Tuesday 21 April 2015

PULL YOUR SOCKS UP

A September born lad (1995), Jack Grealish, from Solihull is making waves, as Harry Kane did earlier in the year. Jack made his mark for me in October 2013 when I saw him play for Notts County, on loan, at Meadow Lane, against Crewe Alexandra. He was a delight and I phoned a scouting (footballing sense!) friend of mine who said, “Yes he will probably go to Villa”. And that he did, signing forms and making his debut at the Etihad, in a 0-4 defeat by City, in May 2014, in the 87th minute-appearance money?
Since then he has been used liberally by Villa, but at Wembley on Saturday against Liverpool, he turned heads. England manager watched the game and would have been impressed. With child sized shinnies, socks rolled down to irritate referees and an impish charm, he appears to have strong ties, through his grandparents, with Ireland. His club manager says choose “with your heart”; dare he risk choosing England and be outnumbered for an international place?
He has been capped at U17-U21 levels for Ireland but he was born in Birmingham and his mother is English.
His great, great, grandfather, known as Billy Garraty, was born in County Galway. He played for Aston Villa in the early 1900s and he played in 1905 in the FA Cup final at the original Crystal Palace, on April 15th with over 101,000 watching.Villa won 2-0 against Newcastle United, with two goals from 'Appy 'Arry Hampton, depriving the Magpies of their Double since they had previously won the League title.
This was Newcastle's first final and Villa's fourth win, having won in 1887, lost in 1892, won again in 1895 and 1897.

How many Cup winners have had a father, grandfather, great grandfather or indeed great grandfather win a medal?


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