Villa hero Nicholl dies after dementia battle
ASTON VILLA last night led the tributes to their former captain Chris Nicholl, who has died aged 77 after a long battle with dementia.
The centre back played more than 250 games for Villa and lifted the League Cup twice, scoring a 40-yard goal in the second replay of the 1977 final against Everton.
That summer he joined Southampton, where he spent six years, and he also represented Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup.
‘Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Nicholl,’ the club posted on X. ‘The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Chris’ family and friends at this difficult time.
‘A gritty, uncompromising centre back, he was powerful in the air and had excellent positional sense. He was a dominant figure at the heart of Villa’s defence for over five seasons, making 252 appearances and scoring 20 goals. Rest in peace, Chris.’
After leaving Southampton in 1983, Nicholl spent a season at Grimsby before calling time on his 19-year playing career and going on to manage former club Southampton for six years before three years at Walsall.
At Southampton he managed a young Alan Shearer and seven years ago he spoke to Shearer for a documentary about dementia, saying he was fighting the disease after becoming ‘brain damaged from heading balls’.
‘My memory is in trouble,’ he said. ‘Everyone forgets regular things, where your keys are. But when you forget where you live, that’s different. I’ve had that for the last four or five years, it is definitely getting worse.’ Last night Shearer said on X: ‘RIP Chris Nicholl. You believed in me and gave me my chance. Thank you.’
Former Saints forward Matt Le Tissier added: ‘The thoughts and prayers of my family go out to the family of my first manager Chris Nicholl.’
Among his many achievements in the game, Nicholl is also remembered for scoring all four goals in a 2-2 draw against Leicester in 1976. Decades later he saw the funny side in an interview with journalist Hyder Jawad, revealing: ‘After I scored those four goals in that 2-2 draw, I asked the referee if I could have the ball. “No,” the ref said. “This is my last match and I am keeping the ball”. Just my luck, I suppose. My first hat-trick in a Villa shirt and I don’t even get the ball.’
Nicholl played 51 games for Northern Ireland, and scored on his debut against Sweden in 1974. Northern Ireland team-mate John O’Neill said last night: ‘He was a hell of a player, a really tough, old school competitor. But most of all he was one of the good guys and will be sorely missed.’
Nicholl leaves behind his wife Jane, son Paul and daughter Cathy.