Very sad to hear that news. First Jan and now Chris.
Once you start doing that,where does it end?
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Gaffer
When I got that call Thursday to say you were seriously ill
We were all praying you would win the battle but sadly it was not to be , and your passing is one of great sadness
To me Jane. And Dave josebury and many others associated with Issa and the railway club you became. A great friend
You were also a neighbour at one time. Until,your illness forced you to move to St Peterâs court
The endless hour,s we have spent talking football and Walsall. Fc in your flat. And looking at your old photos medals and international caps. Was a pure pleasure for myself and Dave
That night spent. With yourself. And. Ray Graydon Talking about. Bury and. The millennium stadium. In detail will live with me forever And being a saddler. It felt like I was in the company of royalty and as many saddlers will agree I actualy. Was
As said you were not just an ex Walsall, manager / legend.
First and foremost you were a friend And a friend whoâs passing Will. Leave. Much sorrow
The cruel illness you battled so bravely with took a lot away from you old pal. But the one thing it could not steal was that huge beaming smile. That you always greeted us with. And that. Vice like grip of a handshake you always left us with,
It also could not take away that dry sense of humour of yours and only a month ago. As we shared that last. Handshake you still asked me. Are you the one that booed me. lol
Well no gaffer it was ant me. I could never boo someone. Who gave me one of the best nights ever following the saddlers on a balmy Thursday night in bury
As you illness progressed. It was an honour for me Jane and Dave. To be able to repay you in some small way for
what you Brought. To the town of Walsall , and it was an even greater honour to name the new football, facilities down at the railway club In your honour. And the Chris Nicholl. Soccer centre will long live on in. Honour of you
You played a big part. In our lives. And Iâve lost count of the hours. You have had us out searching for you lol.
Giving. Us the runaround. As you discarded the tracker watch we got you. , and when found and the panic was. Over. Youâd flash that big smile and say. Was we. Due to be going somewhere
Iâve still got that watch and it will, always. be treasured and a constant reminder. Of our times together
You often referred to Jane. As your own personal taxi driver who never. let you down , but Iâll tel, you now pal we would. Give. Anything for that phone to ring one more time to say youâd been found wondering And that taxi would be on the road. In a shot
A special mention also to just a few of many ex players. Including skip Wacka. Marshy. Who were always on hand. To help out. With things we did for you as. so many players held you in such high esteem also And those golfing days. Are treasured memories
To many wonderfull. Memories. To get down on here. Pal
So for now all, thatâs left to say is.Goodnight and god bless
And thank you for so many. Memories you have left us with
And itâs those memories that will ensure you will never be forgotten
Once a saddler always a saddler Chris.
Forever fly high
All our love. Dave Jane , Dave Ada. And all involved with the Independent Saddlers Supporters Association
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I donât know you but thatâs beautifully written.
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Itâs not very often we lose two highly thought of managers within a week . Wasnât so long back we were doing a memorial match for Wayne Evans to repatriate him back to the UK .
Just donât think giving a minutes applause does enough for all the great times they gave to the club .
Wonderful post. I am sure I am not the only one who felt quite emotional reading that.
I donât know what family Chris has, but I hope they and his closest friends get to read this thread and the series of positive, funny and moving comments, recollections and tales retold.
RIP Chris.
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We lost a good bloke in Chris Nicholl. RIP Big man rest easy.
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I expect that the 35 yard total thunderbastard with which Chris equalised for Villa against Everton in the L.C. final 2nd replay of 1977 has been shown plenty of times in the last 24 hours or so, and itâs nice when a defender sometimes gets a little glory in a big game as it is normally the fancy dan attackers that get it.
However, one thing I had forgotten was that he was robbed at Wembley in 1975, when his header was clawed round the post by Norwich defender Mel Machin, who wasnât sent off. Ray Graydon took the pelanty, it was saved, but Uncle Ray stuck in the rebound, and Villa won 1-0.
Anyhow, Chris embraced Ray after the goal and had a beaming smile, so perhaps he just wanted the win and cared little for individual glory.
Two promotions and two League Cups must make Chris (and Ray, of course) a genuine legend at Villa, and throw in his record at Saints as player and especially manager, and then add his achievements with us, and you can see he was a proper football man.
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Chris Nichol is one of half a dozen or so Managers who have acheived promotion with us. He should be given a special and enduring place in our stadium for that. He stamped his unique character on the team he inherited and turned them into winners. He then established us in the third tier from which we had been absent for several seasons. We were always in with a chance with Chris at the helm.
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Independent Saddlers Supporters Association
As some of you may or may not know. The Issa fc side have reached the semi final of the Chris nicholl trophy
Itâs a cup competition run by the Walsall and Lichfield league in honour of what Chris Did for the town and football club
A date is yet to be set by the league but it will definitely be on a Sunday. With a 10 30 am kick off and will Be held at the Chris nicholl arena. Based at the railway club. In Walsall
We was thinking. It would be great to get as many saddlers as possible down there on the day and charge a fiver on the gate with every penny raised going to the nicholl family in order to be put towards a memorial. At the gaffers final resting place
It will be an easy way for all saddlers to contribute to. Something that will be a lasting tribute to. Show. How he was held in such esteem. By the saddlers family
Will also be great to get so many cheering the lads on to what will hopefully be a victory. And. Get to the final and then. Hopefully bring the trophy back to the railway Where the gaffer spent many happy hours and. Always showed an interest in the Issa teams. Offering his advice and support
There will also be other things going on in the clubhouse as we try to raise as much as possible For a fitting memorial to the big man himself
I have spoken with Cathy. Chris,s. Daughter. Earlier and she is more. Than happy for us to do this
If any one wants to to eithier sponsor this game. Or. Make a financial donation or even donate a small, prize. For the raffle. In the clubhouse after the game please get in touch
Letâs al, come together one last time for the gaffer and. Prove what he meant to us and the town
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Chris Nicholl was the manager when I first started watching Walsall as a teenager, so he had a big influence on me following this daft and unfashionable club, it was his team I started watching and getting hooked on. Two important figures gone from my Saddlers history in such a short space of time.
Thank you Chris. RIP.
RIP Chris, a superb manager, his reading of games was second to none, a big character, able to get the respect of all around him, loved his pithy laconic comments.
I think we have all been fortunate enough to have had some contact with Chris Nicholl over the years, that being the measure of the man in that he always made himself available.
I can still remember hearing of his appointment: the dismissal of Kenny Hibbitt so early in the season was almost unheard of back then. I was on lunch hour at school and the news that we had appointed him was significant given the success he had had at Southampton. What he did when he entered the dressing room and demanding promotion is the stuff of legend.
In September 1995, I entered Sixth Form and as part of that, all of us had to do a Group Presentation from a number of topics - me and my mates chose Spectator Safety at Sports Grounds. I contacted Walsall to see if we could have a tour and speak to the then Safety Officer and they were kind enough to agree. As we sat in Reception, in strode Chris Nicholl and I was rendered speechless, much to the mirth of my mates.
He established us back in the old Division 2 before leaving and as @Blazing_Saddler points out, he came back to assist on a couple of occasions to help out, with both Sir Ray and Dean Smith. But he was always around the club and always happy to spend time talking. When it was the âEvening with Ray Graydonâ event at Bescot, Chris sat on the same table as myself and my Dad and engaged with us but it was obvious that he was deteriorating even then - at the end of the night, he said to my Dad âthanks for looking after meâ - believe me, the pleasure was all ours.
Last time I had contact was at the Legends match held at Rushall in 2021 - it was a somewhat surreal experience back then given was one of the first events post-lockdowns that we were all able to go to. I had a couple of photos taken with him, him taking the mickey out of me and my Dad and our flat caps. I always felt like that nervous 16 year old sat in the reception at Bescot in his presence.
We were so lucky to have him and for him to drag us out of the old Division 3. We werenât just lucky to have him for his footballing acumen, but also for him as a gentleman.
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Beautiful memories put down so nicely, almost cried at that post deanonev69 
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Chris Nicholl mentioned and remembered during the 5 live coverage at the start of the Luton v Villa game, although disappointingly a few fans didnât seem to respect the minutes silence, which angered some, audible on air.
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Luâon have some full on cuts as fans
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