Why Trabzonspor wear claret and blue.

[Dave Javu]

Lovely story from the OS, also providing more proof as to why Villa are the greatest club in the world:

Former Villa secretary Steve Stride's role as a UEFA delegate took him back to Turkey - and he discovered that we were the inspiration behind Trabzonspor's claret-and-blue kit.

During the official lunch ahead of the Trabzonspor v Apollon Limassol Europa League match, the host club's president gave Steve a special mention.

Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu pointed out that when his club were formed in 1967 they were so short of money they had no kit.

They contacted a number of clubs in Europe and Villa were the only ones to respond, sending a full set.

"I have seen theories on why Trabzonspor wear claret and blue but I'd near heard this, even when we played them in the UEFA Cup in 1994" said Steve.

"But the president assured me it's a fact."

The club also presented Steve with a shirt.

The number, by the way, is associated with the city of Trabzon. All cars registered there have the prefix 61.



http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/BlogsEntry/0,,10265~3597476,00.html

Also for you Celeb Villa Fan fans, a bit about another celebrity Villa fan, - Gianluca Pagliuca! He also almost joined Villa ("It was my dream") in 1999.

[onje_villa]

Class. Pure class. Off the pitch, always proud to be a Villa fan.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Class. Pure class. Off the pitch, always proud to be a Villa fan.

This

[Big Dick Edwards]

All the more impressive when you consider we were hardly flush with money ourselves in 1967..

[Ron Manager]

Fascinating and before Pat and Doug took over. Norman L Smith (who was the Chairman then) has just gone up quite a few points in my estimation.

[Toronto Villa]

that bloke presenting Steve with the shirt looks the last person you want to see when you're lost on a cold dark night in Trabzonspor.

Great job by Villa though and great story

[rob_bridge]

Fantastic - Paglucia played for Inter in 1994 against us did he not?

[Singapore Villa]

Great story.  We really do have a great club and so many good people doing good gestures over the years.  If only we could just get it together on the pitch at the moment!!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Makes me even more proud to be a Villain!
UTV!

[nigel]

Always loved the Notts County / Juventus story.

It's more special, though, when it's your own club involved.

[ChicagoLion]

Brilliant, Now my favourite Turkish Team

[Brend'Watkins]

What a great story.  I'm also surprised that they're such a young club. 

[peter w]

The Pagliuca one is the first genuine celeb fan that has excited me, and impressed me post, Nigel Kennedy Brits performance in the mid 80s.

[PeterWithesShin]

I was gutted when they knocked us out the UEFA Cup. Beat Inter and lose to Trabzonspor. Typical Villa!

[class_of_82]

Still don't understand why we don't that more(unless we do already) and send out any unsold replica shirts from the club shop that was possibly bought for a pittance and send them off to Africa or somewhere like that and hand them out to young kids who will then grow up being villa fans spreading the claret and blue gospel from the church of aston