All us Villa Fans, miles away from home.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I got to about half a dozen games last season, which cost me an arm and a leg when you added in the travel.  I'd have tried to go to a few this season as well, but a new baby daughter has mostly put paid to that.  Blackburn and Bolton going down didn't help my NW attendance either.

But you made the effort.
There are many far closer to Villa Park that only go once every solar eclipse.

[Dave Clark Five]

I got to about half a dozen games last season, which cost me an arm and a leg when you added in the travel.  I'd have tried to go to a few this season as well, but a new baby daughter has mostly put paid to that.  Blackburn and Bolton going down didn't help my NW attendance either.

But you made the effort.
There are many far closer to Villa Park that only go once every solar eclipse.

But that doesn't make them less of a supporter.

[JM82]

Hi all,

Long time registered with no posting. I saw this thread and thought I would post my thoughts on following the Villa from thousands of miles away for the first time.

As a relatively young guy (24), I recently moved to Shanghai for a 6 month assignment with work, it has been an amazing experience and has given me an entirely different perspective on following Aston Villa.

My Dad and I have followed the Villa all over the country/ Europe for a number of years from Reading. (His side of the family from Birmingham, moved to Reading very early 90's due to work) A lot of time went into finding the very best real ale pubs all over the country with some fantastic occasions and would have done the same again this season. I am sure we have probably bumped into a couple of you occasionally!

Last Summer I was offered a short stint in China and thought it was worth a go. I moved out here for the beginning of August just in time for the start of this season and thought why not share the joys and pains of being a (short-term) ex-pat Villa fan.

It has been a fantastic experience, I've had to put up with shocking ex-pat styled bars through to the United obsession that exists in this part of the world.

A couple of highlights:

Liverpool 1-3 Villa

There is no better place in the world, excluding Anfield, for this to happen than in Asia. I watched this game in a bar called Big Bamboo, full of local "Scousers" who had no sympathy whatsoever for the sole villa fan in the corner in his lime green away shirt. After the first twenty minutes I was subject to such a torrent of (good natured) stick that a couple of them bought me a beer. First goal, fantastic. 2nd goal and I started to believe, when the 3rd went in and they all started streaming out of the bar it was unbelievable. I had people saying we were heavily underestimated and had a fantastic young side. Trying to teach a couple of the locals "Whooah Christian Benteke" was fantastic fun.
 
Reading @ home, Man City away, Norwich away

Due to the time difference, these games have kicked off at 03:45 am. Needless to say this calls for a very early start to the day but I am proud to say I have not missed a minute of commentary when streams aren't available. I even had a warning from the apartment staff for the noise when the 4th went in at Man City.

Agbonlahor's goal at Sunderland

Again, I was the only Villa fan watching this game with a Sunderland fan in The Camel. He was a top bloke from Gateshead and admitted we deserved to win. Reason this sticks out is it was thundering with rain yet it did not make the slightest bit of difference as I faced the long walk home from having spent all my money on beers and not kept taxi fare spare. Running down Chinese streets singing "He's fast as fcuk" in the pouring rain gets you some strange looks.

I have played football with a local side, formed mainly of Belgians. When we signed Benteke, they thought it would take him at least a year to settle in but that he had all the potential in the world. It is really interesting to hear their take on where he could go in the game, they genuinely see him their no. 1 striker for years to come.

I have also played football with work and imagine my surprise when one of them came to training in a Villa shirt. When I asked why? He told me about how he had seen Aston Villa play in the mid nineties and thought we were interesting and exciting. Is it sad it nearly brought a tear? I even went to watch Shenhua (Drogba et al) play in my Villa shirt and there were so many people who wanted to talk about Aston Villa. Not the Premier League, not Manchester United nor Liverpool, Aston Villa.

I've suffered as much as everybody else this season and missed the Villa as much as anything. I cannot wait to be back in the UK and get down to Villa Park again. Those of you who see it as a chore at the moment, you don't know what you have until its not possible. The Bradford game was difficult and not just because it was another 03:45 am start!

But there is nothing harder than not being able to get down to Villa Park on a Saturday and can't wait to be back in just over a months time, this season hasn't gone to plan but I really miss Aston Villa.

[Ads]

I got to about half a dozen games last season, which cost me an arm and a leg when you added in the travel.  I'd have tried to go to a few this season as well, but a new baby daughter has mostly put paid to that.  Blackburn and Bolton going down didn't help my NW attendance either.

But you made the effort.
There are many far closer to Villa Park that only go once every solar eclipse.

But that doesn't make them less of a supporter.

I suppose it depends on why the closer supporter cannot go.

[Dave Clark Five]

Hi all,

Long time registered with no posting. I saw this thread and thought I would post my thoughts on following the Villa from thousands of miles away for the first time.

As a relatively young guy (24), I recently moved to Shanghai for a 6 month assignment with work, it has been an amazing experience and has given me an entirely different perspective on following Aston Villa.

My Dad and I have followed the Villa all over the country/ Europe for a number of years from Reading. (His side of the family from Birmingham, moved to Reading very early 90's due to work) A lot of time went into finding the very best real ale pubs all over the country with some fantastic occasions and would have done the same again this season. I am sure we have probably bumped into a couple of you occasionally!

How's it going Jon? We met your Dad in the Baltic Fleet in Liverpool and he told us about your travels.
Just to get you in the mood for your return. I have found the variety and quality of beers available during the summer to be the best that I have ever experienced. Unfortunately, we are now still going through the Winter beer period and not many pubs near us put on anything
other than those dreadful mainstream beers such as Doom Bar, Spitfire, GK IPA etc.
Glad you're having a good time out there. All the best for now.

[Vancouver]

Whats the name of the guy in China who posts here? Is he in Shanghai as well?

[Legion]

Pat McMahon.

[danlanza]

Right, off to the local for the game. I really hope you lot who are going toVP today get some value for your hard earned cash, for once. Lets all try and keep our chins up for this one. Cmon Villa !!

[oldtimernow]

just converted my daughter's Canadian dwelling Irish college mate to supporting Villa for the Bradford game, knows nothing about football so that probably helped!

[Pat McMahon]

Pat McMahon.

For indeed, it is he.

Unfortunately I am now back in Blighty so I can't help John ( JM82) in Shanghai. However, there are usually a few Villa fans in the Camel ( in Puxi, not Pudong) for Saturday games. A really great fella by the name of AxlRose sometimes posts on here and he watches all our games -- I caught the Spurs and Albion games with him in Sept / Oct in the Camel. I can give you his telephone number if you want, John.  There was a fellow called Zhong Yi ( Lee to you and me) who used to go too but I haven't seen him on here since an outburst late last season.

If you don't like the mainstream sports bar experience of Big Bamboo and The Camel then both the Shed and the Grand Yard in Jing'an are smaller and friendlier places to watch. The Shed has some of the cheapest beer in Shanghai, though it is mainly fizzy lager. Unfortunately the Blarney Stone on Dongping Lu closed on 30 November- a few of us used to congregate in there and ours was the only pennant behind the bar.

PM me if you need any general Shanghai info - I am happy to help.

[onje_villa]

I miss you, Aston Villa. I first found you on a dim, miserable night in the mid 80s against a team called Oxford United. I fell in love with the club, I fell in love with the shirt, I fell in love with the stadium and I dreamt of you every night.

I would wake up on a Friday morning and immediately get excited at the thought of only one more sleep until the next game, I would get heart palpitations and tingles up my spine all day at school just at the thought that we would soon be reunited again.

We had our ups and downs, I remember endless renditions of Dwight Yorke, Dwight Yorke, I remember Santa falling from the sky and Dion Dublin inspiring a remarkable comeback, I could have sworn the Holte was going to collapse that day. I remember being the first team to win  at Pride Park and being able to celebrate in the stands with Ian Taylor. I remember that miss by Dean Holdsworth. I also remember the final against Chelsea, Blackburn away with Savo spitting, and David O'Leary.

I fell out of love with you when O'Leary was in charge, I was disinterested at the match, I was disillusioned with the Sky millions and the ineptitude of Ellis. I didn't much care for watching you, I paid interest in the results, I had the game on when we were on TV but I had other things which I prioritised.

A revolution then seemed to begin, manager and chairman gone, multi millionaire in place with the most sought after manager in charge, the revolution gathered pace but I was still not that bothered, I went to Wembley but could still not generate the enthusiasm I once had, the players were still overpaid prima donnas who wouldn't dream of doing an Ian Taylor and in the blink of an eye the manager was gone and the revolution hit the buffers and the stuff of nightmares began, I cannot imagine the pain I would have felt if I had still been a fanatic, obsessive Villa lunatic and experienced the withering displays under the McLeish year, I was still a fan but a very distant and casual observer. I didn't watch Match of the Day any more and very rarely took in a live TV game. I thought I was lost forever, another fan forsaken for the Sky football extravaganza, Super Spunking Sunday and all that it entailed.

Fortunately, the McLeish year was only that, a year and a new guy was put in place, a guy by the name of Paul Lambert, I paid interest in this because I will always be a Villa fan in one capacity or another. I saw our squad, I saw our new signings and was frankly shocked at how poor a squad we had, I literally wouldn't have recognised half the players if I bumped into them in Sainsburys.

I was still fairly disinterested when we started the season so poorly, a couple of poor performances then a decent result or two but something happened during the Liverpool game, I watched the game on a live stream for the first time in my life, I saw these kids working their socks off for the sake of my club, and for the first time in about ten years I was genuinely excited to be watching Aston Villa again and the love came poring back through my veins and and the feeling was overwhelming. I watched Match of the Day and nearly cried with enjoyment.

I watched the Chelsea game, and was still hugely proud of our players for giving it a go, this may sound stupid but I would genuinely rather see us lose 8-0 at Chelsea, giving it a go, than having a McLeish team out there or an O'Leary in charge.

I was away on holiday, unable to catch the Tottnham or Wigan games and have not read up on them deeply but suffice to say my love is still there and my pride ever present and the Lambert way is the way I wish my club to go. No more overpaid mercenaries just players who want to be professional footballers and want to do their best for the sacred Aston Villa.

So to those of you losing the faith then please reconsider, get behind the lads 100% and roar the players to victory. An escape from relegation this season could see us have a very bright future, as Magic said on SSN, "if Villa can avoid relegation this season then they could go on to be frightening".

I've found my love again and will be back down Villa Park at every opportunity.

I've missed you Aston Villa but I'm glad to be back.

Really nice post AC, I'm glad you feel that way.

Sadly I think we're very much as disillusioned, if not more, than in the O'Leary days.

The Villa Park you talk about is today, a half-empty passionless place where people stand and clap for Stan (rightly) and then sit on their hands and look at their phones the rest of the time.

Then at half-time some numpty rolls on two great big stupid balls to put people in and shouts out "Get behind the Villa!".

[Legion]

I miss you, Aston Villa. I first found you on a dim, miserable night in the mid 80s against a team called Oxford United. I fell in love with the club, I fell in love with the shirt, I fell in love with the stadium and I dreamt of you every night.

I would wake up on a Friday morning and immediately get excited at the thought of only one more sleep until the next game, I would get heart palpitations and tingles up my spine all day at school just at the thought that we would soon be reunited again.

We had our ups and downs, I remember endless renditions of Dwight Yorke, Dwight Yorke, I remember Santa falling from the sky and Dion Dublin inspiring a remarkable comeback, I could have sworn the Holte was going to collapse that day. I remember being the first team to win  at Pride Park and being able to celebrate in the stands with Ian Taylor. I remember that miss by Dean Holdsworth. I also remember the final against Chelsea, Blackburn away with Savo spitting, and David O'Leary.

I fell out of love with you when O'Leary was in charge, I was disinterested at the match, I was disillusioned with the Sky millions and the ineptitude of Ellis. I didn't much care for watching you, I paid interest in the results, I had the game on when we were on TV but I had other things which I prioritised.

A revolution then seemed to begin, manager and chairman gone, multi millionaire in place with the most sought after manager in charge, the revolution gathered pace but I was still not that bothered, I went to Wembley but could still not generate the enthusiasm I once had, the players were still overpaid prima donnas who wouldn't dream of doing an Ian Taylor and in the blink of an eye the manager was gone and the revolution hit the buffers and the stuff of nightmares began, I cannot imagine the pain I would have felt if I had still been a fanatic, obsessive Villa lunatic and experienced the withering displays under the McLeish year, I was still a fan but a very distant and casual observer. I didn't watch Match of the Day any more and very rarely took in a live TV game. I thought I was lost forever, another fan forsaken for the Sky football extravaganza, Super Spunking Sunday and all that it entailed.

Fortunately, the McLeish year was only that, a year and a new guy was put in place, a guy by the name of Paul Lambert, I paid interest in this because I will always be a Villa fan in one capacity or another. I saw our squad, I saw our new signings and was frankly shocked at how poor a squad we had, I literally wouldn't have recognised half the players if I bumped into them in Sainsburys.

I was still fairly disinterested when we started the season so poorly, a couple of poor performances then a decent result or two but something happened during the Liverpool game, I watched the game on a live stream for the first time in my life, I saw these kids working their socks off for the sake of my club, and for the first time in about ten years I was genuinely excited to be watching Aston Villa again and the love came poring back through my veins and and the feeling was overwhelming. I watched Match of the Day and nearly cried with enjoyment.

I watched the Chelsea game, and was still hugely proud of our players for giving it a go, this may sound stupid but I would genuinely rather see us lose 8-0 at Chelsea, giving it a go, than having a McLeish team out there or an O'Leary in charge.

I was away on holiday, unable to catch the Tottnham or Wigan games and have not read up on them deeply but suffice to say my love is still there and my pride ever present and the Lambert way is the way I wish my club to go. No more overpaid mercenaries just players who want to be professional footballers and want to do their best for the sacred Aston Villa.

So to those of you losing the faith then please reconsider, get behind the lads 100% and roar the players to victory. An escape from relegation this season could see us have a very bright future, as Magic said on SSN, "if Villa can avoid relegation this season then they could go on to be frightening".

I've found my love again and will be back down Villa Park at every opportunity.

I've missed you Aston Villa but I'm glad to be back.

Really nice post AC, I'm glad you feel that way.

Sadly I think we're very much as disillusioned, if not more, than in the O'Leary days.

The Villa Park you talk about is today, a half-empty passionless place where people stand and clap for Stan (rightly) and then sit on their hands and look at their phones the rest of the time.

Then at half-time some numpty rolls on two great big stupid balls to put people in and shouts out "Get behind the Villa!".

You're quite right. What a sad state of affairs.

[danlanza]

To all you Villa Lads and Lasses who are going to the game tomorrow night, have a great night and sing your hearts out for the Villa.
I so wish i was there for tomorrow's game. I will be watching it in my local, with the Mrs and a few Villa mates. Special mention to Fin Feds Dad and his Mrs and Kids and his Dad who will be there tomorrow. Cmon you Villa boys. Do us proud. UTV.

[Fin Feds Dad]

We will be roaring them on for you Dan - send our love to Jen - and say a big hello to Jo in the Inn Place x

[danlanza]

We will be roaring them on for you Dan - send our love to Jen - and say a big hello to Jo in the Inn Place x

Top man. Jen says good luck and UTV and i will pass the message on to Jo tomorrow. UTV mate.xxx