As an avid Aston Villa supporter for many years, I often look back and remember with pride and passion, all the great players that have graced the Villa Park turf and worn the claret and blue with pride.

On the anniversary of my late fathers passing, Eddie Walsh was widely recognised as one of the most respected football scouts in the country, I still hold the fond belief that some of the greatest players my father and I used to talk about never got the recognition they deserved and simply fell by the wayside.

Those who are old enough and still alive will remember Villas nursery team Stanley Star. Great players like Mark Burk, Titchen, Barry Barns etc.

As a chief scout for Aston Villa all those years ago, the one player my father and other associates like Frank Lane and Bob Plant at Villa used to talk about with a passion was Tony Smith.

Today, I still have the letters from my father urging him to join Aston Villa despite great offers from Notts County, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and others.

Tony was born in Aston in a very deprived area not far from Villa Park. Having experienced the break up of his parents marriage he went very much off the rails, putting his very promising football career at risk.

My father would spend hours looking for Tony before a game, not knowing where he would be, because he believed in him and thought he could one day be a super star. His lack of parental guidance meant he was always going to find it hard to realise his potential.

Today, I still have all the letters Tony gave to my father from the other clubs wanting to sign him. The comparisons to Trevor Francis, Brian Little, his hero, make compelling reading. He was without a doubt, one that got away.

David Walsh