My Father inspired me to visit Villa Park for the first time in 1975.
He had told me tales of matches from the 40's and 50's but the clincher was the fact he played at VP as a schoolboy.
Ironically it was a rugby match but the first time I walked onto the Holte all I thought was "my Dad played here".
We never attended many matches together but the last one against Athletic Bilbao was also one of the best.
Sat in the Trinity surrounded by Bilbao fans we had the time of our lives.
I was on my way to New Cross Hospital when he died last night. My only regret is I never got to tell him that the Villa had fought like Lions at last.
Thanks Dad