"They don't make players like they used to"

He turned 56 a few months ago, but he's still as fit as Nigel Kennedy's fiddle and, even today, there's no chance he'd be moaning about Gerard Houllier's double training sessions or begging for an extra day off - hangover or not.

Despite his amazing success in football, Villa's First Division title and European Cup winner remains down-to-earth, approachable and game for a laugh in using his profile to raise money for a multitude of good causes, as he displayed after receiving his award from popular Old Stars gaffer Chris Nicholl.

I didn't see David Beckham's suit either. But I doubt, unlike Martin Carruthers, he had to brave the freezing conditions in Birmingham City centre to make a late dash to a shop to buy a new one after forgetting to pack his own whistle and flute!

Carruthers is another who sums up what the AVFPA is all about. He might not have enjoyed much success in Villa colours, but after going on to make a decent career for himself in professional football he appreciates what an honour it was to be involved with Aston Villa Football Club and what an honour it is to represent the Old Stars.

His goalscorer and striker of the year awards for 2010 were well deserved. Same goes for John Pearson who was named best defender (although I think he remembered his suit).

Gordon Cowans represents the strongest link between the old and the new, having become a regular for the Old Stars team in recent years as well as being Villa's new first team coach. The fact that he was asked to collect the midfielder of the year accolade in winner Colin Gibson's absence for family reasons, shows how impressive Gibson has played to outshine Sid.

Steve Staunton is the most recently retired Villa player to represent the Old Stars and his clubman of the year gong was just reward for the way Stan has wholeheartedly thrown himself into helping out his fellow former players.

It was fitting that Gary Arthurs, the son of Stan Arthurs, the Villa stalwart who did so much to keep the Old Stars going 20 years ago, was again there to present the clubman award and he and his wife were great dinner table company, as were semi-retired stadium manager Tony Diffley and his wife.

(Diffley admits he was particularly perplexed at seeing his photpgraph used next to General Krulak stories in several national newspapers recently, while he is also often mistaken for 1966 World Cup winner Martin Peters!)

Staunton and his partner took part in a revealing claret and blue 'celebrity' Mr and Mrs, compered by the always entertaining Bluenose Paul Burrell and featuring John Deehan, Ken McNaught and popular ex-secretary Steve Stride and their respective spouses (What happens at dinner, stays at dinner!).

That it took AVFPA chief executive Neil Rioch half an hour to go through all the 'thank yous' proves how many people contribute to make it such a thriving organisation, so apologies, that through the haze of free wine I can't recall the names of so many sponsors and friends who work hard behind the scenes, although general secretary Karl Court obviously deserves a special mention for his tireless commitment.

One of the most impressive things we learned on Sunday, also prompted my most depressing thought of the day. The AVFPA raised in excess of £200,000 for good causes in 2010 and to generate that amount of cash through various football matches, golf days and other fundraising activities is no mean feat. So well done, one and all.

But, even so, that is less than a month's wages to several distinctly average players currently on Villa's payroll and the lack of any present day first teamers at the event was extremely disappointing.

Nobody would demand today's claret and blue millionaires part with vast quantities of their vast salaries.

However, it would be nice if just one of them, double training sessions notwithstanding, could find time in their packed diaries to attend this annual event (which I must point out is generously funded by Villa chairman and honorary AVFPA patron Randy Lerner).

Today's stars may be fortunate enough to never have to rely on the sterling services which the Aston Villa Former Players Association provides.

But merely acknowledging the selfless efforts their footballing forefathers have gone to, and continue to go to, would at least hint at the commitment to the claret and blue cause which true greats like Tony and Sid proudly show to this day.