Support your local team.

[PeterWithesShin]

The only reason I support Villa is because my dad did, and so did his dad etc. I have no doubt i'd be supporting whoever they did whether it was Villa, mancs or Bury.

[john e]

The only reason I support Villa is because my dad did, and so did his dad etc. I have no doubt i'd be supporting whoever they did whether it was Villa, mancs or Bury.

as you know, as you have met him, my lad supports Villa,   he never got a choice.

[gervilla]

I was brought to Villa Park as an 8 year old in 1984 by my sister and her then Husband.
That was me hooked for life.

[Phil from the upper holte]

My mates dad got me into villa if it wasn't for him I'd have ended up a dog head and that does not bear thinking about

[Phil from the upper holte]

I converted my step brother from an arsenal fan. He hates me now

[London Villan]

If you're glory hunting then Barcelona have to be the ones to follow... just as much justification in doing that as supporting manu.

[timeoutbigbar]

Its amazing that all out of town reds have got a mysterious uncle/grandpa/dad/family pet that was from manchester and supported them all their lives (since 1999), so they're entitled to rejoice in the reflected glories of a club whose real fans would probably rather they didn't.

[PeterWithesShin]

I remember a very brief time when Blackburn shirts starting appearing around town, and then Newcastle ones. I'm sure now that we will see more and more Citeh shirts who will have no idea what the Kippax is and won't believe they were in the 3rd division not long ago. Wankers.

[PeterWithesShin]

The only reason I support Villa is because my dad did, and so did his dad etc. I have no doubt i'd be supporting whoever they did whether it was Villa, mancs or Bury.

as you know, as you have met him, my lad supports Villa,   he never got a choice.

Indeed, next time you are up for a game we'll have to arrange a pint.

[john e]

The only reason I support Villa is because my dad did, and so did his dad etc. I have no doubt i'd be supporting whoever they did whether it was Villa, mancs or Bury.

as you know, as you have met him, my lad supports Villa,   he never got a choice.

Indeed, next time you are up for a game we'll have to arrange a pint.

will do

[Vancouver]

I support the Villa because of my dad and now I'm over in Vancouver I'm helping to spread the word. But in the last couple of seasons our supporters club meet ups for games has been bad. With the time difference it just doesn't attract. and to be honest I would rather watch a high profile game on TV in the early morning than us. At least it's entertaining.

[Wilfred the Hairy]

I support Villa because they were bloody good when I was growing up (not a Brummie, me).

Villa 3, Man Utd 2.
Villa 5, Liverpool 1.
Villa 3, Everton 2. (lift the cup, that man!)

Aahh!

Perhaps if we suddenly got good again more people would support us.

[Villan For Life]

I think that it's always been the same. If I think back to school, there were always glory hunting supporters. In my class there were Leeds fans, Derby fans, Man Ure and Liverpool fans. Kids are drawn to teams that win things. This was pre-Sky but even then football magazines like Shoot! and Match Weekly would be all about the Man Ures and Liverplops of this world. It's not as bad as today but the precedent was there.

[Archie]

If they don't have a father-figure who supports Villa, I find it difficult to believe that many would choose to support us, unless we can get children going to games froma young age.

Good point.

I guess I only support Villa because my dad does.

No mate, there are Villa fans from all over the world, people whose family don't support Villa and who, no matter if the team shows an entertatining attacking or a boring defensive football (ok,  a boring defensive) football,  are willing to spend to attend a single match at Villa Park more than for a season ticket.

The reason why Villa is an icon in the world of football is its "aura" of tradition, its distinctive colours, the fact of being a big but familiar club, a club  noticed for doing the right thing, the elegance of the stadium,  the kindness of the staff and the feeling that everyone at Villa, officials, players, former players and fans belong to  a "family"  based on shared values.

[olaftab]

I managed to convert my nephew from a Man Utd fan to a Villa fan quite proud of that :-)

X2. 

The father figure argument does carry water mind you.  It's really just another example of the influence of Sky.

x6