Two Walsall Supporters Groups have teamed up together to help Walsall and Aston Villa legend in his time of need.
Former Walsall manager Chris Nicholl has been suffering with dementia for the last five years and despite being in a care home Chris still wishes to attend Saddlers games and continue to watch the sport he dearly loves.
Due to staffing issues at the care home they are unable to transport Chris to the Banks’s Stadium on match days however ISSA (Independent Saddlers Supporters Association) and the DSA (Walsall FC Disabled Supporters Association) have stepped in and sorted out arrangements to transport Chris to and from the stadium.
He will also be chaperoned at all times to ensure he is kept safe and well.
Chris had a wish to sit with Walsall Supporters once more and his wish will be fulfilled as he takes his seat in Block 1 of the Homeserve Stand.
Chris’s first game under the watchful eye of ISSA and DSA will be next Saturday at home to Bradford City.
Chris will be at The Railway Club to have photographs taken with Walsall Supporters which will be collated and made into a collage to be presented to Chris at a later date.
Chris Nicholl will be fondly remembered at both Walsall and Aston Villa.
Nicholl won two League Cups with Villa in the 1970’s, netting in the 1977 cup final against Everton.
He then became Walsall manager in 1994 and in his first season he helped steer the club to promotion on that famous night in Bury.
Everyone at Vital Walsall applauds ISSA and the DSA for such a fantastic gesture and we continue to send our best wishes and prayers to Chris as he continues to fight such a dreadful illness.
We encourage everyone to meet the great man at The Railway next Saturday from 1pm.
He truly is a Walsall and Aston Villa legend.
There’s only one Chris Nicholl.
