'Andy Lochhead was a key figure in Aston Villa's history'

“A great character, a wonderful man and without the likes of him, I wouldn’t be here today. He was, without a doubt, a key figure in Aston Villa’s history.”

Those are the words of Brian Little, a man who counts himself extremely privileged to have known and played alongside Andy Lochhead.

The Scottish striker, who was famed for his heading ability and no-nonsense approach to the game, played 154 times for Aston Villa, scoring 44 goals, after joining the club from Leicester City in February 1970.

Lochhead recently passed away aged 81, and his death has hit those who watched him play and those who played alongside him hard. Villa players wore black armbands at Saturday’s game against Arsenal and supporters paid their respects with a minute’s applause as the clock ticked over the nine-minute mark.

It was a fitting tribute to a man who wore the number nine shirt with distinction during his time in claret and blue. Little will always be thankful to have shared a pitch with Lochhead.

He said: “I was about 16 and he came in halfway through my first season when I was an apprentice, so I used to watch him. He’d had a few games out with injury so I played in the reserve team with him.

“When I played alongside him, I often called him ‘Mr Lochhead’. He’s one of those people you were a little bit scared of. He was brilliant, he was tough, he was old school. He was brilliant to me; he taught me so many things.

“He used to get hold of me and say, ‘Right now, I’m centre forward and you’re playing alongside me, I don’t want you standing still when you’re coming near me. I want you to be running off me because the centre half isn’t going to get a free header, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.’ He was an absolute diamond, and I eventually got to play with him in the first team.”

From passing on pieces of invaluable advice to looking out for Little during games, Lochhead’s influence was keenly felt by his fellow forward.

But it wasn’t just his teammates who appreciated Lochhead’s attitude and approach to the game, the Villa fans knew it was exactly what the team needed during the lowest point in the club’s history.

After joining in February 1970, the striker failed to score in 12 games as Villa were relegated to the Third Division for the first time. Lochhead quickly proved his worth during his first full season at the club, finishing as top scorer with 13 and firing the club to a surprise appearance in the 1971 League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur.

He netted in both legs of the famous semi-final against a Manchester United side that included George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law before they lost 2-0 to Spurs in the Wembley showpiece.

A fourth place finish meant another season in the Third Division, and this time round Lochhead scored 25 goals in all competitions and missed only one league match as Villa were promoted as champions.

“I was around the first team then and I went to the cup final with the team,” recalled Little.  

“I played with him in the year that we got promoted back to the Second Division. I travelled with the first team a lot when I was 16, 17 and made my debut at 17.

“People like Andy Lochhead and Bruce Rioch were like men in the football world, it wasn’t a young man’s team in those days. Andy was definitely one of the big, strong characters in the dressing room.”

Little added: “I loved him to bits; he was brilliant with me and a joy to play with. In those days, most teams had a big centre forward and a small centre forward and it was a partnership. He was my first centre forward partner.

“He was a man’s man: everyone loved him, everyone was a bit frightened of him. He was great to have as a friend because he really looked after me.”

Lochhead’s no-nonsense approach extended to his behaviour off the pitch, as Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis once found out.

Little recalled: “He was not one that you messed with. He was a top man. I remember one day being away on a tour somewhere and Mr Ellis was aggravating everyone, so he just picked him up and threw him in the swimming pool.

“Everyone just applauded him, it was brilliant. Then Mr Ellis came out and shook Andy’s hand because he realised he was trying to be a bit too clever. He was just a diamond. You didn’t mess with him. I loved him to bits.”

Lochhead helped Villa establish themselves back in the Second Division during the 1972/73 campaign, scoring six goals as Vic Crowe’s team finished an impressive third.

When the Scot departed in August 1973 to join Oldham Athletic, his legacy in a claret and blue shirt had been well established.

Little said: “His favourite goal here (Villa Park) was when he headed it up in the air with the goalkeeper and when it came down he volleyed it into the net. You just don’t see things like that these days.

“Over the years people have said to me, ‘Who’s been the best centre forward you’ve played with?’ and they’ll immediately go, ‘Andy Gray?’.

"I had a fantastic time with Andy Gray, but Andy Lochhead taught me so much about football. I’ll never, ever forget him for all he’s done for me.”

Rest in Peace, Andy.