charismatic managers for sure. Great to watch and listen to him like this.
True Legend. He was my first manager as a Villa supporter. Brings back a lot of memories from the time. Great interview and nice to see him doing well.
Absolutely brilliant interview. Love Big Ron. He was manager when I started my love for Aston Villa so he will always have a special place for me. Keep up the great work
Great to see Big Ron looking so well. Loved his time as manager, and the Sheff Wed game is still one of my best Villa days. Big Fat Ron's claret n blue army. Thanks for the memories Ron. UTV
Legend, loved the first game at Sheffield and then in the season was a brilliant journey, seeing Dalian score in the soaking rain at palace ground they let Wimbledon use at the time, winning at Liverpool was great but going to Wembley and stuffing Utd I will be eternally grateful sir Ron 💙💜
As a Liverpool fan always had a gruding admiration for Big Ron (exc. Man Utd tenure), what a truly fabulous career in football as player & manager alike. He oozes charisma and respect, for a man in his mid eighties he's as sharp as a tack, incredible memory bank of recalling players, teams and endearing story after story, just in awe of the man. One of the very best interviews with a former manager hugely respected by his players, clubs and fans alike. Stay well Big Ron and to the interviewer sensational work, huge kudos and congrats 👏🏼
United fan here: I watched most of my football under Ron. What a gentleman. Had time to talk to my boys when we met him in Dubai a few years ago and we shared stories of the 80s. To me a legend and thanks for this excellent interview.
Met Big Ron at the Blues one evening when he was United's Manager during a League Cup match. We were in the sponsors box and he joined us with Lou Macari afterwards. Really impressed me. Years later I bumped into him at our golf club in Bromsgrove and more recently in the village near his home where we collected our newspapers in the morning. Always a smile, loved talking football. We are both old men now but he is a giant amongst football characters.
Great to see Ron in conversation ..met him once at a book signing few years back ..was a pleasure to meet him ..top bloke ..I wish him all the very best
I was at the 1-4 Sunderland match at Roker. Fair play to BIG RON, he’s right - absolutely battered Villa and lost. Bosnich was Unbelievable! 10/10 performance.
"BIG FAT RON'S CLARET & BLUE ARMY! AVFC"🎶 Great interview chaps. Appreciated this, Ron made so many memories for us, a good man & a great era for Villa. I got a story about that sheffield Wednesday game from my dad (r.i.p) & brothers who went. I was too young for away games back then incase of trouble n that. ✌🏼💜💙UTV
Story time. After the game on the way back to the car some Sheffield weds fans called them "Villa w⚓️'s, f off" or something like that & my eldest brother sarcastically shouted back "3-2, Ha ha ha", they didn't like it & followed them back, as my dad,bro & a guy called cod Eye I think were walking through an alley they got jumped by these chaps, 5 vs 3, bear in mind my other brother & his friend was at the chippy around the corner, my dad grabbed one by his belt & filled him in, eldest brother went for the big guy & rammed him up the wall & punched his knackers in then my other bro who was at chippy came back, saw what was going on & ran to help, he had a big bottle of coke in his hand from the chippy & smashed it over one of their heads & coke went everywhere, the guys then ran off after being humbled. Great days lol I always remember this story as it was funny. 💜💙
I am 54 now and living on the other side of the world but listening to these memories, I lived through all of these as a Holte Ender and they were some of the greatest memories of my life supporting my team. We were effing amazing
I love 'Big Ron'. I was a season ticket holder back then, Villa Park was like a fortress during his reign. If the opposition lost the ball, they had a hell of a time trying to get it back. Such an exciting time back then, and it looks like those times are returning.
Great times.Was season ticket holder stood on the Holte in them days.Saunders never scored on his debut versus Leeds.Well i think he had one disallowed!
Wonderful interview, I could listen to hours and hours of this.....but small claim to fame - I actually saw Ron playing....AND at Villa Park! On 31/03/1970 ...Ron played for visitors Oxford in a 0-0 draw, a game we were desperate to win to avoid relegation from the old Second Division (now the Championship)..crowd - 30,000...crucially we had a shot cleared off the line. Then the infamous away game at Leicester when a shot beat Shilton in goal but bounced back out off the stanchion, we lost 1-0, good chances created, shot cleared off the line again, shot hit the post. Won the final two home games 2-0 v Boro and 1-0 v Sheff Utd but Charlton sent us down two days later when they beat Bristol City 2-1...in those days, the final games were not synchronised as they are today. Yes, it was the horror season 1969/70, the worst ever in our history, simply could not score goals to win games...and rooted at the bottom of the table from the start of the season. As a 12 year old, the shame and humiliation was beyond belief; there would have been sheer disbelief if someone had said............ ''Don't worry, you'll be league champions in 11 years time, then European Cup winners the year after!''.
Loved that interview, definitely my favourite so far. I'm just about to hit 40 so he was our manager when I was a kid and started following the villa. Such great memories of that era and his memory is sharp for 85. On another note you mentioned pagliuga the inter gk, I was obsessed with goalkeeping back then and he was my second favourite keeper behind bosnich, turns out pagliuca is a villa fan. UTV
The Cornwall Lions Club had Ron down at the back of last your for a meet and greet in Truro Top Bloke Still on the Champagne too, even sung ' My Way for us at the End
Fantastic interview Matt - thought your interview style with Big Ron was brilliant, could have listen to you both for hours. Great to hear Rons stories - but also see your depth of knowledge of our great club. UTV.
Ron mentions that he would have liked a Director Of Football role, but forgets he did briefly have a similar position for Coventry City when Gordon Strachan took over as manager in 1996. The following season Atkinson as DOF was a key component in bringing Roland Nilsson to the club, but he didn’t continue in the role for much longer after that.
Many, many thanks for this guys 👏. Big Ron and the teams he picked gave me some of my best Villa memories to date. Absolute fantastic interview but wish it was longer as could listen to Ron all day. Hopefully you’ve got a few more of these coming this year. Thanks again to everyone involved 🟣🔵
Oh my gosh. I was on one of those flights from BHX to Tenerife. We were delayed and Big Ron was on the same flight. I managed to get my holiday book signed from him. I was only a kid at the time. Now 37 and have fond memories of Ron
Ron is not PC, hes old fashioned in his views , his personal views. Is it malicious? Is it nasty? Nope i dont think so. I think he would never have denied a black player an opportunity just because he was black and he would never harm a black person. We have to stop cancelling people because they grew up in a different time coz let me tell you, the time he came from yes may be less PC but people were better for it and i include black people
I love Big Ron, always have. But I think it would've been Steve Stride, not Staunton who he took the microphone off to make the Saunders signing announcement. Met Ron himself a couple of time up the Lickeys, where he walked his dogs. Top man, pleasant, & totally approachable. How/Why he got tossed off TV so easily was disgusting, imho.
Refreshing to listen to him not begging for a job back in football commentary ........ totally unapologetic, textbook sorry he was caught not sorry for what he said playing the victim / looking for sympathy while constantly saying "I'm not a racist" because as manager he played incredibly talented black players. Was he anything to do with the "blacks v whites" WBA testimonial game ? 85 this week - not long left - whatever you did in football you know whats going to be the main part of your obituary and legacy.
"Let he who cast judgment live without sin". I miss Big Ron. He was amazing on his co-commentaries. I don't condone what he said to be cancelled, but to be cancelled over one mistake was harsh. The people who called for his cancellation were probably hypocrites who lived with sin themsevles. They Probably called for Big Ron to be sacked whilst cheating on their partners.
Usyk will fight anyone home or away,Accepts 70/30 splits just to prove he's the best,Usyk is a character,Likeable, Professional and a fantastic fighter, The fact fury has had this cult following in recent years but most the British public want usyk to win tells you all you need to know
Really interesting. First villa memories were with big Ron at the helm. Was flying from bhx on holiday and the whole villa team were there. Got autographs and Dean Saunders put me on his shoulders, and said “yabba dabba do mate” cos I had a flint stones tshirt on. Legends!!
Love big Ron 😂 was United’s manager for my first ever game in 85 ,uniteds all times 3rd best manager the football was electric as was Ron’s briefcase probably with two glasses 🥂 and a bottle of champagne inside 🎉
i know fergie is the best manager ever ,but for me big ron was the ideal manager for united ,big brash full of cofindence ,scarred of nothing and a showman as well as being a very good football man to boot ,he was made for the job and by the way ,thanks for everythiong you did for united ron ,
