Ex-Spurs stars toast Argentina’s big day in Barley pub

Two of England’s greatest Argentinian footballing imports have toasted their national independence day in an English village pub.

Football legends Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa were guests of honour at the Fox and Hounds in Barley, Hertfordshire on Saturday, and even managed to catch the FA Cup Final on a big screen in the garden.

Pub owner Graham Smith-Bernal is a friend of the former Tottenham and Argentina stars – both now 71 – and his wife is from South America.

Ardiles also paid tribute to Villa’s winning 1981 FA Cup goal, adding: “We are absolutely delighted to be here.”

Ardiles, who lives in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Villa, who lives in Argentina and is visiting England, were joined at the event by former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King.

They answered punters’ questions about football after watching Manchester United beat Manchester City at Wembley on a television screen in the pub garden.

Villa scored one of the most famous goals in Wembley history when Spurs beat Manchester City in the 1981 FA Cup Final replay against Manchester City – Ardiles was also in the side.

Ardiles and Villa both won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978.

Mr Smith-Bernal, 66, who also owns the Newsells Park Stud near Royston, said he had got to know many former Spurs players through horse racing and supporting the club.

He said “a lot” of former Tottenham “legends” were involved with the stud and drank in the pub.

“May 25 is a special day in Argentina,” Mr Bernal-Smith said. His wife Marcela is Bolivian.

“I know Ossie and I knew Ricky was over here,” he said.

“We have the FA Cup. We thought, why not have Argentinian meats and sausages – and then a wine tasting and celebrate May 25.”

Ardiles said: “We were absolutely delighted to be here. It’s a lovely, lovely Argentinian barbecue. Argentinian wine.

“All the people who support Spurs will be very happy to see Ricky Villa here.

“He scored a wonderful, wonderful goal.

“The best goal of the century they say, in Wembley, when we beat Manchester City 3-2.

“Ricky scored the winning goal.”

Villa said: “It was a different goal – a South American goal.

“As soon as I passed one, then another, the goal was getting closer.

“This goal changed my life.”