I was around 5 years old when an uncle took me off to The Hawthorns. I believe that he had some official capacity there, so I can remember sitting in the seats near the halfway line. I don't think I enjoyed it very much, although the truth is I don't think I liked my uncle very much.
Anyway, even though times were hard and he couldn't really afford to, it was the cue for my Villa supporting father to start to take me to Villa Park occasionally. I can remember standing at the front of the Witton Lane stand and seeing greats like Stanley Mathews, Tom Finney and John Charles at close quarters. Then when I was 10 we won the FA cup. Even though all my mates were Baggies fans, there was never any doubt.