Dean Saunders
Aston Villa’s manager Ron Atkinson was known for his larger-than-life personality, but an incident during a Premier League match against Oldham in September 1993 took things to a new level. At half-time, with Villa trailing 1-0, Atkinson accidentally threw a cup of boiling hot tea that ended up hitting popular Welsh striker Dean Saunders. The incident, though unintended, left Saunders boiling with rage. However, it was Atkinson’s unique way of making amends that truly stood out.
Dean Saunders said: “He chucked a cup of tea over me. He tried to throw it on the floor, but it’s gone all over me on it, boiling hot tea and I’m raging. Before we went back out for the second half he’s gone ‘some of you can sulk’. He was starting to feel guilty. I’ve gone back out there and scored, right after half-time, I think it was a header from Ray Houghton’s cross. When I’ve scored Ron’s on the pitch giving it the big one, trying to claim credit for the goal. That’s how funny he was, he’s trying to take credit for it because he’s thrown a cup of tea over me.”
Saunders’ equalizer helped Villa secure a 1-1 draw, but the incident was far from resolved. Atkinson, in his trademark style, attempted to make it up to Saunders in a rather unconventional manner.
Saunders continued: “We get on the bus and he is going, Deano, you know I love you. Come on pal, don’t blank me at the Ryder Cup tomorrow. Come on, you know it was an accident. As we’re watching Pavin, behind him we see Ron, cowboy hat on, Hawaiian shirt, cream trousers, trademark tan, with Maggie, his wife. He sees me and Steve Staunton and, shouting at the top of his voice, he goes Deano, did I ever tell you you’re my hero? Corey Pavin stopped putting, he looked round at Ron and Ron went Corey I don’t care what you’re about to do out there today son you should have seen the goal he scored yesterday. Corey Pavin’s just looking at him. Didn’t have a clue who he was. I said Maggie, he threw a cup of tea over me yesterday. She goes, hey you, have you been throwing tea over your players, you fat bastard? What you doing that for? He goes, it was an accident Maggie, but it worked. I must say, it did work. He scored a good goal.”
Despite the incident, Villa went on to finish 10th in the Premier League that season and lifted the 1994 Coca Cola Cup, with Saunders scoring twice in the final against Manchester United. Meanwhile, Corey Pavin and the USA team won the Ryder Cup, albeit involving a different type of tee.
This story was shared by Saunders during his appearance on the Claret & Blue podcast, highlighting the amusing and unconventional side of football management. The podcast is available on various platforms, offering fans a glimpse into the lighter moments of football history.
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