Stiliyan Petrov - update

[Clampy]

His lad looks like the kid out The Wonder Years.

Lovely picture though.

[Mortimer's Bear]

A wonderful picture, makes you realise what's really important.

[PeterWithesShin]

Stiliyan Petrov and a host of other ex-Villa stars are set to take to the field at Boldmere St Michaels for a charity match in aid of the former skipper's new foundation.

Petrov, who was forced to retire from professional football last season following a battle with leukaemia, will lace up his boots on Sunday March 9 when a Rigga & Petrov XI take on the Villa Lions & Legends.

The Bulgarian's team will feature a number of former Premier League stars including Julian Joachin and Alan Wright.

Meanwhile, Steve Staunton, Bryan Small and European Cup-winning aces Ken McNaught, Gary Shaw, Nigel Spink, Tony Morley, Des Dremner and Gordon Cowans are among those expected to turn out for the Lions & Legends.

The match - which is sponsored by Birmingham-based accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young - takes place at the Trevor Brown Memorial Stadium, Boldmere.

Kick-off is at 2pm but other activities such as a charity auction, raffle and entertainment are taking place throughout the day.

Entry is £4 for adults and £1 for children.

For more information contact Stephen Rigby on 07791743767.

[Chris Harte]

Stiliyan Petrov and a host of other ex-Villa stars are set to take to the field at Boldmere St Michaels for a charity match in aid of the former skipper's new foundation.

Petrov, who was forced to retire from professional football last season following a battle with leukaemia, will lace up his boots on Sunday March 9 when a Rigga & Petrov XI take on the Villa Lions & Legends.

The Bulgarian's team will feature a number of former Premier League stars including Julian Joachin and Alan Wright.

Meanwhile, Steve Staunton, Bryan Small and European Cup-winning aces Ken McNaught, Gary Shaw, Nigel Spink, Tony Morley, Des Dremner and Gordon Cowans are among those expected to turn out for the Lions & Legends.

The match - which is sponsored by Birmingham-based accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young - takes place at the Trevor Brown Memorial Stadium, Boldmere.

Kick-off is at 2pm but other activities such as a charity auction, raffle and entertainment are taking place throughout the day.

Entry is £4 for adults and £1 for children.

For more information contact Stephen Rigby on 07791743767.

Anyone know what parking is like for this place? I assume it'd be street parking mainly but is there anywhere else me and friends will be able to park up?

[amfy]

Parking is absolutely awful! When the youth team played there per-season last year, it turned into a total road block, and no-one was going anywhere for about half an hour. It wasn't just hard to park, it was really easy to get completely stuck. If you are driving, get there early, and park a little way away.

It is a 10-15 minute walk from the cross city line at Chester Road or or Wylde Green.

[Chris Harte]

Ok, thanks Amfy.

[dicedlam]

Looking forward to this next Sunday. I think Ugo Ehiogu might be turning out too.

Should be a good day.

[amfy]

Stan played a full 90 minutes and scored a penalty today! A great afternoon out in the sunshine.

[Mister E]

Stan played a full 90 minutes and scored a penalty today! A great afternoon out in the sunshine.

get him back into the first team at VP!
Ta for the update, amfy.

[ez]

It was indeed a smashing day. I really enjoyed it and an excellent turnout.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/former-aston-villa-captain-stiliyan-6790928

[Chris Harte]

Ended up parking on the street near the Bishop Vesey pub. Good day out and great weather for it too.

[richard moore]

It was indeed a smashing day. I really enjoyed it and an excellent turnout.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/former-aston-villa-captain-stiliyan-6790928

Great pictures, lovely to see Joachim, Alan Wright, Lee H, Merse and the like alongside the more familar Tony Morley and Sid

[Toronto Villa]

looks like only Lee stayed away from the pies after his career ended

[Sexual Ealing]

Posts like these disgust me. Until Aston Villa are able to put out two teams of ex-pros, all of whom I'd happily nosh off, I will continue to call for Lerner, Lambert and Faulkner to leave. Fat middle-aged former players? We've truly become a laughing stock.

[Dave Cooper please]

Posts like these disgust me. Until Aston Villa are able to put out two teams of ex-pros, all of whom I'd happily nosh off, I will continue to call for Lerner, Lambert and Faulkner to leave. Fat middle-aged former players? We've truly become a laughing stock.

How low have we fallen?