An Isle of Wight sports writer has teamed up with former Aston Villa player and manager, Brian Little, to release a new book.
Former national newspaper journalist, Peter White, is the co-author of 'Brian Little - My Aston Villa'.
Peter, who has lived on the Island since 1999, covered Midlands football - in particular Aston Villa - for 23 seasons. He then went onto to report on Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth on the south coast.
Peter worked for the Sports Argus, Express & Star and The Sun - before going freelance for other national papers, including the Daily Express and Daily Mirror. On the Island, Peter is the former editor of Island Life magazine and Isle of Wight Radio's sister magazine title, The Beacon.
The book details stories from the past 50 years, when Brian Little first walked through those imposing gates at Villa Park in 1969 aged just 15 as a Peterlee schoolboy, to behind-the-scenes, untold tales from inside his manager's office at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground.
Peter also pens his memories from his years of watching Villa from the Press Box.
Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio, Peter said:
“Brian rang me just before Christmas last year, and said ‘Pedro, I’ve got an idea!’. He said that as his connections with Aston Villa spanned more than 50 years, he thought he might just have a story to tell. That’s how it began.
"Because of COVID, we made Zoom calls to one another for about three months, chatted about his different roles at Villa, and then realised that in one way or another, he had known or been associated with all but six managers since the club was formed. So all managers he had known since his days as an apprentice professional were put under the microscope.
“We then decided to ask a few former Villa players about Brian, and their experiences at the club, and also invited three celeb actors, who are all big Villa fans, to contribute.I was also asked by Brian to recall a few of my Villa memories when watching on from the Press box for some 23 years. We both enjoyed the journey, and hope Villa fans are now enjoying the book.”
Actors and TV celebrities such as David Bradley (Harry Potter films and Game of Thrones); Nigel Boyle (Line of Duty), and Adil Ray (writer and star of TV show Citizen Khan, and TV presenter) also talk about their Claret and Blue high spots.
Brian remains the last manager to win a major trophy at Aston Villa after his Coca Cola Cup triumph over Leeds United at Wembley in 1996.
He said:
“In this new book I chart my days as a Villa player, my England call-up, my enforced early retirement, working in the Villa club shop, being youth team coach, later the manager, and now club ambassador, informal adviser to the board, and even match day co-commentator for the Villa website.”
Several other Villa heroes and team-mates have made contributions to the book, providing their memories of Brian, and playing for Villa. They include Andy Gray, Gary Shaw, Nigel Spink, Ian Taylor, Shaun Teale, Tony Daley, Stan Collymore and Garry Thompson.
Collymore reveals the private help Brian gave him when he was going through his darkest days, while Gary Shaw reveals one of his most prized possessions, given to him by Brian.
Peter will be joining Brian at a book signing session in the Holte Suite at Villa Park tomorrow (Saturday), ahead of the Wolves match.
Every one of the limited edition books is signed, and can be ordered by visiting officialbrianlittle.com
Engine Problems Lead To Yarmouth RNLI Callout To Osborne Bay
Ryde Academy Students Donate To Two Worthy Causes At Christmas
Road Improvement Works To Get Underway From The Very Start Of The New Year
Isle of Wight Youth Trust Benefits From Big Give Support
Council Chair 'Furious' Over Floating Bridge Replacement Fiasco
Fire Service Travel To Island Contributes To Huge Budget Overspend
Department Approaching Completion In Ryde As Opening Date Announced
Guidance Issued Over Sharps Disposal As Waste Teams At Risk
Police Warnings Over E-Scooters Ahead Of Christmas Day
Controversial Freshwater Housing Proposal Turned Down
Rare Mantis Shrimp Discovery Made In Waters Off Isle Of Wight
Man In 50s Confirmed Dead Following Newport Crash
Pedestrian In Hospital With Serious Injuries Following Early Morning Motorcycle Crash
Cowes Stately Home To Have Facilities Upgraded As Part Of Approved Renovation
Ofsted Deliver Glowing Report For 'Welcoming' And 'Highly Ambitious' Island Primary School
Help Available For Islanders To Cut Energy Bills
Cowes Lifeboat Performs Mid-Solent Rescue Of Fishing Boat
Christmas Shopping With A Difference In Ryde – Half A Mile Out To Sea!
Home-From-Home' Nursery Given 'Outstanding' Ofsted Grade
