Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Stu on June 28, 2017, 10:57:18 AM
-
Tell your kids not to be gloryhunting fans. They'll thank you in the end (https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2017/jun/28/football-team-family-kids-club)
-
Great article!
-
Excellent Read!
-
Good read thanks for posting.
-
Love it !
-
Ain't that the truth!
Enjoyed that.
-
Quality.
Some young wizz should cut/paste the raw text here to make it easier for old uns like me to send it to our kids.
-
A colleague at work, drawn and tired, complained to me recently that he doesn’t want his son to grow up supporting his team. Their performances have been so shameful and the management of the club has been so dire that he would be ashamed to pass on such a legacy. I looked at him for a second, then laughed in his face. He supports Arsenal.
But it’s a dilemma we all face. When our children reach the age where bullies, those active agents of Darwinism, start to single out from the herd those with sticking-out ears, or not-quite-brand-new trainers, or parents who thought Astro-Hercules was an excel lent name for a small boy, it is only natural to want to give the spiteful bastards as little ammunition as possible. And so, as parents, we decide if we really wish to inflict our own woes on our poor, innocent children.
My friend Alan lives in south London and is a lifelong supporter of Plymouth Argyle. A few years ago we were sitting in his kitchen, drinking tea, listening to Sports Report and complaining bitterly about one thing and another when I raised the question of when he’d be taking his little lad to a Plymouth game. I was shocked to hear that, far from allowing the boy to follow in his footsteps, he would be actively encouraging him to follow Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool or some other team easy to watch on the television.
I wondered whether he might instead take him to see Palace, to which his scornful reply was: “But then I’d have to watch Palace, wouldn’t I?” This was unanswerably true. And at that moment, with perfect timing, the Plymouth score was read. They’d been gubbed again and were bottom of the league – as I said, this was a few years ago. Alan fixed me with a look of silent eloquence. Fair enough.
My dad started taking me to Villa Park when football was deeply unfashionable. The ticket prices reflected both that and the state of the ground. It wasn’t an expensive day out but to a six-year-old boy it was as intoxicating as a deep draw on a filterless fag. In the same way, it could easily have put me off for life. The moment I first saw the cavernous black toilets under the Holte End, where generations of my family had pissed, and largely on the floor by the look of it, will be a memory I carry to my dying day.
I don’t remember much about the football. I have no memory of the games themselves. But there was something else about going to Villa Park. It was a voyage into my family’s past. Every trip would be the cue for some improbable anecdote. My uncle had stood on this spot after defeat by Port Vale in the Cup and vowed solemnly never to come back. The crowd for a Cup game was once so huge that my dad was picked up here by the crush and set down right over there. My great-uncle had gone blind-drunk into this pub looking for Albion supporters to fight and unfortunately managed to find quite a lot of them.
But the anecdotes weren’t just stories about the Villa. In the late 1970s the Birmingham of old was vanishing at an accelerated rate, the back-to-backs and Victorian pubs dropping ever faster before the bulldozers. Often the meandering journey in our unreliable French car would take in my dad’s first school, or the gasworks where Uncle Ben served as fire warden in the war, or the factory where my grandfather worked for 30 years and left with a gold watch and a double hernia.
There was the day when he showed me the house where he was born, empty and due for demolition. I remember thinking, even as an eight-year-old, that it seemed a very small place for a family of six to live. And I remember wondering what exactly he was searching for with his eyes as he stood quietly in the street for ages, looking up at that blue-slated roof.
I know now that my dad’s life has seen about the usual number of tragedies, humiliations, failures and disasters. At the time I knew nothing about them, or about him. The only time I saw him with his head in his hands, boiling with fury or speechless with boundless injustice was at the football. The only time I saw him cheer, celebrate or unbutton himself in pointless celebration was at the football.
You can do more for your children than buy them new trainers or give them a sensible name. You can give them a window on your life. At the time, they won’t know what they’re looking at. But in years to come, they will remember the view.
It's a great read, and the comments below it on the Grauniad site are also interesting.
My old man was not remotely interested in football and I was lucky to be taken to VP at the age of 9 in 1967 by my bessie mate and his dad.
I found out more recently that my father's cousin (Billy Evans) had played for the Villa, that his grandfather had got married at Aston Church and that his great grandfather had owned pubs in Ladywood and Quinton. All of which more than justifies my Villaness!
-
Although my story is different it is exactly the same.
Excellent.
-
Well done that young wizz.
Thank you
-
Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in the Midlands, going to football matches whether local or not was never a proposition that was available to me. So when I started following football in the early to mid nineties, initially I was very much a "glory-grabber" and "supported" Man U. My favourite player was Mark Hughes, so when he moved to Chelsea, I decided I'd switch allegiance to the blues, which was quite unusual in my area and also I could no longer be a glory grabber.
So since Mourinho, Abramovic, Drogba and all the rest, I must admit that I feel slightly tainted by the band wagon jumpers, and almost am embarrassed to tell people who I support. In a way I resent the lack of exclusivity that my team's success has brought. Funny old game.
-
What a great read that was.
It would have been easy to have let my lad grow up and follow one of the current big guns, but I felt a duty to immerse him in the Villa, no matter how much of a circus we've been over the last 5 years or so.
All he's known is us being crap, but he also knows it's not always been like that, and maybe one day, some really happy times will return. A few times when we really hit rock bottom, I even offered him a way out, saying he could support who he liked - that was met with "no chance". A dust in the eye moment for sure.
If we let our kids follow the Sky favourites, there won't be any other clubs in the future.
-
An Excellent article.
My Daughter isn't interested in Football, but if she was I would do everything in my power to make sure she supported a local club, even it didn't happen to be Villa.
-
Brilliant.
Ive emailed it to my son.
Coincidentally, he's now at Plymouth Uni, so they are now his second team.
-
It's a brilliant article.
-
Damon should write more instead of tv reporting, he's great. I've not read the readers' comments as the Graudian seem to attract more knuckleheads than you would expect.
-
I had a look earlier and the comments were mostly fine.
-
I'm just concerned about Brian unbuttoning himself in celebration.
-
Very good article! My grandfather, father and uncles were Villa supporters, as are my brother and his children, although we all live a long way from Birmingham. I vividly remember the impression the old Trinity Road stand made on me, with the stained glass, the mosaics and the elegant curved balcony, even though I have no recollection of the first games I was taken to. I'm grateful for the allegiance that my father passed on to me.
-
Thoroughly enjoyable article Damon. It could almost mirror my experience. Taken at the age of five in the early fifties, that didn't work out as I was more interested in digging the dirt at the top of the Witton End, then, up the Holte End where I remember looking down at the playground in Aston Park and wishing I was in there.
Fast forward a couple of years and my interest was kindled, which began just prior to us winning the FA Cup in 1957. My Old Lad was born in Manor Road and, living in Birmingham I used to pass the house regularly, then it was demolished and replaced with some sort of maisonettes which, the last time I looked are now in need of demolition themselves.
Meeting my uncle with my dad before games, getting in to the match at the same time, 2:40pm every home game and, taking up the same spot in front of the same crush barrier at the Witton End which, I continued to do even as an adult until the time they came and ripped it apart for the North Stand.
If I'd ever attempted to switch allegiance to any other club, the Old Man would have whipped me from arsehole to breakfast time. His words echo as true today as they did to me back then " there is no club anywhere that has the history of the Villa". We may not have won much in recent years and we are going through a rough patch at the moment but I wouldn't swap it for the world. My two English grandsons are Villa fans, and my eldest Irish grandson is a Villa fan. I take pride in the fact that I made their parents Villa fans and they have continued on the tradition. We're claret and blue through and through, despite my moaning.
-
Great article. I bought my son his first Villa shirt on his first birthday and took him to his first match when he was four. He is fifteen now and I knew I had brought him up right when we beat Small Heath last season and he was going mental at the final whistle. He is normally very reserved.
-
Damon should write more instead of tv reporting, he's great. I've not read the readers' comments as the Graudian seem to attract more knuckleheads than you would expect.
You obviously don't read many of the comments on the guardian!
-
I loved this piece when I read it in WSC. Obviously it resonates as a Villa fan, but the fundamental point should apply to all.
-
Both of my lads who live thousands of Kms away from Villa Park are Villa fans.
One is passionate , one is passive. But if you ask him who he supports, it is Aston Villa.
Both myself and their late Grandad have taken them to Villa Park, they have seen the gasworks, the Litchfield rd, They have been in the Holte Pub and the Aston social.
The passive one was there for the 5-1 thrashing of the Blues, that day he was also passionate.
The Legacy is passed on.
-
My Dad brought up 7 Villa mad boys and also enjoyed a double hernia after 40 years at Fort Dunlop.
-
Very good article! My grandfather, father and uncles were Villa supporters, as are my brother and his children, although we all live a long way from Birmingham. I vividly remember the impression the old Trinity Road stand made on me, with the stained glass, the mosaics and the elegant curved balcony, even though I have no recollection of the first games I was taken to. I'm grateful for the allegiance that my father passed on to me.
As one of said children of brother I can't imagine not having the shared passion for Villa in the family. I appreciate everyone has different experiences growing up and I was fortunate to have the torch passed on. I saw a post from a friend on social media the other day where he (glory hunting Liverpool fan) was goading his Dad (Man City fan from pre-glory days) over beating them last season. It just seemed wrong. How can you be on different sides?
-
Great article. Pissed myself laughing about the piss. I can completely relate to Brian's character change at games, my father is exactly the same. A weekly chance to let off a bit of steam and the utter joys of happiness when we win.
-
I managed to brainwash my cousin (younger by just over 3 years) into supporting Villa rather than his dad's team (Albion). The only time in the last 35+ years he has wished I hadn't was at Wembley Stadium station after the Cup Final two years ago.
-
Best article I have read in ages.
-
Damon should write more instead of tv reporting, he's great. I've not read the readers' comments as the Graudian seem to attract more knuckleheads than you would expect.
You obviously don't read many of the comments on the guardian!
I really don't understand all the right wing comments on the guardian and, actually, vice versa on the mail etc. I guess there is a lot of trolling but surely in general people post on newspaper sites where they are in likeminded company?
-
Best article I have read in ages.
Well, take a look at this one then (http://http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=57526.0): similar era
-
superb read
even now my three season tickets for myself son and daughter are in the closest spot to where I used to stand on the holte from the 70s and every game I have some story from years gone by about goals, saves ,tackles etc and from when my grandfather used to lie me down on his car floor when he used to park in the imi ici car park for games and smuggle me out of the car park for games.
never ever has my son or daughter ever entertained the idea that they could of supported another club because they know what aston villa means to me and my grandfather and they will one day pass that on to there children
-
Fabulous.
-
Very good read, could have been a chapter from fever pitch (but about Villa not Arsenal obviously).
-
One thing I've aleays wondered about gloryhunters who support a team on another part of the country is whether they join in with chants about that city or town (Liverpool and Manchester for example).
-
Outstanding. Now on our FB Page.
-
Saw that on Twitter. Then after I'd read it I realised who'd written it.
Good article, Damon.
-
I don't have any offspring but if I did, they would have no choice but to support Villa. I wonder if it would be the same if I supported a Plymouth or Hartlepool though. At least with Villa there's still the hope, if not expectation, that at some point the good times will come back. I don't know if I would do the same if I supported someone where that wasn't the case.
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
-
I don't have any offspring but if I did, they would have no choice but to support Villa. I wonder if it would be the same if I supported a Plymouth or Hartlepool though. At least with Villa there's still the hope, if not expectation, that at some point the good times will come back. I don't know if I would do the same if I supported someone where that wasn't the case.
My girls are Villa.
-
There was never a lot of money about in our house my old mans work was physically draining on big presses at the car factory, my mother was a very good money manager, my memories is of the speedway at Perry Barr watching Grahame Warren and Tiger Hart and of course Villa Park. These memories are ingrained, little inconsequential incidents spring to mind that would mean nothing to anyone but me but they tie me to my family and to the Villa. Even though I am thousands of miles away the emotional attachment is as strong as ever because that is who I was and who I am.
-
One of my favourite things to do is to listen to my dad talk about visits he made to Villa Park as a child in the thirties. He can clearly recall scorers and weather conditions from games of that era, though he sometimes struggles to remember Saturday's result. Nan was a Villa fan who used to walk from Smethwick to Villa Park to watch the traditional Christmas Day game as the trams didn't run.
I'm proud that I have seen his favourite players (Carrodus and McGrath) play, and stood by his side at his favourite game (Tranmere Rovers).
-
I spent the last ten years on and off researching my family tree.
As part of that, I dug into stories from old - and sometimes extremely old (my gran is 99 years old) - members of the family, oral history, and what came up time and time again was the involvement of Villa in the family. So, I found out that my great great grandfather had worked as a mineral water salesman on the Victorian grounds upon which Villa Park was built. My great grandfather on the other side had done alright for himself and bought season tickets for all his employees. My gran's father was absolutely Villa obsessed as long back as my gran can remember, to the point of, if we lost, coming home at midnight, rat arsed, chucking his cold dinner in the bin and going off to bed in a strop.
My entire family moved to Aston from the countryside in the mid nineteenth century and then lived within a few streets of the ground for the best part of a century.
What comes of that is that every single time I go to Villa Park, I reflect on the fact that I am staring at the same rectangle of grass, in exactly the same location, as generations of my family have done.
It wasn't until I traced my family history that I fully appreciated that. It is why - for selfish reasons, admittedly - I would hate to see us move, or totally rebuild and rotate the pitch (Wembley style) or anything like that.
It means a lot to me that when I'm sat there, watching the unfolding grimness through my fingers, I am looking at precisely the same rectangle of sadness that generation after generation of my family did.
-
Superb article. Great work that man
-
Cracking write up Damon.
-
I don't have any offspring but if I did, they would have no choice but to support Villa. I wonder if it would be the same if I supported a Plymouth or Hartlepool though. At least with Villa there's still the hope, if not expectation, that at some point the good times will come back. I don't know if I would do the same if I supported someone where that wasn't the case.
I'm a bit torn on that one, for if I lived in another part of the country and had kids who grew up there, I'm not sure if I would encourage them to support their local team no matter what league they were in.
-
I didn't; couldn't. Villa are far too important to me to countenance my children not being Villa fans. It hadn't even crossed my minds. Now, regular readers may remember my concerns regarding my eldest one's alliegances given that for most of his life he's lived overseas, and when in the U.K. we're in Crystal Palace territory but with friends supporting the usual suspects. But, he's fully committed to my enormous relief. As is my youngest who has little real interest but loves Aston Villa and hates The Shit (obviously he doesn't know them by that name. Yet.
-
My son is only 17 months old and may not get into football at all but just in case I've already set the ball in motion by buying him a baby kit back in October and getting him in the match programme vs Norwich. I would despair if he chose to support one of the usual suspects, I mean if he wants to actually physically go to a football match then he'd have to be coming to Villa with me. No way would he probably be able to get tickets for any of those tosser clubs and I sure wouldn't be going with him. My mother in law who is a casual Brighton fan and knows absolutely nothing whatsoever about football reckons I shouldn't be trying to force a club on him and I defend my self with the reasons I've given above. Doesn't stop her hinting he should be a Brighton fan every so often though. Funny huh? Luckily i have converted his mom so thats both parents trying to steer him in the right direction. I tell ya.........
-
A grand read, thanks for posting. When my son was 10 he declared he wanted to follow Liverpool, as all his friends did; no problem said I, but I'll go and pack your bags as you are leaving home. He's 20 now, follows the Villa and has as much to cheer about as the rest of us.
-
I don't have any offspring but if I did, they would have no choice but to support Villa. I wonder if it would be the same if I supported a Plymouth or Hartlepool though. At least with Villa there's still the hope, if not expectation, that at some point the good times will come back. I don't know if I would do the same if I supported someone where that wasn't the case.
I'm a bit torn on that one, for if I lived in another part of the country and had kids who grew up there, I'm not sure if I would encourage them to support their local team no matter what league they were in.
My son was born, brought up and still lives in North Yorks. He's a Villa fan, through and through, despite pressure from Leeds and ManUre fans.
-
Me and my daughter live in Brisbane in Australia. She is 6 now. Ive never forced her to support Villa, but she does. Just taught her songs from the age of 2 and shown her stuff on YouTube.
When I would take her swimming lessons on Saturday morning, the bloke who runs the coffee van outside the swimming pool is a Cov fan and a good lad- she would run up to him and shout (very loudly) hello Steve - up the Villa! and blow him a raspberry!
She also gives my old man shit for supporting MU.
No idea if she will continue to support them when she gets older. I'll never try to force it, just reinforce it. It's a bond we've got and I hope it continues. Her head is getting turned a bit by the AFL a bit- she likes Brisbane Lions, but they've been shite for a while now, so I reckon Villa have got at least an evens chance of retaining her support.
-
Living in Ireland, means being surrounded by glory hunters, often defined by what age groups they are. 50s Leeds United, 40's-30's Liverpool, 30's Man U, 20's mix of Man U and Arsenal, under 20's Man City, Chelsea, which is understandable.
My 2 kids 16 and 13 are Villa, brought them both to their first games when they were around 5, and try and get to at least 2 or 3 games a season, they have always had the kits.
Whenever they got any stick at school about being Villa, i taught them to ask their friends how many games they had been to, knowing that our trips to VP were always more. A lot of the glory hunters have been to only one or two games in their lives, including some of the older ones.
This year i took them to their first away game Fulham, they loved it. This season i plan on bringing them to their first Villa Blues derby.
They love wearing their Villa tops to be different, they get excited to see another Villa top in Ireland, they even taught themselves the words to Shit on the City "as Gaeilge".
I would love to take them to Wembley one day to see us win a trophy.
You owe it to your kids, don't let them grow up as glory hunters, we did not choose we were chosen. They will thank you for it later.
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.
Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.
So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.
And yes, it's a great article.
-
Great piece of writing and it resounded with me as a third generation Brummie and Villa fan who started going with my Dad and Grandparents in the mid 60s. I've regretfully made only token efforts to interest my son or daughter in Villa, not because of the frustrations of being a Villa fan but more because of the way football has gone. As anyone can see, it's now all about, and just about, the money. When I started supporting Villa we were a rubbish division 1 team who quickly sank to the the third. Nevertheless, no matter how bleak things got, there was always a way back. There was always hope, that if we just got our shit together we could take our place as one of the top clubs. And of course we did. And that same path was open to many clubs not just the bigger city ones - e.g. Derby, Ipswich, Forest. The problem now is, Leicester's freak seasons aside, the top 6 or 7 is more a less a closed shop, as are the last 8 or so in the so-called Champions League. Despite being from the second biggest city in the UK and having a fairly large fan base we still struggled to compete and I can't see much hope for that ever changing unless we get taken over by a sugar daddy of Abramovich / Sheikh Mansour wealth. Even then the rich elite have closed the trapdoor with FFP rules, and so will no doubt remain the rich elite unless something drastic happens. So I do wonder what the point is of getting my kids too attached to a a team that has, in all likelihood, had the hope that sustained me through my early supporting years, effectively removed.
-
Yes a very good article that. I'm kind of envious in that I didn't have generations of my family force feeding me the club from an early age, I had to find it for myself or, it found me.
There was the day when he showed me the house where he was born, empty and due for demolition. I remember thinking, even as an eight-year-old, that it seemed a very small place for a family of six to live. And I remember wondering what exactly he was searching for with his eyes as he stood quietly in the street for ages, looking up at that blue-slated roof
That bit made me smile. Searching his mind no doubt for the numerous memories about his time there the one that stands out is that the rattling slate was never fixed and never would be.
-
Just something that made very proud from this article (great read, by the way, thank you!).
Someone posted this: "Blimey, I can remember being jealous of successful clubs like Villa, and I'm a Chelsea fan of some vintage."
To which a few others posted these:
"Following villa isn't one of football's greatest challenges. You get to visit a ground every couple of weeks which is still one of the greatest sights in british football. I accept that what passes for football once inside is currently an issue. Lovethe ground despite nearly being filled in by villa fans outside the witton lane end once !"
"I know I'm biased, but it is, right? Villa Park just oozes class and football history - right through to the very early beginnings of the game."
"Villa park is a fucking beautiful stadium!"
-
It's a great read but liked it when it was first on an Indie label (WSC).
My daughter has the middle name of Aston, came home from the hospital in a Villa baby grow and has a paver in her name with her birthdate on at Villa Park. Of course she's a Hull City supporter. Didn't take my eye off the ball where my son is concerned.
-
It's an interesting piece. I was a glory hunter as I fell in love with Villa and Gary Shaw at a young age through Shoot magazines. Then 5 years later I was being teased at school by my Luton supporting friends when we got relegated and regularly beaten by them. Though I guess in the long run I dodged a bullet by not supporting my local team.
-
VCTM jnr was born on Merseyside sixteen years ago - he is now very much his own person and I wouldn't dream of leaning on him as he now towers above me at 6`2".
His mates from Formby, Crosby and North Liverpool are mostly Everton or Liverpool but respect him for daring to be different and proud to be a Villan. The semi final against Liverpool raised his credibility a fair bit - that was the proudest I have seen him before, during and after the game. The roar that surged from the Villa fans towards the end of the game still makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
The game against the Baggies comes a close for atmosphere and for getting on the pitch to "celebrate" in front of the Baggies fans.
I started taking him down to B6 when he was about 3 or 4 years of age - which is what my dad used to do - jnr must now be 5th generation Villa as my great granddad used to go the games.
Very few things put a smile on my face these days but seeing Jnr punch the air when we score, seeing him looking at Villa stuff on the net , and wearing his Villa training top makes me extremely proud.
One of the greatest and proudest moments was when the final whistle went at Wembley after beating Liverpool - we had the biggest dad and lad / man hug possible whilst jumping up and down shouting "Get the ****in there !!"
Happy memories between son, dad and Villa .....is there anything better ??
-
Yes a very good article that. I'm kind of envious in that I didn't have generations of my family force feeding me the club from an early age, I had to find it for myself or, it found me.
Same here. I'm just grateful that by chance, it did find me and through my boy it's going into a second generation. I just hope it continues.
I've told him I want my name on one of those bricks outside VP when I snuff it too!
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.
Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.
So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.
And yes, it's a great article.
Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married. The house, along with my parents are no longer there.
-
Living in Ireland, means being surrounded by glory hunters, often defined by what age groups they are. 50s Leeds United, 40's-30's Liverpool, 30's Man U, 20's mix of Man U and Arsenal, under 20's Man City, Chelsea, which is understandable.
My 2 kids 16 and 13 are Villa, brought them both to their first games when they were around 5, and try and get to at least 2 or 3 games a season, they have always had the kits.
Whenever they got any stick at school about being Villa, i taught them to ask their friends how many games they had been to, knowing that our trips to VP were always more. A lot of the glory hunters have been to only one or two games in their lives, including some of the older ones.
This year i took them to their first away game Fulham, they loved it. This season i plan on bringing them to their first Villa Blues derby.
They love wearing their Villa tops to be different, they get excited to see another Villa top in Ireland, they even taught themselves the words to Shit on the City "as Gaeilge".
I would love to take them to Wembley one day to see us win a trophy.
You owe it to your kids, don't let them grow up as glory hunters, we did not choose we were chosen. They will thank you for it later.
My four-year-old grandson finished playschool for the last time today and there was a little party for all of them at the playschool. Mrs S and I went along and there he was, in his Villa polo shirt that I had bought him the last time I was over. There was a little three-year-old lad there that my daughter pointed out; that turned up the other day in a full Villa kit. I tried to find his parents but they'd left. My daughter said she will find out about them when they return in the new school year. We show up everywhere.
As an aside to that. On the drive home I came up behind a car that had Manchester City stickers all over the rear window and you just knew that he was a plastic, Johnny-come-lately gloryhunter.
-
My Dad was from Tamworth and although we lived in Southampton he took me to Villa Park when we visited the relatives once or twice a season. I was first taken in 71 and then started going regularly on my own once leaving school in 79. My son is now 18 and started going with me from the age of 3. He's always lived at least 150 miles away from Villa Park but like me Villa are a constant in his life and a great connection between Dad and Son. Going to games together is always a great day out no matter how bad Villa are. I'm sure he will pass the tradition on no matter where in the world he chooses too live.
-
Tell your kids not to be gloryhunting fans. They'll thank you in the end (https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2017/jun/28/football-team-family-kids-club)
Thanks for posting this article. Great read and some of the messages with the article made me very proud to follow in my dad's footsteps to Villa Park. Still one of the country's favourite grounds among the neutrals.
-
My Dad was from Tamworth and although we lived in Southampton he took me to Villa Park when we visited the relatives once or twice a season. I was first taken in 71 and then started going regularly on my own once leaving school in 79. My son is now 18 and started going with me from the age of 3. He's always lived at least 150 miles away from Villa Park but like me Villa are a constant in his life and a great connection between Dad and Son. Going to games together is always a great day out no matter how bad Villa are. I'm sure he will pass the tradition on no matter where in the world he chooses too live.
In my younger days I used to be on the same 6.25am train from Southampton as Dorset Villain after we moved to Southampton from Oldbury. There was quite a little crew of us the season we won the league - some starting out all the way from Bournemouth, others joining us at Basingstoke, Reading and Oxford. Happy days!
On the day we moved to Southampton, when I was 7 years old, I asked my Dad if we would support Southampton now, and he said 'Don't be so bloody stupid!'
-
I was certainly part of that group and still go to games with some of them now. I now live in West Dorset but will see some those old timers at the Bournemouth Lions annual summer BBQ on Sunday. Guest of honour is Dennis Mortimer, so it should be a good afternoon. The Bournemouth Lions is a very active Villa supporters club with a good number of members making regular trips to both home and away games.
-
The words of 'My Old Man' resonate with me. My old man spent two years 'on the books of the Blues' (before I was born). My next door neighbour took me down the Villa after his two teenage sons had 'bribed and brainwashed me' (in the words of my bluenose family). They gave me their old Villa tops they had grown out of. I loved being the black (or claret and blue sheep) of the family. Despite all the bluff and bluster there are only four members of my family who go to Small Heath or Villa games. Myself, my son, my cousins husband and his son. All of us Villa fans. The rest just talk the talk and give it the big 'un. Some of them even own a Small Heath shirt.
-
I was certainly part of that group and still go to games with some of them now. I now live in West Dorset but will see some those old timers at the Bournemouth Lions annual summer BBQ on Sunday. Guest of honour is Dennis Mortimer, so it should be a good afternoon. The Bournemouth Lions is a very active Villa supporters club with a good number of members making regular trips to both home and away games.
Fantastic!
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.
Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.
So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.
And yes, it's a great article.
Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married. The house, along with my parents are no longer there.
It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.
Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.
Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.
So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.
And yes, it's a great article.
Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married. The house, along with my parents are no longer there.
It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.
Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.
Ah! I was down with the riff-raff, just by the roundabout with Dovedale Road. There were a few shops and a bank across the road.
IIRC, there was one, if not two of the Birmingham Six that lived in the groves opposite the College Arms. There or thereabouts.
The College Arms has, for many years been a McDonald's burger joint, at least it was the last time I took a spin down there.
-
My old man took me when I was 4. Never even considered another team, when at school I was surrounded by Dogheads and glory L-pool fans. I went with him until he passed when I was 13. One thing I miss is going up with him and chatting about how we are doing etc. My boy is now 2, he will be Villa, can't wait to take to VP.
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.
Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.
So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.
And yes, it's a great article.
Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married. The house, along with my parents are no longer there.
It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.
Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.
Ah! I was down with the riff-raff, just by the roundabout with Dovedale Road. There were a few shops and a bank across the road.
IIRC, there was one, if not two of the Birmingham Six that lived in the groves opposite the College Arms. There or thereabouts.
The College Arms has, for many years been a McDonald's burger joint, at least it was the last time I took a spin down there.
My brother in law's dad was a relief manager for pubs back in the 80s. He was a big bloke, had been a wrestler for a while, and could look after himself. On his first day in the College Arms, less than an hour after opening, he was hit on the head from behind with a bar stool and knocked out.
That was the College Arms for me.
-
Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.
I went in a few years ago to a retirement party for a senior teacher of one of the local Catholic schools, it's a beautiful building from the outside but rather tatty and functional inside.
This was before the Popes visit mind so they might well have thrown some money at it around then.
-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/02/08/ranking-all-54-stadiums-in-premier-league-history/old-trafford-stadium-home-to-manchester-united/
-
It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.
On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!
I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.
Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.
So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.
And yes, it's a great article.
Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married. The house, along with my parents are no longer there.
It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.
Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.
Ah! I was down with the riff-raff, just by the roundabout with Dovedale Road. There were a few shops and a bank across the road.
IIRC, there was one, if not two of the Birmingham Six that lived in the groves opposite the College Arms. There or thereabouts.
The College Arms has, for many years been a McDonald's burger joint, at least it was the last time I took a spin down there.
We lived just behind the social club opposite, seem to remember Desmond Douglas the table tennis player lived in one of the Barret homes at the bottom of our road.
-
We lived just behind the social club opposite, seem to remember Desmond Douglas the table tennis player lived in one of the Barret homes at the bottom of our road.
He was certainly around there somewhere - I had a friend nearby who got a TT bat signed by him.
College Arms is still a McDonalds Dave - as of a couple of weeks ago. I only ever went in it the once with a mate whose dad was quite well known, so we were safe enough, but it was a big fighting pub.
I'm impressed you got into the college PW. For years all I ever knew of it was the gatehouse (?) on the corner of College Rd and Chester Rd (what's now the main entrance wasn't there I'm sure) and I hadn't got a clue what was behind it. That's the trouble with the internet - no mystery anymore.
-
I never set foot in the College either. I do remember the only time in my life I wanted the police to pick me up. It was on a wet, drizzly morning in November, the day my daughter was born. She was anti-social insofar as she put in her appearance at five to four in the morning.
When I left Good Hope I tried to get a taxi (we had no car then) with no luck and there were no buses running at that time so I had no choice but to walk and I didn't have the appropriate coat. Anyway, the police buzzed me twice as I probably looked suspicious and I thought, go on lads, pick me up, you're bound to drop me at my mother's when you here my tale. No such luck.
Now, it's no that far from Good Hope to the College Road but the sense of relief when I reached the entrance to the Seminary was palpable. I never got to work that day either.
I'll bore you with one more story about 'our end' of the College Road. For those of you that don't know it, it's a dual carriageway and a helluva long road. When my old man died, the tradition was that the neighbours would have a collection to buy flowers for the deceased. The neighbours on our side canvassed a few houses either way and someone on the far side did likewise. The only difference being whoever took up the collection on the far side pocketed the cash and went on the piss. A classy lot down our way.
-
I took my daughter to her first game at villa park when she was 5..she was hooked...she is now 20 and I can't go to a villa game without taking her. It's not just about the game it''s about the whole day. Having a few in bham before getting the train from new st...the atmosphere. The characters that you encounter.it all makes for a great day and also the memories that will live forever...I love it...I just fuckìn love it.