Empty seats

[robbo1874]

Earliest i have left is just after the hour when we got stuffed 4-0 at West Ham midweek in 2005. 

the Marlon Harewood hatrick game? I was there after Last day at the Oval. Couldn’t have gave two fucks about the result, I was totally leathered and just watched England win the ashes! Had beers with Chico at the Blackfriar and could hardly stand up. What a day that was!

[Risso]

ATAL / Clampy / Ads

I am not trying to wind people up, I just react to football in a different way.

As mentioned before on this thread, my Villa fandom is probably different to most of you. Not only didn't I grow up as a Villa fan, I had virtually no interest in football. I was all rugby and cricket.
I had a vague interest in Liverpool in the mid-70s but that was only because I knew relatives of 'Supersub'.

I was 27 before I saw a professional football match in person. Luckily that game was at Villa park and 22 years later, I'm still going.

I fully recognise that Villa and football in general doesn't mean as much to me as to the rest of you and that I don't have the emotional attachment.

However, I really enjoy going to Villa games and am grateful for the way that such an outsider has been made welcome both in the real world and on this forum.

It's still a little bit odd!  If you're emotionally involved enough to travel to games, why wouldn't you then spend an extra 15 minutes watching the celebrations and joining in with the other fans there?  The half an hour at Wembley after we'd won the play offs is one of my favourite ever football moments.  Unlike you I'm not a big fan of baseball, but when we were in Boston this time last year, I still went to see the World Series victory parade, as it's an occasion that you're not going to see very often.  That was brilliant by the way.

[Sexual Ealing]

ATAL / Clampy / Ads

I am not trying to wind people up, I just react to football in a different way.

As mentioned before on this thread, my Villa fandom is probably different to most of you. Not only didn't I grow up as a Villa fan, I had virtually no interest in football. I was all rugby and cricket.
I had a vague interest in Liverpool in the mid-70s but that was only because I knew relatives of 'Supersub'.

I was 27 before I saw a professional football match in person. Luckily that game was at Villa park and 22 years later, I'm still going.

I fully recognise that Villa and football in general doesn't mean as much to me as to the rest of you and that I don't have the emotional attachment.

However, I really enjoy going to Villa games and am grateful for the way that such an outsider has been made welcome both in the real world and on this forum.

It's still a little bit odd!  If you're emotionally involved enough to travel to games, why wouldn't you then spend an extra 15 minutes watching the celebrations and joining in with the other fans there?  The half an hour at Wembley after we'd won the play offs is one of my favourite ever football moments.  Unlike you I'm not a big fan of baseball, but when we were in Boston this time last year, I still went to see the World Series victory parade, as it's an occasion that you're not going to see very often.  That was brilliant by the way.

*Gazes at the horizon, tears in eyes*

[Sexual Ealing]

The earliest I've left is QPR away last season (maybe the season before). We conceded on around eight minutes. I was surrounded by total fucking Herberts who were pissed/coked up and it was raining. Loftus Road is a 20 minute bus ride from home and I thought 'fuck this'. We won 2-1 in the end but I didn't regret it.

[Brassneck]

The earliest I've left is QPR away last season (maybe the season before). We conceded on around eight minutes. I was surrounded by total fucking Herberts who were pissed/coked up and it was raining. Loftus Road is a 20 minute bus ride from home and I thought 'fuck this'. We won 2-1 in the end but I didn't regret it.

I've never known anyone as unlucky as you - You seem to be "surrounded by total fuckin herberts" every game.

[Sexual Ealing]

The earliest I've left is QPR away last season (maybe the season before). We conceded on around eight minutes. I was surrounded by total fucking Herberts who were pissed/coked up and it was raining. Loftus Road is a 20 minute bus ride from home and I thought 'fuck this'. We won 2-1 in the end but I didn't regret it.

I've never known anyone as unlucky as you - You seem to be "surrounded by total fuckin herberts" every game.

I'm from the shires.

[purpletrousers]

The earliest I've left is QPR away last season (maybe the season before). We conceded on around eight minutes. I was surrounded by total fucking Herberts who were pissed/coked up and it was raining. Loftus Road is a 20 minute bus ride from home and I thought 'fuck this'. We won 2-1 in the end but I didn't regret it.

I've never known anyone as unlucky as you - You seem to be "surrounded by total fuckin herberts" every game.

If you live further away and get to a higher ratio of away to home matches than some, you can get proportionally more of the good and bad of the away experience.

[AsTallAsLions]

ATAL / Clampy / Ads

I am not trying to wind people up, I just react to football in a different way.

As mentioned before on this thread, my Villa fandom is probably different to most of you. Not only didn't I grow up as a Villa fan, I had virtually no interest in football. I was all rugby and cricket.
I had a vague interest in Liverpool in the mid-70s but that was only because I knew relatives of 'Supersub'.

I was 27 before I saw a professional football match in person. Luckily that game was at Villa park and 22 years later, I'm still going.

I fully recognise that Villa and football in general doesn't mean as much to me as to the rest of you and that I don't have the emotional attachment.

However, I really enjoy going to Villa games and am grateful for the way that such an outsider has been made welcome both in the real world and on this forum.

It's still a little bit odd!  If you're emotionally involved enough to travel to games, why wouldn't you then spend an extra 15 minutes watching the celebrations and joining in with the other fans there?  The half an hour at Wembley after we'd won the play offs is one of my favourite ever football moments.  Unlike you I'm not a big fan of baseball, but when we were in Boston this time last year, I still went to see the World Series victory parade, as it's an occasion that you're not going to see very often.  That was brilliant by the way.

100% agree. To address UK Redsox's point for a minute, I think it's fair enough to say that we have all had different paths towards Villa and we have individual relationships with the club that are unique to each of us, but whatever your level (or mode) of support for a club, the ultimate desire is always the same: to see the team win.

The process of winning a game is great, but as any Villa fan knows, often fraught with uncertainty - and although the experience of being at the game is unbeatable, I've spent many a game biting my nails or otherwise on edge for the entirety of the second half. Coming away from a hard-fought 1-0 or 2-1 without celebrating it and experiencing that sheer relief and release after, being able to sing with the rest of the remaining fans etc, is honestly the best feeling.

You seem a good egg and of course everyone's free to support the club whatever way they like so long as it doesn't hurt anyone (but themselves!), but if you're telling me you wouldn't stick around to watch Jack lift the FA Cup I'd have to start questioning your sanity mate. Because what an unparalleled feeling that would be. Better than just about anything else I can imagine, to be perfectly honest with you.

[Risso]

I spent almost the entire five and a half hours of extra time at the Play Off final clinging on to Sexual Ealing's cousin for emotional support.

[adrenachrome]

I spent almost the entire five and a half hours of extra time at the Play Off final clinging on to Sexual Ealing's cousin for emotional support.

Is "cousin" another euphemism which has entered the language? Hard to keep up these days.

[Des Little]

I kind of get Redsox’s point in the same way that I kind of get thhat there are blokes out there who like having their ballbags nailed to a table. Each their own and all that.

[Sexual Ealing]

I kind of get Redsox’s point in the same way that I kind of get thhat there are blokes out there who like having their ballbags nailed to a table. Each their own and all that.

Ballbag is such an ugly word. Try using 'cousin'.

[CT]

If we ever get to a situation where Jack is lifting the FA Cup for Aston Villa, they will have to peel me out of Wembley stadium.

[Mister E]

If we ever get to a situation where Jack is lifting the FA Cup for Aston Villa, they will have to peel me out of Wembley stadium.

By which time they'll probably have to wheel me out of Wembley stadium ....

[Clampy]

I'll never forget that last 15 minutes or so at Wembley, just after Derby pulled their goal back. I was an absolute wreck, I could hardly watch whenever Derby went forward. The relief at the final whistle was immense. There's no way on earth I could have clapped a bit then just walked out after that.