What makes you proud to support the Villa?

[pauliewalnuts]

We're a very important part of the history of the English game, and the history of the English game is the history of world football.

Chelsea may have huge amounts of money, millions of new fans in Asia, and more recent silverware, but they will never have what we have.

I also like the fact that, increasingly, though there is a lot more to do still, when I go to matches, I see more of a reflection of the city - more people who are not white blokes. Loads of ground to be made up, and I know this sounds wishy washy, but when I see groups of Asian lads at our matches, it makes me happy that maybe we're one of the clubs who are starting to show a proper representation of what makes this city, and this country, great - the fact we're a gigantic melting pot of cultures and races.

What I'd really like is if one day, you could go, say, the bull ring, stand outside and spend half an hour watching and listening to the people who walk past, all sorts of nationalities, skin colours, languages, and then go to Villa Park and see something really close to the same mix.

[Louzie0]

We're a very important part of the history of the English game, and the history of the English game is the history of world football.

Chelsea may have huge amounts of money, millions of new fans in Asia, and more recent silverware, but they will never have what we have.

I also like the fact that, increasingly, though there is a lot more to do still, when I go to matches, I see more of a reflection of the city - more people who are not white blokes. Loads of ground to be made up, and I know this sounds wishy washy, but when I see groups of Asian lads at our matches, it makes me happy that maybe we're one of the clubs who are starting to show a proper representation of what makes this city, and this country, great - the fact we're a gigantic melting pot of cultures and races.

What I'd really like is if one day, you could go, say, the bull ring, stand outside and spend half an hour watching and listening to the people who walk past, all sorts of nationalities, skin colours, languages, and then go to Villa Park and see something really close to the same mix.

I like this.
And, my Dad.

and Percy's post.

[TopDeck113]

Good post, Paulie.  It will happen.

In many ways the fact that the destiny of our club was shaped by Scots "immigrants" is a testament to how the city has always been a place where people have been able to find a home and leave their mark.

[olaftab]

- the fact we're a gigantic melting pot of cultures and races.

Hopefully  that melting pot turns into a scrumptious   casserole!

[Percy McCarthy]

We're a very important part of the history of the English game, and the history of the English game is the history of world football.

Chelsea may have huge amounts of money, millions of new fans in Asia, and more recent silverware, but they will never have what we have.

I also like the fact that, increasingly, though there is a lot more to do still, when I go to matches, I see more of a reflection of the city - more people who are not white blokes. Loads of ground to be made up, and I know this sounds wishy washy, but when I see groups of Asian lads at our matches, it makes me happy that maybe we're one of the clubs who are starting to show a proper representation of what makes this city, and this country, great - the fact we're a gigantic melting pot of cultures and races.

What I'd really like is if one day, you could go, say, the bull ring, stand outside and spend half an hour watching and listening to the people who walk past, all sorts of nationalities, skin colours, languages, and then go to Villa Park and see something really close to the same mix.

Bring it on.

[silhillvilla]

I stood next to two Asian lads at Walsall pre-season. They were happy and felt safe in amongst the villa fans . They were loving being at the game and were really passionate about villa. It made me proud that they were in with us and safe and having a great time.

[The Left Side]

Everything on this thread.

[JD]

As a non Brummie and someone with no family ties to the area and absolutely no reason to support the Villa I quite often find myself thinking why Villa? It's simple, Villa Park and the Holte End. I'd been to loads of football grounds before a friend invited me to VP for a game against Coventry in September 1990. Highbury, white hart lane, loftus road, vicarage road, London road, the abbey stadium, blundell park and sincil bank had all passed me by in various trips with family and friends but the first time I stepped onto the Holte End it was different. To paraphrase I can't remember who the history the tradition and most of all the feeling that this was a special place seemed to crackle around the whole ground. For someone who could previously have been construed as a teenage armchair Liverpool fan it flicked something in me that I just can't explain and whilst my attendance every other week at Villa Park has never been guaranteed this club, the ground and its history will always be a part of me, and now for my son.  There are others clubs with history and tradition which interest me and I respect  but none of them come close to Aston Villa.

Good post AV82EC. Same with me, all my family are Spurs fans, but as a lad the first time I set foot in Villa Park in 1975 I felt the magic that other grounds and teams just don't have. It has never ceased to amaze me for all the years I went to Villa games walking up towards the Holte End always sent a shiver down my spine. Aston Villa really are magic.

[DB]

We have so many postive boxes ticked it's hard where to start.
For me, the history - the birth of the 1st football league, only 1 of 2 clubs to have over 100 seasons in the top flight (along with another great English club - Everton), one of the original 12 league clubs. Our trophy haul, supplying more players for England (for all the good it's done!) than anyone else, sticking our fingers up to Hitler.... and on...on....

[CyprusVillain]

I also like the fact that, increasingly, though there is a lot more to do still, when I go to matches, I see more of a reflection of the city - more people who are not white blokes. Loads of ground to be made up, and I know this sounds wishy washy, but when I see groups of Asian lads at our matches, it makes me happy that maybe we're one of the clubs who are starting to show a proper representation of what makes this city, and this country, great - the fact we're a gigantic melting pot of cultures and races.

What I'd really like is if one day, you could go, say, the bull ring, stand outside and spend half an hour watching and listening to the people who walk past, all sorts of nationalities, skin colours, languages, and then go to Villa Park and see something really close to the same mix.

Good post and a fine ambition. What is impressive about football at Premiership level (but it is well exemplified by Villa) is how this team sport thrives on young men of diverse backgrounds playing as a single unit. I like the subversion of a Belgium national squad member an Villa forward being as black as yer boot and hailing from Central Africa. When once it was difficult to name any famous Belgium beyond the (resolutely white) fictional characters of Tin Tin an Hercule Poirot - mention this country an CB comes to mind immediately.

Still waiting for the AV hospitality service to open a Balti outlet at the ground offering a cheaper alternative to the up-scale meals it tends to specialise in. 

[Rotterdam]

The name
The ground
The colours
And mainly because of my grandad and step dad.

[pauliewalnuts]

Just seen this on twitter.

Football like this from last week, that helps too!

[eamonn]

You'd seen it before though, right?

[pauliewalnuts]

Yes of course.

I'd not seen it anywhere on the web, though, not the full move.

[TheSandman]

Great stuff.