Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: The Laughing Policeman on February 20, 2012, 12:34:03 PM
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Leaving aside all the misery that appears to be going on at the moment.
What is it about our club that makes you proud to be a Villa fan?
For me Dave Woodhall summed it up in the Eammon Deacy thread when he said that down the years Aston Villa have had this innate ability to do the right thing. Nearly always in an understated way.
I think in recent years the one thing that really filled me with pride was when we decided to wear the name of Acorns on our shirts instead of going for a multi million pound sponsorship deal. I remember meeting fans of other clubs at that time and they were very impressed with our club taking that decision.
It's also the little things the club do that never get onto the back pages.
I remember going to a midweek match at The Den in 1974-5 and our coach had three of it's windows bricked after the game. We stopped at the first services on the M1 to try to get some cardboard to at least stop the wind getting in. As we stopped the team bus also pulled in alongside us and Mr. Saunders got off their bus first, he saw the smashed windows and came straight on board our coach to see if anyone was hurt, thankfully no one was. He said jokingly that we could take the team bus and the players could travel back on ours!! After patching up the windows we all went inside to get hot drinks to find that anything we wanted was already paid for. Whether Mr. Saunders or the club paid the bill we didn't know, Only a small gesture but very much appreciated.
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Just hearing the name is enough to do it for me.
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That was my first ever Villa game. Won 3-1 if I remember right, 2 for Little & 1 for Keith Leonard. Little chipping Brian King from distance I think for one. I was hooked after that night and proud to be a Villa fan since. A fantastic club full of history & tradition.
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That was my first ever Villa game. Won 3-1 if I remember right, 2 for Little & 1 for Keith Leonard. Little chipping Brian King from distance I think for one. I was hooked after that night and proud to be a Villa fan since. A fantastic club full of history & tradition.
Upholding a family tradition almost since the time the club was formed.
I was at that game, went with a Milwall supporting friend. Spoilt by by being told I was not to speak throughout the evening. That tunnel at the old ground with neanderthal man waiting for you at the end was an eexperience to treasure - provided you lived through it.
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This is probably a strange one but I always love watching our away fans celebrate when we score infront of them, on the way home from St Andrews when Gabby scored the late 0-1 winner, all I could think was I can't wait to see the celebrations on MOTD, Mellbergs header at the Emirates and Gabbys winner at Upton Park last season were great too, we always seem to be amongst the better celebrators (if thats a word) in the country, makes me proud to see what our goals mean to us.
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When I was a kid my mom used to say to me "I Love You, son. But at the minute I don't like you."
That sums up Aston Villa for me at the minute.
However, I'll always be proud to be a Villa fan. It'll always have that place that no woman or anyone else can hold. Despite the constant let downs.
I love you Aston Villa.
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So many memories; the camaraderie; being born and brought up 'behind enemy lines' in Shirley; having my father's cousin play for the club, albeit briefly; Little & Gray; the club's heritage; the tingle of anticipation on seeing VP once again (every time, even now); the A - V floodlights; countless away games in the 1970's in my friend's father's car ... I could go on (and on, and on ...)
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Great thread. Sometimes (understandably) we get too close to it and wrapped up in the moment.
Perhaps it is time to reflect more on who we are rather than where we are at the moment.
We are Villa!
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This is probably a strange one but I always love watching our away fans celebrate when we score infront of them, on the way home from St Andrews when Gabby scored the late 0-1 winner, all I could think was I can't wait to see the celebrations on MOTD, Mellbergs header at the Emirates and Gabbys winner at Upton Park last season were great too, we always seem to be amongst the better celebrators (if thats a word) in the country, makes me proud to see what our goals mean to us.
I like this as well. And being in the away end when we score is one of lifes pleasures. It's still good even in the seats, the 'sightless' joy of celebration, then looking around and seeing everyone else going barmy as well, the almost embarrassed smile at ones own immature pleasure followed by a Dellboy type shrug of getting back into self control.
I love footy, no I don't I love Villa
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The pride I have following my local team, and the team that the vast majority of my family have supported, as far back as I can remember, is 1 million times better than supporting one of the teams that play in red, that tend to win. I've never understood how anyone could do it. Aston Villa is part of who I am. It's what I've always know.
In these times of games on TV constantly, and the current financial climate, I've not been to see them as much as I used to. Nothing beats going to the match though. That's probably when I feel most proud to be a Villa fan. You can keep watching Champions League games on TV, in the pub, while wearing your replica shirt, 100 plus miles away from where the game is actually being played. Give me being at a scrappy away victory, in some God forsaken Northern town, in a nothing game any day of the week.
Sure they give me a lot of heart ache. They make me swear. They frustrate me. They make me numb. They've brought me to tears on more than one occasion. When it's good though, my God it's good! It swells me with pride. No owner, manager or player can take that away from us.
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The pride I have following my local team, and the team that the vast majority of my family have supported, as far back as I can remember, is 1 million times better than supporting one of the teams that play in red, that tend to win. I've never understood how anyone could do it. Aston Villa is part of who I am. It's what I've always know.
In these times of games on TV constantly, and the current financial climate, I've not been to see them as much as I used to. Nothing beats going to the match though. That's probably when I feel most proud to be a Villa fan. You can keep watching Champions League games on TV, in the pub, while wearing your replica shirt, 100 plus miles away from where the game is actually being played. Give me being at a scrappy away victory, in some God forsaken Northern town, in a nothing game any day of the week.
Sure they give me a lot of heart ache. They make me swear. They frustrate me. They make me numb. They've brought me to tears on more than one occasion. When it's good though, my God it's good! It swells me with pride. No owner, manager or player can take that away from us.
This!
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And lets not forget that we flipped Hitler the bird when everyone else was kissing his arse. it's that which makes me most proud of our club. Oh... and the classy stadium... Proud history... Consistently high attendances... knowledgable and articulate fans.... William McGregor... Acorns... Paul McGrath... etc etc
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I am proud to be a Villa fan. I always will have a love for the club that will out live any player or manager or owner, the only reason I will ever stop going 'down the Villa' will be financial ones. However shit the football, however low we slip in the leagues I will always be there.
Sadly I am falling out of love with the game but never the Villa.
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Everything.
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Love it
Hope you do not mind have used the bottom paragraph as my signature
Will remove it if you want
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Everything.
Amen.
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Along with my immediate family, the Villa is the one constant that has run through my life from my earliest school days to now - and will no doubt continue to be with me until the day I die. The relationship has known great highs and lows, been stretched to breaking point by finance and geography, suffered more than one bout of indifference on my part and been the source of conflict within more than one relationship and, yet, when all is said and done, I know I that when I'm in some geriatric home for the terminally incontinent, the one thing I will want to know at 5 o'clock every Saturday teatime between mid August and mid May is how we've got on.
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"The door to the lavishly appointed Guest Room at Villa Park was open and out in the corridor the little boys, dodging the commissionaire, were calling for Brian Little and John Gidman. Quite rightly, they took no notice of myself and the elderly bald-headed man, bespectacled, stooping a little, who was quietly finishing his tea. He looked over at them for a moment, a whimsical look, and moved to the long window overlooking the now deserted playing pitch.
"Every time you com here it must bring back memories Pongo" I said. He stared out for a long while. I thought he'd forgotten I was there. "Aye", he said suddenly "aye, they're a great club...the greatest." I stood and looked with him, this old man whose goals had set the Villa crowds roaring so long ago. It was not quite dusk on that March afternoon and I saw them too...they were out again, the old ghosts...Jack Hughes, scorer just about one hundred years earlier of Aston Villa's first goal (perhaps to the very day)...George Ramsay...the Hunter brothers...Willie McGregor...Denny Hodgetts...legion upon legion of them on parade now, filling the field with claret and blue...the century with pride."
(Peter Morris)
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Well done Ricky, I was thinking of posting that. Never tire of reading it, and it always brings a lump to my throat. The introduction to that quite brilliant book (The First 100 Years) is pretty special too. I was already in love with the Villa when I got that book, but reading it made me fall that little bit deeper, and helped me realise just what a unique and truly great club Aston Villa is, was and always will be.
Did you know Pongo's father-in-law was Frank Barson? What a family!
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Love it
Hope you do not mind have used the bottom paragraph as my signature
Will remove it if you want
No problem at all mate, it's quite flattering. Glad you can empathise with my words, and someone else goes through the same pain (and every now and then joy!).
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It's all been said really. We love Villa but right now we don't like them. I work in a national corporate environment where football is the common language but right now is painful and embarrassing and I can't see things improving in the short term. We're on a precipice I feel . Best to enjoy every PL match we're involved in, the party will be over soon.
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Not sure if "pride" is the right word.
Get very emotional about the Villa usually in a pleasant warm way like the memory of an old friend you hope to see again one day; not ashamed to say I cried when I watched the "Proud History : Bright Future" freebie we sent out a few years ago.
I want my old friend back.
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And lets not forget that we flipped Hitler the bird when everyone else was kissing his arse. it's that which makes me most proud of our club. Oh... and the classy stadium... Proud history... Consistently high attendances... knowledgable and articulate fans.... William McGregor... Acorns... Paul McGrath... etc etc
I am proud to be a Villa fan. I always will have a love for the club that will out live any player or manager or owner, the only reason I will ever stop going 'down the Villa' will be financial ones. However shit the football, however low we slip in the leagues I will always be there.
Sadly I am falling out of love with the game but never the Villa.
These say it better than I can. Thanks.
Also: my uncle; his sons who also played for the Villa; my Grandma who provided digs for new players when they arrived at the club; my parents who let me go to any game I wanted to (including Cardiff away on the day my brother got married - I was 13, it was Saturday, Villa were playing!); all those wonderful feelings when we did wonderful things; I feel blessed I was born in Aston and with such a deeply embedded heritage to influence me. I couldn't be much prouder if I tried.
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In truth-I no longer feel this way. I can say it used to be a glorious thing as a youngster going to see the team-win or lose the emotional roller coaster was the equivalent to a day-ticket at Alton towers.
Even in my twenties-seeing us in the Third Division did not diminish my sense of awe about the place or my enthusiasm for the team.
I think I just got old....
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No matter how you feel, whether you have just had a bad day, or things ain't going so well with work or your missus. If you are working out how to pay the next bill, You have been dragged round the shops on a Saturday because you said you would. Its pissing down or freezing, or you are in a bar in Spain in august. You just cant get to the internet or TV or radio. and its 4:40. You still wonder, don't you.
Or if you are in that bar in Spain, with your missus, and met some really nice couple from Plymouth or Nottingham and having a great time. Then the bar tender flicks the channel and puts the scores on, or better still, you look up and see the last 5 minutes of a Villa game. And in that time Lochead, Little, Withe,Yorke or Gabby scores you are going to go "YEEEAAAAH" aren't you. I know I have for longer than I care to admit
Then you can feel the warmth inside that no plastic supporter will ever feel
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my passion for football in its modern form has diminished but not for the villa. Both sides of my family going back generations were born and bred in Aston, my parents were married in the church outside the ground (Bells are ringing) and my grandad boxed for the villa. His picture was on the wall of the original Holte pub. So its not just the villa for me its the ground and the surrounding areas that I love regardless of how they change. I only make it back there once a year but once my kids are old enough to look after themselves i will be coming home to live out my retirement as a season ticket holder once again.
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Those colours, Claret and Blue, everytime I see them on anything Villa related gives me a warm tingle. Meeting someone for the first time and finding out we are Villa.
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Despite what often occurs on the pitch, there's plenty that I'm proud of the Villa for; mostly in our frequent and sincere attempts to aid local charities and to make differences in the community. Also, our proud History of being the fourth most successful club in English Football, and being 1 of 4 clubs to win the European Cup stands as something that to this day continues to keep me both upbeat and preserves my fiery passion for the Villa.
Perhaps stepping away from 'pride' and more towards my love of the Villa in general, I think it all stems from my relationship with my Father. My parents divorced when I was 5, and since then I have seen little of my Father, often being once a week during my late childhood but that seems to be decreasing less and less, as during my late teenage years I'll see him about once or twice a month - often being only when we go down to the Villa. So obviously, I have the Villa to thank for as it gives me a reason to see my Father, but also as due to the limited time I spent with him as I grew up, it became the sole thing we have in common, and I can honestly go out on a limb and say that if you took every conversation we've ever had, about 75% will be to do with the Villa, as the base of our fragile yet somewhat resilient relationship.
The Villa is a huge part of my life, and as I've said, has become a key tie in my family. I know it's a cliche; but players come and go, as do managers, but us - the fans who live perilously through thick and thing, our passion and loyalty is forever. The Villa are not in the best shape right now, and while I am but at what a lot of you would consider the tender age of 17, it warms my heart to say that nothing fills me with more emotion and passion, than standing in the Holte singing on the team that I love.
Fuck 'em, we're Aston Villa.
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This is probably a strange one but I always love watching our away fans celebrate when we score infront of them, on the way home from St Andrews when Gabby scored the late 0-1 winner, all I could think was I can't wait to see the celebrations on MOTD, Mellbergs header at the Emirates and Gabbys winner at Upton Park last season were great too, we always seem to be amongst the better celebrators (if thats a word) in the country, makes me proud to see what our goals mean to us.
Spot on. Melee's in the away end are the best part of football. I love watching away ends go up.
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Pride was the feeling I got as a kid whenever Godber mentioned "The Villa" in Porridge.
Pride was looking up at the A and V floodlights during a night game knowing that every Tom, Dick n Harry driving along the expressway or the M6 would see the famous initials telling the world who we were.
Pride was being 5-1 up at half-time against the mighty Liverpool.
Pride was the feeling when OUR David Platt scored that brilliant last minute winner for England against Belgium in the 1990 World Cup.
Pride was being in Rotterdam and savouring being champions of Europe.
I could go on and on but most of all pride is knowing that both parents, my kids, my brothers, my cousins, my uncles and my nephews are all Villa – and always will be.
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Those colours, Claret and Blue, everytime I see them on anything Villa related gives me a warm tingle. Meeting someone for the first time and finding out we are Villa.
This, plus the fact that even though I am not happy with the Villa at the moment I still have to check the Villa news every chance I can get, and even though I moved away from the UK they are a huge part of my life and always will be.
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A plastic Manc watching his/her side lift the Premier League title in a pub in the Home Counties will never know the giddy ecstasy and excitement of being at a half full DW stadium with 4,000 like minded souls when Aston Villa score. Ever.
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hi folks newbie here.i think sometimes its born in to you .all my relations on my side of the family come from aston nan worked at ansells grandad at H.P. and from a early age i was taken down the villa.sitting on the bars of the old whitton end.1974 v the albion was my earliest memory we won two-one. i think.since then its been in my blood.had a season ticket in the eighties and remember eamon in that title winning year.so sad about learning of his passing on here. i still treasher a medal i purchased from the club shop with the championship winners names on and being served by sir brian little who was working in the club shop at the time.do not get the chance to go down now that often becouse i was made redundant.but A.V.F.C are forever etched in my heart.sorry for my ramblings guys and galls but thats how i feel and i cant comment about this seasons games not having seen them play.and remember it could be worse we could be blue noses.
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Despite what often occurs on the pitch, there's plenty that I'm proud of the Villa for; mostly in our frequent and sincere attempts to aid local charities and to make differences in the community. Also, our proud History of being the fourth most successful club in English Football, and being 1 of 4 clubs to win the European Cup stands as something that to this day continues to keep me both upbeat and preserves my fiery passion for the Villa.
Perhaps stepping away from 'pride' and more towards my love of the Villa in general, I think it all stems from my relationship with my Father. My parents divorced when I was 5, and since then I have seen little of my Father, often being once a week during my late childhood but that seems to be decreasing less and less, as during my late teenage years I'll see him about once or twice a month - often being only when we go down to the Villa. So obviously, I have the Villa to thank for as it gives me a reason to see my Father, but also as due to the limited time I spent with him as I grew up, it became the sole thing we have in common, and I can honestly go out on a limb and say that if you took every conversation we've ever had, about 75% will be to do with the Villa, as the base of our fragile yet somewhat resilient relationship.
The Villa is a huge part of my life, and as I've said, has become a key tie in my family. I know it's a cliche; but players come and go, as do managers, but us - the fans who live perilously through thick and thing, our passion and loyalty is forever. The Villa are not in the best shape right now, and while I am but at what a lot of you would consider the tender age of 17, it warms my heart to say that nothing fills me with more emotion and passion, than standing in the Holte singing on the team that I love.
Fuck 'em, we're Aston Villa.
Such a scarily similar situation to my own relationship with my father (my parents also divorced when I was 5). Except for the part where he won't go down the Villa until McLeish is gone "because he's a blue nose bastard"!!
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Great to read my mate littlevillain is planning to come home to be nearer to our beloved Villa. Those of us who grew up on Chelmsley developed a siege mentality and the Villa is a bond between us that will last a lifetime.
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My love of Villa was never up for question, having come from an Aston born and bred family, but family history alone cannot seal your love of a club. However, when we father took me too my first match and I caught site of the Trinity Rd stand and with the claret and blue mosaic staring down at me, I was hooked. There is just something about Villa Park that is very special indeed. It’s the look of the ground, the setting next to Aston Park and the majesty of the Holte End that just sets it apart from anywhere else.
No matter what is happening at the moment, I still treasure the times I can get back to Villa Park, it’s like going home in every sense of the word and I still get that tingle of anticipation as I did when I was a season ticket holder.
The fact that we are not spoilt rotten by Arab money or success that diminishes the triumph, makes our successes even sweeter. Rotterdam aside, I still recall the sense of ecstasy after the two League Cup wins in the 90’s and I’m not afraid to admit to crying like a baby to Abide With Me in 2000 along with the rest of my football family, hell I even cheered on Deadly as he strode round Wembley to greet the fans.
My older son is now 9 years old, he lives in the shadow of Ajax and yet he’s a Villa fan. Why? Well of course, my influence has helped to shape him, but its more than that. Like me he’s transfixed by Villa Park and when we’re back in Blighty he loves to see it. He’s also transfixed by our long and rich history along with our colours. It makes me a happy father and I’m sure that along with the years of disappointment my son will also taste the sweet joy of success and enjoy seeing us walk out at Wembley, which just feels like a place where we belong.
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Well done Ricky, I was thinking of posting that. Never tire of reading it, and it always brings a lump to my throat. The introduction to that quite brilliant book (The First 100 Years) is pretty special too. I was already in love with the Villa when I got that book, but reading it made me fall that little bit deeper, and helped me realise just what a unique and truly great club Aston Villa is, was and always will be.
Did you know Pongo's father-in-law was Frank Barson? What a family!
Yes - exactly. That was the first book I read about the Villa (in the times before Mr Woodhall's pen flourished) and it was magical!
Like NeilH, I'm prone to tears on occasions: Abide with me at the 2000 FAC final was one such occasion; the appearance of the Euro Cup winning side onto the pitch at the end of the 2006-07 season (25 years) was another such time.
My son's also a Villa fan despite being born and brought up in N Yorkshire. He is now coaching football in Mexico City but still our Skype conversations usually start and finish with the Villa.
I do believe the Villa are somewhat unique: there are stories in our history that other clubs simply cannot claim. It frustrates me that the club have failed to keep the story-telling going and have not taken their rightful place in the heritage of the game.
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Proud History and you never know sometime there will be a Bright Future.
Keep the faith peoples.
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Matt Kendrick has tweeted this thread. This thread makes me proud
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Villa is a family thing for me, father and grandfather went so it goes back to the early 1900's but if anything was needed beyond that -
I went to a very small primary school, there were hardly enough boys to make up a football team but we had one and played against other schools. We got panned just about every time we played, sometimes double figures but we stuck at it and eventually we drew agains someone and then once we won. Anyway, one morning the headmaster announced that a scout from Aston Villa football club had been at one of our games and recommended that the boys in the football team should be invited to Villa park to be shown around. It was a misty winter morning in 1969 - we saw Willie Anderson in his tracksuit kicking a ball against a wall. The Holte looked unreal, I wanted to run away from home and live there.
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Walking up to the Holte in the 70's and hearing the noise. Spine tingling stuff. Always proud of the Villa even in the 3rd Div.
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Rioch Is King, I too saw Villa Park on a school trip (to Aston Hall) around the same time as you. Awesome, and so different to the Sty which I had seen loads of times on the way to town. I suppose we must have had a Villa scout at our school games as well - how else would they have spotted a certain Mr G Shaw?
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Christmas time. We might get a 130 odd Christmas cards as a family, loads of them from friends etc going back ages, often people you haven't even seen for years and, to be honest, maybe the only time you communicate with them during the whole year. They come from all over because, well, I have lived all over - Birmingham, Guildford, Harrogate, Peak District, Ayr, Torquay, Chichester. Maybe half will have a little update on family etc and they will always unfailingly ask 'how is Richard, still supporting the Villa?' or make some other comment, even if it is sometimes disparaging in a good natured sort of way. Even people who know absolutely nothing about football. I personally don't know anyone else who I think of in the same way as so tied in with their club and that always makes me feel a bit special.
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Matt Kendrick has tweeted this thread. This thread makes me proud
Hmmm Mr Kendrick, the 'insider'... good stuff from him in the paper and twitter...
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Growing up in an area full of Chelsea fans and that excellent moment when you bump into another Villa fan when out and about. I don't think I've ever walked past someone in a Villa shirt/coat and not struck up a conversation!
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I don't know if I'm proud as such to be a Villa Fan. I just am. I had no choice, I always have been going down the Villa and can't remember a time when I haven't. I went with my Dad and Grandad who went with their Dads and Grandads so it's entrenched. My first words to my first born son were 'Hello my little Villa boy' and he smiled back, clearly glad to be born a Villain.
Like many of the previous posters my relationship with my Dad was 75% Villa talk and I'm grateful for that. I'm also grateful that for the chunk of my life before the Kids came along Villa provided me with the motivation to earn a living as well....it's always been an expensive addiction when combined with the necessary,ahem, refreshments.
I guess I'm proud of the things that make us different: our unique part in footys birth and from that our rich heritage. I am proud of the way we won the league in 81 with one of the last 'teams' built by good coaching and a youth program not just a cheque book, although without any regrets I'd take a chequebook inspired winning team for the next 30 or so years please. I loved the Acorn shirts and wish that could come back.
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A guy at work said to me once "you'll be buried in a claret & blue coffin you will".
Some compliments you don't forget!
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You sure that was a compliment and not a threat?
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Well he didn't look very threatening when he said it. And I'm still alive.
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When I started taking my son down to the Villa, seeing his reaction to A GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, the look on his face as he turned tu hug me was possibly the best moment ever.
Just knowing that he will never be a plastic glory hunting skybot was enough, he never had a choice really :)
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I'm proud to be a Villa fan for most reasons already mentioned but more because of the top rated side we were in our first 50 years and the fact that we were challenging to be the best club in the world in the world club championship match of 1982. This is where we belong and the club must demonstrate good business sense by increasing income rather that cutting costs to bring in players to get us back there.
I'm not sure that I'm proud of the acorns shirt deal. It seems to have been foolish to donate potential shirt millions that we clearly couldn't afford. It looked good but the club couldn't balance the books and consequently we've had to sell our best players. Acorns are getting plenty from the sensible deal with the club now.
Villaocd
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We were only getting about a million a year from shirt sponsors when we signed up with Acorns. The club were right not to undervalue the shirt IMO, and are reaping the rewards now with Genting.
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When I started taking my son down to the Villa, seeing his reaction to A GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, the look on his face as he turned tu hug me was possibly the best moment ever.
Just knowing that he will never be a plastic glory hunting skybot was enough, he never had a choice really :)
Picked a foul time to start coming ;)
good on you though, one day I plan to force the Claret and Blue colours onto my own lads should I have any.
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Like many others its a family thing and probably the best thing my dad ever passed on to me was his love for this great club. Its the thing we talk about most. My wife is having our first child in a few months and I can't wait to pass that wonderful bond that we all share on to him/her. I sometimes imagine see their face the first time they emerge from under the Holte to see the wonderful green lush pitch and I can't help grinning to myself.
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The excitement of going down the match may reduce with age but just seeing my youngest son's reaction when told we are off to the Villa is a superb reminder of what watching football should be about!
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My old man born in Manor Road.
My Grandfather just a few years younger than Aston Villa.
F.A.Cup winners.
League Cup winners.
European Cup winners.
European Super Cup winners.
Football League Champions.
Second Division Champions.
Third Division Champions.
Birmingham Senior Cup winners and anything else we have won.
The Acorns sponsorship.
William McGregor.
Frederick Rinder.
The genius planner that decided to elevate the M6 on the approach to Spaghetti Junction so that you cannot help but see what I consider to be the magnificent edifice that is Villa Park whether you approach from North or South.
All of the above plus much more that I can't think of at the moment are the components that make me proud of Aston Villa and being a Villa fan.
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I suppose we must have had a Villa scout at our school games as well - how else would they have spotted a certain Mr G Shaw?
Kingshurst County Junior School?
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I suppose we must have had a Villa scout at our school games as well - how else would they have spotted a certain Mr G Shaw?
Kingshurst County Junior School?
Tao, multiple log-ins are not allowed. Please just use TRS-T unless you have a valid reason for not doing so.
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The memory which sums up loving Villa the way I do is the time last year when I asked my grandson Toby aged 11 and fifth generation Villa fan, what he most liked about following Villa he replied I am allowed to eat chips, I am allowed to swear but most of all I can wear my Villa shirt without people making fun of me. Says it all.
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apart from wearing the shirt socially whenever in a foreign land, and at World Cups, I like to have arguments with Burnley fanatics, or should i say fanaticals, who just will not accept that AVFC are the original Clarets.
it beggars belief the kind of response to that one. Worth it though just for the laugh and representing AVFC of course.
Never had the same shit with West Ham supporters.
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I suppose we must have had a Villa scout at our school games as well - how else would they have spotted a certain Mr G Shaw?
Kingshurst County Junior School?
Tao, multiple log-ins are not allowed. Please just use TRS-T unless you have a valid reason for not doing so.
Ok can you change the display name of my TRS-T to Handsworth Wood Villa?
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I can, but I will also have to delete this account.
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Done.
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For me there was never a question mark on supporting Villa, All my early life was spent in the streets of Witton, Aston and Nechells. Since than I have never doubted and never will. Its always Aston Villa .......whatever will be will be...
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and oh I do hate genuinely hate from the bottom of my guts Brummies who support the recent day "glory teams"
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I am with you on that one aftab. I hate our local and traditional rivals. I hate them from the bottom of my soul because it is the only right and proper thing for a proper football fan to do. I hate the glory hunters because what they do is so loathsome and cowardly.
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We are either brought up the right or wrong way, as Villa fans we have to thanks out parents and grand parents for being true to the cause and bringing us up the right way.
This is why it is so hard at the moment with AM in charge as he is dragging the club lower and lower than ever before all because he doesn't give a S**t about the Villa it's sad to see.
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I am with you on that one aftab. I hate our local and traditional rivals. I hate them from the bottom of my soul because it is the only right and proper thing for a proper football fan to do. I hate the glory hunters because what they do is so loathsome and cowardly.
I'd much rather my kids were Blues fans than glory hunters.
Glory hunters are the lowest of the low.
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Being stuck in the far flung corners of Europe not knowing where you are going with no money left and who do you bump into that's right a Villa fan.
The amount of times I have been helped or given to a fellow Villain gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
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and oh I do hate genuinely hate from the bottom of my guts Brummies who support the recent day "glory teams"
Same.
I also hate how gloryhunters have a reason/excuse to support their Sky 4 club.
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It never ceases to amaze me how many red manc Brummie glory hunters seem to have a soft spot for small heath, or call them their second club.
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I've never met one of those. All I know hate and despise them as much as you and I do.
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It never ceases to amaze me how many red manc Brummie glory hunters seem to have a soft spot for small heath, or call them their second club.
Bitter and twisted people with huge chips on their shoulders. They are jealous of Villa and embarrass themselves with their support of the Mancs. I doubt if Small Heath fans have much time for them either.
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I know a lot of Brum Mancs who simply 'hate villa'. I put it down to the fact that they dont know what local-rivalry is like and we are the nearest club to them nearby. But they actively despise us. They prefer Small Heath purely because they arent us (the ones i know).
One of my best mates puts it down to 'Whenever Utd lose villa fans crawl out of the wood work and" (and i quote) "give it banter, when they've done nothing in years"
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Brummie Reds. Glory hunting Blues fans. That is all.
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It never ceases to amaze me how many red manc Brummie glory hunters seem to have a soft spot for small heath, or call them their second club.
I know a lot of Brum Mancs who simply 'hate villa'. I put it down to the fact that they dont know what local-rivalry is like and we are the nearest club to them nearby. But they actively despise us. They prefer Small Heath purely because they arent us (the ones i know).
It's because we are the most successful in the area.I have a friend ( Brummie) who is a Man City fan (pre Mansour) and he hates Villa but has time for West Brom,Wolves,Blose.He's become much more affable towards us since we've gone shite and they've started winning things,mind
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The fact that if it was not for our chairman football as we know it would not exist, there would be no Premier League, no Champions League.
The unique name, ASTON VILLA, we're not a city or united or rovers
The fact that anyone coming to Birmingham off the M6 sees our ground
The Holte End
The Lion Rampant
Dennis Mortimer lifting the European Cup
Hearing the Dwight Yorke song rock Wembley after beating Leeds (Savo's goal in that final !)
There are so many more reasons but I am never anything else but proud to be a Villa fan
LOVE THE VILLA