Daring Dalian brought glory days back to Villa
Tributes pour in as striker dies at 48
On August 15, 1992, Dalian Atkinson scored Aston Villa’s first goal in the Premier League, a late equaliser to snatch a point at Ipswich Town.
The outpouring of emotion from supporters yesterday as news filtered through of his death in tragic, incredulous circumstances on the same date 24 years later showed the tremendous warmth that remains undimmed for a player who came to symbolise a proud period in the club’s history.
Atkinson spearheaded a vibrant side that brought energy to Birmingham, a swashbuckling, fearless group whose title challenge that season was only beaten by the juggernaut of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ron Atkinson, the ebullient manager, knew that in his namesake striker, Villa possessed a talent to bewitch defences and still believes that had he stayed fit for the whole campaign Ferguson’s first title would have had to wait a season.
Atkinson picked up a muscle injury during the Christmas period and only played twice between late December and early April, depriving Dean Saunders of his foil in attack.
‘If he hadn’t been injured I think we’d have won the title because him and Dean were the best strikeforce in the Premier League,’ Big Ron has recalled.
That analysis was illustrated by Atkinson winning the Premier League’s inaugural goal of the season competition as voted on Match of the Day. It was a strike of belligerent brilliance.
Coming against Wimbledon in October, Atkinson picked up possession deep in his own half, shrugging off one opponent to surge into space. He beat another defender, twice flummoxed another, then found a chip from the edge of the box to utterly defeat goalkeeper Hans Segers.
He ran to celebrating fans with a look on his face to suggest: “What else were you expecting?” As Saunders leapt onto his shoulders with rain falling, a fan ran on with an umbrella. In tribute, Villa have arranged for groups of fans to hold umbrellas aloft during a minute’s applause in the 10th minute of their Championship game against Huddersfield Town tonight.
now, more than ever, those in the stands will reflect nostalgically. As their club searches for identity in the second tier, Atkinson represented a bold, daring example of what could be achieved.
Those days in the early 90s transpired to be the high-water mark for Villa, bettering even the more recent years under Martin O’neill when a Champions League place appeared possible.
Born in Shrewsbury, Atkinson progressed through the ranks at Ipswich, then went on to play for Big Ron at Sheffield Wednesday. He scored 10 goals but the season ended in relegation and he signed for Real Sociedad in a £1.7million move in August 1990.
nicknamed ‘El Txipiron’ — The Squid — by Sociedad fans, he scored 12 La Liga goals and gained great affection, particularly after those dextrous limbs helped pick apart Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona team at the nou Camp. Atkinson scored one and set up John Aldridge for another in a 3-1 win.
Sociedad yesterday gave their condolences to the family of the man who left an ‘indelible mark’ in San Sebastian, while Aldridge said: ‘I’m absolutely gutted to hear the news. I’ll always remember when we beat Barca. Dalian ran them ragged!’
Atkinson came back to England in July 1991 and the good times rolled.
In 1992-93, Villa led the table for large parts before eventually conceding the title to United by losing at home to Oldham in their penultimate game. Runners-up spot that season still stands as the best in all the intervening years. Set against the cataclysm of last season, it stands like a distant mirage in the desert.
For Atkinson, there was silverware, too. He starred in the 1994 League Cup final, scoring the opening goal in victory over United, having done so in each leg of the semi-final against Tranmere.
Only the presence of Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler and Teddy Sheringham halted his international career, which ended with one cap for England B. ‘now I see people with 50-odd caps that weren’t in the same class as Dalian,’ Ron has said.
‘He was quicker than Theo Walcott. He always had a smile on his face, he was popular in the dressing room, and did it in the big games.’
Atkinson finished his four-year Villa spell in 1995 by transferring to Turkish side Fenerbahce and went on to have loan spells with FC Metz and Manchester City before travelling abroad to Saudi Arabia and South Korea. He retired as a player in 2001 having scored nearly 90 goals in more than 200 games.
THE exact circumstances of his death after being tasered by police at his home in Telford are yet to emerge but it has provided a terrible end to his life, aged 48. His former friend and team-mate Carlton Palmer said he had struggled after his sporting career ended. ‘Footballers don’t know anything else,’ Palmer said.
‘Dalian would not have finished his career financially secure and he was scratching around doing stuff. You have no routine to your life, and that can be a major problem.’
Positive memories will last long at Villa Park, though, and an indication of the esteem in which he is held was found when Roberto di Matteo appealed for fans to vote via social media for which pictures should adorn the reception to the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground.
Atkinson was chosen as two of the six, so now whenever anyone enters and walks up the stairs his face smiles back.