Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Drummond on March 27, 2023, 03:14:58 PM
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So, just inspired by other threads, I wondered if people have any rituals, habits, superstitions etc that they follow on Matchdays?
I know a lot go to the pub, or wear certain things but wondered if there were any particular things to you that you'd like to share?
When I was a kid, my dad would take me and we'd always get a Wagon Wheel!
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I remember before the Tranmere semi-final home leg, we arrived a little earlier than usual so we could walk around the entire ground before the game, in the hope that would magically help us overturn the deficit. Having performed that miracle, we tried to replicate it at Wembley for the final but were thwarted by a big bastard fence.
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Driving from Bedfordshire to Villa Park I, accompanied by my son and daughter, always telephone my good mate and fellow Villa fan JW for his score prediction. The call can only be made once we are on the M6 and it is usually the case that amongst the four of us a correct result and score is correctly predicted.
In addition I no longer buy a programme as this seemed to be the reason we got relegated, fortunes have been much better since I stopped which is a bit of a bugger as I used to enjoy reading it whilst having a post match Balti at the Kababish in Moseley, another ritual that has existed for 35 years plus.
This season has seen me sporting a new Villa top of the vintage variety which also appears to have some good luck attached so that will be worn until it falls apart.
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Not related to Villa but after breaking them I developed a habit of taping the 2 smallest toes on my left foot together. In 24 years since I started doing it I've only not done it twice and in those 2 games I broke my ribs in 1 and my collarbone in the other. I will never play a match without it every again, my wife is probably more superstitious about it than I am and even going the club when I'm not playing she makes me do it.
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I have a friend who always has to buy a packet of Smarties and stand on a blue one before entering Sunderland's ground.
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I always like to reverse my car up Witton Lane as soon after the final whistle as I can.
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So, just inspired by other threads, I wondered if people have any rituals, habits, superstitions etc that they follow on Matchdays?
I know a lot go to the pub, or wear certain things but wondered if there were any particular things to you that you'd like to share?
When I was a kid, my dad would take me and we'd always get a Wagon Wheel!
He never bought me a Wagon Wheel :(
My only match day tradition is that we always lose. I'll buy my own Wagon Wheel next time!
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My favourite scarf is an official white one with claret and blue stripes, but we never do well in it. I've consigned it to stay in a cupboard never to be worn again.
If we do win, I try and weasr exactly what I was wearing to the next match. If we lose then I don't wear the same combo again.
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So, just inspired by other threads, I wondered if people have any rituals, habits, superstitions etc that they follow on Matchdays?
I know a lot go to the pub, or wear certain things but wondered if there were any particular things to you that you'd like to share?
When I was a kid, my dad would take me and we'd always get a Wagon Wheel!
He never bought me a Wagon Wheel :(
My only match day tradition is that we always lose. I'll buy my own Wagon Wheel next time!
He doesn't love you as much.
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Match day was one of the few occasions when we would get crisps and chocolate bars as a kid. I sat with my Dad at the Bournemouth game for the first time in a long time and was disappointed he'd forgotten the snacks.
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In terms of superstition, I used to vary which end of the bed my pillow was depending on how we were doing. I have had various items of clothing which I considered lucky at various times but it never lasts. To quote John Gregory "it's a load of bollocks isn't it"
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Get up, go to the pub, watch the game, go to the pub, go home.
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Get up, go to the pub, watch the game, go to the pub, go home.
Dave stole my answer.
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I always like to reverse my car up Witton Lane as soon after the final whistle as I can.
That made me chuckle. Very good!
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I have a friend who always has to buy a packet of Smarties and stand on a blue one before entering Sunderland's ground.
He's a Villa fan as well, takes him hours.
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If I'm not at the match or watching it, I never go anywhere near knowing what the latest score is.
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I am responsible for our 10-game winning run in the Championship. I started voting for us to lose in in the match thread in that 4-0 Vs Derby. I've been doing it ever since, with mixed results.
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My favourite scarf is an official white one with claret and blue stripes, but we never do well in it. I've consigned it to stay in a cupboard never to be worn again.
That's a shame, that's the nicest design for a Villa scarf.
My match day ritual is the same as Dave W's i.e. none really, but when I'm hanging out washing I match the colour of the plastic pegs to the colour of the clothes on the line.
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Don't believe in Matchday Rituals/Habits because a day before the Wimbledon 7-1 i had to much to drink. In the Morning i had accident in my pants, So we won 7-1 and i thought what a great omen so i did a accident in my pants next game which we lost.
After that never did another Rituals/Habit.
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Don't believe in Matchday Rituals/Habits because a day before the Wimbledon 7-1 i had to much to drink. In the Morning i had accident in my pants, So we won 7-1 and i thought what a great omen so i did a accident in my pants next game which we lost.
After that never did another Rituals/Habit.
I owe you an apology. It was me who shat in your pants that day.
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Don't believe in Matchday Rituals/Habits because a day before the Wimbledon 7-1 i had to much to drink. In the Morning i had accident in my pants, So we won 7-1 and i thought what a great omen so i did a accident in my pants next game which we lost.
After that never did another Rituals/Habit.
I owe you an apology. It was me who shat in your pants that day.
i wondered where the peas come from
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I always like to reverse my car up Witton Lane as soon after the final whistle as I can.
are you the African car reverser ?
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I always like to reverse my car up Witton Lane as soon after the final whistle as I can.
are you the African car reverser ?
Yes, that's the joke.
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I don't really have much of a ritual. Have been wearing the same scarf to games since the 1994 League Cup Final, but that's more because I like that particular scarf more than through superstition.
(https://i.ibb.co/Pr41FJS/IMG-20230327-202901926.jpg)
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I always sit in the same seat at home games.
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I always have a nervous stomach prematch on matchdays.
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I like to look for signs in the run-up to matches.
Initially, it was stats based habbit but I've expanded to keeping an eye out for things in everyday life which may give an indication to something that could happen in the game or even the result.
I like to always check who the ref is and again develop theory to what may occur.
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If we've lost the previous home game I'll go through a different turnstile, then back to the other one if we lose again! ::)
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I'll use the same turnstile as the previous game if we won.
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on the way to the game if we are in the car we always have to play the Northern Soul song 'Nothing but a heartache' by the Flirtations
if we hear it we never lose (i may be exaggerating that bit)
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I like to look for signs in the run-up to matches.
West Brompton is the one you need to look for on Saturday.
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When I was driving up from London for games in the early 90s, I used to stop a few miles from the ground and put £18.74's worth of petrol in the car.
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I always salute magpies.
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When I was driving up from London for games in the early 90s, I used to stop a few miles from the ground and put £18.74's worth of petrol in the car.
Bit harder to do these days. The merest hint of a squeeze and you're at £20.35.
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Have been wearing the same scarf, I bought after we clinched promotion to the 1st Division in 1975, after having my original scarf stolen from my car window, when travelling back from Hillsborough.
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Have been wearing the same scarf, I bought after we clinched promotion to the 1st Division in 1975, after having my original scarf stolen from my car window, when travelling back from Hillsborough.
I had my scarf stolen from my (dad's) car window on our way back from Notts County that same season, by a lad who had been hitch hiking to the game, who we picked up on the way and who we then dropped off afterwards at the same spot. His thanks to us was to nick my scarf from the rear car window ledge, which we only discovered when we got home.
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I have a scarf somewhere, but god knows where, that dates back to the Charity Shield; my dad bought it for me on Wembley Way. It's battered, tattered and falling to pieces. I just don't know where!
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I have the scarf that my gran knitted for my dad, to wear to the 1957 FA Cup Final. It's made of pure wool and of a length as Doctor Who was wont to wear, when played by Tom Baker. How my dad got through the match without passing out through overheating I don't know.
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I have the scarf that my gran knitted for my dad, to wear to the 1957 FA Cup Final. It's made of pure wool and of a length as Doctor Who was wont to wear, when played by Tom Baker. How my dad got through the match without passing out through overheating I don't know.
No roof on the Holte probably helped.
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When I used to get to matches, my scarf with the villain badge on it.
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I took my then-8-year old nephew to the home game Vs Leeds one Christmas. I bought him a Villa scarf, much to his Leeds-supporting father's chagrin. At half time we were two up and he couldn't get enough of the scarf. When they scored their third at the end he dropped it on the ground and laughed in my face.
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I have the scarf that my gran knitted for my dad, to wear to the 1957 FA Cup Final. It's made of pure wool and of a length as Doctor Who was wont to wear, when played by Tom Baker. How my dad got through the match without passing out through overheating I don't know.
No roof on the Holte probably helped.
The 1957 Cup Final was played at Wembley.
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Before the game I usually place a bottle of wine on my nether regions and do the Dibu around the living room.
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If I'm not there, which is usually the case these days, I will avoid all broadcast and digital media apart from the match thread on here.
Learning of goals for or against through 'SCORCHIOOO!' or 'WTF WAS THAT?!' is the kindest medium.
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Before the game I usually place a bottle of wine on my nether regions and do the Dibu around the living room.
Careful, you'll upset the collective with that.
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If I'm not there, which is usually the case these days, I will avoid all broadcast and digital media apart from the match thread on here.
Learning of goals for or against through 'SCORCHIOOO!' or 'WTF WAS THAT?!' is the kindest medium.
I follow the match thread too, but I hate those series of expletives where nobody actually says what happened. Other media has to be checked at those points.
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If I'm not there, which is usually the case these days, I will avoid all broadcast and digital media apart from the match thread on here.
Learning of goals for or against through 'SCORCHIOOO!' or 'WTF WAS THAT?!' is the kindest medium.
I follow the match thread too, but I hate those series of expletives where nobody actually says what happened. Other media has to be checked at those points.
I always find that a pleasant surprise, though; when I slightly misjudge the tone of the thread and find out we won 2-0 rather than losing 8-2, as I had thought.
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I like the match threads but it would be nice if PWS' time machine broke down a bit more often.
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I like the match threads but it would be nice if PWS' time machine broke down a bit more often.
Seconded.
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When I was driving up from London for games in the early 90s, I used to stop a few miles from the ground and put £18.74's worth of petrol in the car.
As debut posts go, surely there have been none finer.
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Number imagery
I have concentrated on this Saturdays match, and then I wished to write down the numbers that came to memory by free association.
I kept getting a very distinct number three.
And I saw the number 22.
I'm curious to find out what that is in relation to Chelsea Villa.
Gut Feelings
The concept of gut feelings is also somewhat related to this topic.
Do people ever have a strong intuition that we will triumph or that a player will score?
Or even that we are going to lose the match as you just have a sense of dread sometine before the game
I don't always experience these intuitions in the lead-up to a game, but there are times when a true sense of anticipation comes over me.
What are others experiences/stories of gut instincts or intuition on a Villa match.
Dreams
Furthermore do people ever had a dreams linked to Villa which have resulted incoming true or if you have a fortunate day or time in dream transcends to Villa and an event or outcome within the match?
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I do sometimes get a weird strong feeling that a certain player will score. I am, however, always wrong!
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I like the match threads but it would be nice if PWS' time machine broke down a bit more often.
Seconded.
I have an idea for a pre-match and post-match discussion. For each game, we could have a topic pre match regards visions and intuitions.
So individuals tell us if they had a dream about the match or what their gut feeling is.
Then we can discuss our instincts after in the post match perceptions thread.
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I do sometimes get a weird strong feeling that a certain player will score. I am, however, always wrong!
But that player is calling to you so you've been drawn to it.
Maybe they should have scored as football is fine margins!
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Ha I like that - I wasn't wrong, it's Buendia's fault!
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I like the match threads but it would be nice if PWS' time machine broke down a bit more often.
Seconded.
I have an idea for a pre-match and post-match discussion. For each game, we could have a topic pre match regards visions and intuitions.
So individuals tell us if they had a dream about the match or what their gut feeling is.
Then we can discuss our instincts after in the post match perceptions thread.
What, similar to the pre-match and post-match discussion threads, you mean?
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I like the match threads but it would be nice if PWS' time machine broke down a bit more often.
Seconded.
I have an idea for a pre-match and post-match discussion. For each game, we could have a topic pre match regards visions and intuitions.
So individuals tell us if they had a dream about the match or what their gut feeling is.
Then we can discuss our instincts after in the post match perceptions thread.
I thought Musk had called for a moratorium on ChatGFV.
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I have an idea for a pre-match and post-match discussion. For each game, we could have a topic pre match regards visions and intuitions.
So individuals tell us if they had a dream about the match or what their gut feeling is.
Then we can discuss our instincts after in the post match perceptions thread.
Visions and intuitions? Christ almighty! Most of us say what we feel the result will be, but base it on the relative strengths of the team we're playing, form and injuries etc, not on whether there's a full moon or what the referee did in a match 10 years ago.
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I like the match threads but it would be nice if PWS' time machine broke down a bit more often.
Seconded.
I have an idea for a pre-match and post-match discussion. For each game, we could have a topic pre match regards visions and intuitions.
So individuals tell us if they had a dream about the match or what their gut feeling is.
Then we can discuss our instincts after in the post match perceptions thread.
I would literally rather set fire to my testicles.
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Only for the ESP explorers amoung us.
We can all have a 6th sense you know.
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Only for the ESP explorers amoung us.
We can all have a 6th sense member on the posting team you know.
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It was Ping but could easily have been HMHB:
No More Plastic Pitches
I had a dream, no more plastic pitches
I had a dream, I had a dream
QPR, got a lot to answer for!
Preston North End, got a lot to answer for!
Luton Town, got a lot to answer for!
It's living in peace and harmony
It's a holiday for a referee
Society without a class
Where all of football’s played on grass,
Cos I’ve got a dream
I've got a dream, have you got a dream?
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Get up, go to the pub, watch the game, go to the pub, go home.
Dave stole my answer.
And mine. But he got the right answer first so a Chelsea/Villa half and half scarf is currently winging its way to Daves yard.
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I used to think it was essential for me and whoever I was sitting with to have a king sized Mars Bar (or Marathon) every game. It had no obvious impact on results but I did quite like Mars Bars, so didn't see any point in taking the risk of not having one.
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Number imagery
I have concentrated on this Saturdays match, and then I wished to write down the numbers that came to memory by free association.
I kept getting a very distinct number three.
And I saw the number 22.
I'm curious to find out what that is in relation to Chelsea Villa.
I'm guessing it's the number of players on the pitch at the start of the game.
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Behind Footy's posts I imagine some collective effort with a vibe similar to the bloke who does Beijing Casual, posting this endless, increasingly surreal stream of dog's cock and pissing themselves whilst doing so.
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Indeed. But whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
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It might be the same people.
One day they'll get the account mixed up and post here about McGinn being shunned by Emery because he's been locked in the iphone factory, or Matty Cash is a bad person because he's always kicking off down the Slurpy Noodle.
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Another of mine began after my daughter came home after doing a year teaching in Brum as a NQT. She was working in a school in Aston/Handsworth and among her stuff that she came home with was a gift from an Indian lady whose child had been in her class. The gift was a small wooden elephant about four or five inches high.
It was given to her in thanks by the mother because her daughter loved my lass and was doing very well at school. I loved this elephant from the moment I saw it and I read somewhere that if you point it towards your front door it will bring you luck.
I commandeered that elephant and sits on our hearth and every match day I ensure that he is facing the front door. This also applies to a tiny ceramic jumbo that sits on a shelf in a unit but I'm buggered if I know where he came from.
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Behind Footy's posts I imagine some collective effort with a vibe similar to the bloke who does Beijing Casual, posting this endless, increasingly surreal stream of dog's cock and pissing themselves whilst doing so.
Beijing Casual was funny.
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Another of mine began after my daughter came home after doing a year teaching in Brum as a NQT. She was working in a school in Aston/Handsworth and among her stuff that she came home with was a gift from an Indian lady whose child had been in her class. The gift was a small wooden elephant about four or five inches high.
It was given to her in thanks by the mother because her daughter loved my lass and was doing very well at school. I loved this elephant from the moment I saw it and I read somewhere that if you point it towards your front door it will bring you luck.
I commandeered that elephant and sits on our hearth and every match day I ensure that he is facing the front door. This also applies to a tiny ceramic jumbo that sits on a shelf in a unit but I'm buggered if I know where he came from.
That's a lovely story, Dave.
Mine is I always have a massive shit before leaving the house.
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Behind Footy's posts I imagine some collective effort with a vibe similar to the bloke who does Beijing Casual, posting this endless, increasingly surreal stream of dog's cock and pissing themselves whilst doing so.
You have a very vivid imagination!
Can we just stick to rituals and superstitions and any gut feelings /intuition people have experienced!
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I genuinely had a pair of lucky pants which co-incided with the great run under Gregory in 97-98. They were falling apart so my mum chucked them over the summer. If you recall we actually finished top of the league at Christmas in 1998, so it's possible I was just wearing a pair of worn-out pants every Saturday for about three months.
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I genuinely had a pair of lucky pants which co-incided with the great run under Gregory in 97-98. They were falling apart so my mum chucked them over the summer. If you recall we actually finished top of the league at Christmas in 1998, so it's possible I was just wearing a pair of worn-out pants every Saturday for about three months.
Any lucky charms that help are a positive! Great Story!
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I’m still convinced me binning my shitty Villa mug last October has created our upturn in form and the football Gods sending us Emery.
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On match days I use my blue eye liner then cover it up with a black one, being brown eyed, blue doesn't suit me. I also put some perfume on and wear my Swarovski V shaped earrings. If it's an evening kick off it's the little V shaped ones, otherwise it's the larger ones. I may need help.
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I have loads of rituals, underwear, jewellery, make up….I go through the same turnstile as long as we win and only move to the next turnstile along when we lose. When we were really rubbish I feared I’d be trying to get into The Holte through Witton Lane turnstiles!
In 2003 I arrived at a game with my young cousin and went to the Villa shop bought us both gloves because it was unexpectedly cold. We beat Chelsea 2-0 and we were singing that we had lucky gloves…..and it really seemed that I had. I used to be able to put them on when things were going wrong and turn it round. I remember having them with me at Southampton in April. We were terrible and 2-0 down at half time so I put them on even though it was a warm sunny day, and we won 3-2. Everyone was kissing my gloves and telling me never to lose them.
On Boxing Day 2008 I put them on and we came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. As I left the ground, my other half was calling me to say where he was parked up to collect me, and I ran to meet him because he didn’t want to be stuck in traffic. When I got in the car I realised I only had one glove. I said I had to go back but he told me not to be ridiculous. I went back the next day and re-traced my steps, but that was that - the end of the lucky gloves.
I got other gloves, and tried to believe they were lucky, but they weren’t the original lucky gloves, and it was never quite the same again.
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Jesus...I hope you're not responsible for the lost decade of Aston Villa Football Club, 2010-2019...
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On match days I use my blue eye liner then cover it up with a black one, being brown eyed, blue doesn't suit me. I also put some perfume on and wear my Swarovski V shaped earrings. If it's an evening kick off it's the little V shaped ones, otherwise it's the larger ones. I may need help.
Don't we all?
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Jesus...I hope you're not responsible for the lost decade of Aston Villa Football Club, 2010-2019...
I actually believe I was. Sorry everyone!
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Jesus...I hope you're not responsible for the lost decade of Aston Villa Football Club, 2010-2019...
I actually believe I was. Sorry everyone!
I'm just glad the lost glove found its way to Milwaukee.
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Posting a 2-0 loss prediction whilst voting for a Villa win on the pre-match poll then wearing my Archer 35 home shirt during the match is going quite well.
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On match days I use my blue eye liner then cover it up with a black one, being brown eyed, blue doesn't suit me. I also put some perfume on and wear my Swarovski V shaped earrings. If it's an evening kick off it's the little V shaped ones, otherwise it's the larger ones. I may need help.
Don't we all?
Yeah - I can never get my make-up quite right
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On match days I use my blue eye liner then cover it up with a black one, being brown eyed, blue doesn't suit me. I also put some perfume on and wear my Swarovski V shaped earrings. If it's an evening kick off it's the little V shaped ones, otherwise it's the larger ones. I may need help.
Don't we all?
Yeah - I can never get my make-up quite right
I’m with you Lizz….& worse - I have several different claret eyeshadows, finishing with a glittery claret one, then blue eyeliner. I also always make sure I have claret & blue jewellery. It’s all a bit obsessive but at the age I am now I have got used to the fact that I am that person. If I was a child or young person now I’d definitely have a diagnosis!
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I have loads of rituals, underwear, jewellery, make up….I go through the same turnstile as long as we win and only move to the next turnstile along when we lose. When we were really rubbish I feared I’d be trying to get into The Holte through Witton Lane turnstiles!
In 2003 I arrived at a game with my young cousin and went to the Villa shop bought us both gloves because it was unexpectedly cold. We beat Chelsea 2-0 and we were singing that we had lucky gloves…..and it really seemed that I had. I used to be able to put them on when things were going wrong and turn it round. I remember having them with me at Southampton in April. We were terrible and 2-0 down at half time so I put them on even though it was a warm sunny day, and we won 3-2. Everyone was kissing my gloves and telling me never to lose them.
On Boxing Day 2008 I put them on and we came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. As I left the ground, my other half was calling me to say where he was parked up to collect me, and I ran to meet him because he didn’t want to be stuck in traffic. When I got in the car I realised I only had one glove. I said I had to go back but he told me not to be ridiculous. I went back the next day and re-traced my steps, but that was that - the end of the lucky gloves.
I got other gloves, and tried to believe they were lucky, but they weren’t the original lucky gloves, and it was never quite the same again.
amfy's Gloves would give Billy's Boots a run for their money. In fact, that story sounds very much like a story from Billy's Boots. Can't help but feel some opposition fan is benefiting from the mystical powers of that missing glove but it's probably in some land fill site in all reality.
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Same Villa shirt if we win, and always put a small bet on both the draw and the opponent winning - I NEVER bet on Villa to win, even in an accumulator.
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Not a ritual as such. There was a dead rat by the Villa Chippy on Saturday before the game. It was huge. I had a quick glance , then heard people behind me retching , which started me off !
I've seen a dead one on that road before (but cant remember if we won that game) . And been in the Chippy when a live one, ran in and back out . On that occasion a woman , who had some kids with her , chucked about £20 worth of food in the bin and had a go at the owners. Sorry if anyone is having lunch.
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Same Villa shirt if we win, and always put a small bet on both the draw and the opponent winning - I NEVER bet on Villa to win, even in an accumulator.
Same clothes for me!
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Not a ritual as such. There was a dead rat by the Villa Chippy on Saturday before the game. It was huge. I had a quick glance , then heard people behind me retching , which started me off !
I've seen a dead one on that road before (but cant remember if we won that game) . And been in the Chippy when a live one, ran in and back out . On that occasion a woman , who had some kids with her , chucked about £20 worth of food in the bin and had a go at the owners. Sorry if anyone is having lunch.
Fuck me old boots, haven't they been closed down by now? What number is on their hygiene sticker on the door?
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My mate has great pleasure in telling me they have Zero rated hygiene before I go in. Doesn't stop him eating there mind !
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I didnt realise until I'd left the house that i was wearing my black and white Luke trackie jacket, which my mate told me to take off but I thought it might help in a weird sort of way so I left it on. I shall be wearing it again next time we play them, if it still fits that is.
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My mate has great pleasure in telling me they have Zero rated hygiene before I go in. Doesn't stop him eating there mind !
I've been to the Villa Chippy 3 times, been violently ill that night 3 times, not been back since. Really doesn't agree with my stomach.
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Jesus Christ. Take their name and license away!
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Not a good sign if even the rats run from the place or would rather die than eat there.
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Not a good sign if even the rats run from the place or would rather die than eat there.
The rat died of food poisoning.
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On match days I use my blue eye liner then cover it up with a black one, being brown eyed, blue doesn't suit me. I also put some perfume on and wear my Swarovski V shaped earrings. If it's an evening kick off it's the little V shaped ones, otherwise it's the larger ones. I may need help.
Made me think of Crystal Gayle for the first time in 40 years.
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Not a good sign if even the rats run from the place or would rather die than eat there.
The rat died of food poisoning.
I mean.. that’s not exactly a better take on things is it? 😂
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Just out of interest, where is the Villa Chippy?
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Just out of interest, where is the Villa Chippy?
When you come out of Witton railway station, walking towards Villa Park, it's the first turn on the left (so one turn sooner to than the really obvious route to the ground). From memory it's half a dozen shops down, just after (?) a post office.
Edit: it's just before the post office, on Manor Road
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That's Manor Road, the road my old man was born in. There's a cul-de-sac a few yards further on with modern houses built on it which is where the house he was born in stood. That used to be a tremendous chip shop many years ago, sad to hear of its decline.