Nigel Spink, goalkeeper: The first thing I must say is we are all devastated to learn of Gary Shaw's death. Gary was such a big part of Villa and the club's European Cup success. My role in the win over Bayern Munich in the 1982 final was a much more unexpected one.
The whole scenario for me was surreal because back then there was only one substitute in the league, so a goalkeeper was never on the bench. I played for the reserves in the old Central League and my only other first-team game had come in 1979. Having five substitutes in the European Cup was a novelty. As subs, we thought we were highly unlikely to get on. Then I came on nine minutes in because Jimmy Rimmer was injured.
I didn't have a chance to get nervous. There weren't four or five minutes to get my shin pads on, tie-ups sorted... I just took my sweatshirt off, I was ready to go.
The gloves were on. Within about 30 seconds, Bayern put an aimless ball into my box and I claimed it, got a good feel of the ball and felt a part of it. I speak now to some of the supporters who were there and they say: 'We didn't know who the hell you were. Jimmy had been goalkeeper for five years, had hardly missed a game.'
It is always round the corner,even after all these years. I've had supporters come up to me everywhere from Australia to South Africa. There are quite a few Villa supporters in work; I deliver palletised freight and if I go into a business in the Netherlands, six times out of 10 I'll jump out and the forklift driver will recognise me and we'll have the '82 chat. When I started my own business I went into The Pallet Network in Birmingham.
Thirty seconds after pulling out, I got a phone call and it was a guy called Mark Kendall, who was the network's managing director. Mark was Villa's No 3 goalkeeper in '82 ...and ended up becoming my boss.
I'm going to the Bayern game [on 2 October]. I think it will be an emotional but fantastic night.
Denne historien er fra September 17, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra September 17, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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