Claret, blue and green

[dave.woodhall]

Perfectly timed for Villa's St Patrick's Day collection. Maybe the club could do a tie-in...

Trying to remember if you got to interview Eamonn Deacy for your Champions book - it's in my bookcase in Ireland but if memory serves, was there a chapter about each player?

I did, there was and he was everything that everyone ever says about him.

[eamonn]

Is today the day?

[dave.woodhall]

Is today the day?

Probably next week.

[astonvilla82]

I always considered us the "Irish" club of Birmingham, mainly because of my old man and his Irish mates, all of whom followed us despite living in the People's Republic Of Sheldon.

I'm fact I've never never met anyone from Ireland in the City that follows the Rags, I'm sure there are but it doesn't stop me saying "there is no such thing as an Irish Bluenose" on a regular basis.

Good luck with the book Dave.

Sure I have seen the Irish flag at Birmingham games, his parents disowned him/ her I would imagine

[astonvilla82]

Does it include a map of how far away from Ireland most of them were born?

Thought Aston was Irish back in the day

[Steve kirk]

Sounds great Dave, I’ll be buying a copy
UTV

[dave.woodhall]

CLARET, BLUE AND GREEN
The story of Aston Villa’s Irish connection


Dave Woodhall
With a foreword by
Radio 5Live’s Pat Murphy



The city of Birmingham has seen waves of immigrants
from over the Irish Sea making their homes and
helping to make the city. They dug canals, built roads and
houses and worked in the factories that made
the region such a vibrant place. Some of them
played for the most illustrious of the city’s
institutions, Aston Villa FC, while others became
lifelong supporters.

In these pages renowned author Dave Woodhall
tells the story of those who were talented, and lucky,
enough to ply their trade in claret and blue.
There are legends, heroes, at least one deity
and unforgettable characters. Players who defined
the word ‘versatile’, who were signed at a railway station
or sat in a hotel kitchen while their future was
decided in the restaurant. There’s the man whose
greatest moment means he hasn’t had to buy a drink
in Ireland for the past three decades, the
international who wasn’t qualified to play for his country
(and it isn’t the one you might think), the player
who was signed twelve years too late
and many more.


“The link between Aston Villa and Ireland is a 
long and well-established one that has led to
 many of the club’s greatest moments.

With Dave’s deep knowledge of Villa’s history
I can’t think of anyone better
to bring this story to light.”

Matt Maher, Chief Football Writer,
Wolverhampton Express & Star

£9.99 plus £2.50 postage UK/£5.05 Europe. Ask for RoW prices.

[LeonW]

CLARET, BLUE AND GREEN
The story of Aston Villa’s Irish connection


Dave Woodhall
With a foreword by
Radio 5Live’s Pat Murphy



The city of Birmingham has seen waves of immigrants
from over the Irish Sea making their homes and
helping to make the city. They dug canals, built roads and
houses and worked in the factories that made
the region such a vibrant place. Some of them
played for the most illustrious of the city’s
institutions, Aston Villa FC, while others became
lifelong supporters.

In these pages renowned author Dave Woodhall
tells the story of those who were talented, and lucky,
enough to ply their trade in claret and blue.
There are legends, heroes, at least one deity
and unforgettable characters. Players who defined
the word ‘versatile’, who were signed at a railway station
or sat in a hotel kitchen while their future was
decided in the restaurant. There’s the man whose
greatest moment means he hasn’t had to buy a drink
in Ireland for the past three decades, the
international who wasn’t qualified to play for his country
(and it isn’t the one you might think), the player
who was signed twelve years too late
and many more.


“The link between Aston Villa and Ireland is a 
long and well-established one that has led to
 many of the club’s greatest moments.

With Dave’s deep knowledge of Villa’s history
I can’t think of anyone better
to bring this story to light.”

Matt Maher, Chief Football Writer,
Wolverhampton Express & Star

That’s a tease! How do we purchase this?!

[Percy McCarthy]

Sounds a great read, and I know it will be.