On this Day 1980: Benny from Crossroads at Aston Villa FC

OTD, May 6th 1980

ATV Today reporter John Swallow took Benny (actor Paul Henry) from Midland serial Crossroads to Villa Park, where they met Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders with a view to ‘Benny’ playing in a testimonial for Saunders between Villa and Birmingham City on May 7th.

Paul played the character of Benny Hawkins in the Kings Oak village set soap opera from 1975 to 1987. Other television roles include in The Sweeney (Thames TV) Play for Today (BBC), Bad Girls (ITV) and Family Pride (Central Television) But it’s as Benny he will always be associated with.