’m still quite sad about it all. Although Vic Crowe was still manager in my first VP game, Ron was the first manager that I really took any notice of. Certainly the first Villa manager that I got to know about, in interviews and the like.

Always hurriedly turned to the inside page of the matchday programme for his pre match thoughts and the 110% that he expected from the players and of course, the fans. He had the aura of an old school headmaster, and I would hang on his every word.

I don’t remember any real animosity when he had that ‘brainfart’ and went down the road. There was the one song, ‘You, must, be EFFING mad,...Saunders, Saunders’. But that was just questioning his sanity, not personal abuse.

Anyway, R.I.P. Mr Saunders, and THANK YOU, SO VERY MUCH.