Why are you Villa?

[Witton Warrior]

Was born in Brum but family moved to the Black Country when I was 2 then Weston-S-M and back to the Black Country by age 15. This made me search for some "roots" and hearing my Dad talk about playing rugby at VP and his never-ending re-telling of the Manure match when they scored 6. I just sort of felt the call. It became something I have identified with ever since - A mate in the 1st year at school had an older suedehead brother and he filled us with tales of the Holte End. Then we moved and "I am Villa" was what made all the bullying by West Country twats as a kid bearable - when Villa played in Bristol mid-70's the lads were in awe of our massive following. Then we came back to Stourbridge and I met other Villans of my own age for the first time and started attending. Still there after 40 years.

I am Villa

[nodge]

I was chosen.

[montague]

Dad was a fan. Stories of Stan Lynn and Gerry Hitchens and the 11-0 v Charlton. Took me to my first game at 5 (lost at home to Swindon in late 60s in the slide into division 3). Never went every week but regularly went with my Dad until I was about 13 the then went with my mates. It was about half way through the 75-76 season that this change happened - which coincided with the thrilling first few seasons back in the top division. Good times. I rarely had a season ticket back then but saw most games.

I now live in South London. I used to take my lad to Selhurst Park when he was small just so we could go to a game. We probably did this for about 6 seasons and went to Cardiff for a play off final. Saw Villa occasionally during this period. However, without forcing him, he grew up a Villa fan anyway even though he could have gone to Palace, or Spurs or Chelsea with his mates. I believe therefore you follow your Father or Mother in who you support unless you just follow the glory.

My lad and I now attend most home games and some away games as season ticket holders in the Trinity and that is priceless, despite the rubbish we have to sit though at the moment and the long, usually miserable, trudge back South. My Dad is unfortunately not well enough to attend now but we have had times when there 3 generations at a game which was really nice.

My lad is now also burdened with a lifetime of misery, false hope and disappointment (and hopefully some good times in between) but what can you do if its in the blood?   

[peter w]

from Aston (Newtown/Lozells) area and the whole family on mom and dad's side are Villa fans. Died in the wool Villa fans. Between my dad and my uncle (my mom's brother) they've covered every monumental game from the 70s onwards and started taking me when I was 2. I was never going to be anything else.

My 5 year-old has been living in Nigeria and Croydon with Chelsea, Arsenal, and a few Palace fans now. It did worry for a while but he lives breathes and eats football now. Plays and watches it at every possible moment. His favourite players are Gabby and Guzan. He's been to quite a few games now and it was West ham away that finally got him. His last game was Blackpool at home and he loved every minute of it. I'm sorry son. Let's hope the penny doesn't drop too soon...

[Holte132]

My brother taught me to say Up the Villa as one of the first things I ever said.  No choice then but to support them, and have done so for nearly 60 years!

[Legion]

My Dad.

[andrew08]

Nice stories above and as a fan who can trace his Villa supporting relatives back to the Victorian era ( we were the original glory hunters) I had no choice... I was also chosen.

Sadly I think it will end with me. I have two young Sons, the eldests first word after Mom and Dad was Villa. My younger one, I think as a response to his brother never wanted to go really. First born got it from day one and loved it, cried at Wembley when we lost to Manure and jumped into my arms with joy when we got the winner against Ajax.

And then came the misery years, week in week out of shite. And not so much the shite but I genuinely think he doesn't want to see the misery on my face anymore and has decided not to go.

Don't blame him, I'll continue to renew his season ticket for a few years. Hopefully he will return!

[dave shelley]

This thread is quite heart-warming and, not a little emotional.

[AV82EC]

The Holte End. September 1990 and a home game with Cov. I can thank a good friend for encouraging me to go, I was 22 at the time. A true life changing moment for me, 90 minutes later I felt I belonged. I've been up in the NorthWest for most of the next 25 years and have fallen in and out of love with this club more times than I care to mention but I still get excited when I'm walking towards the Holte or singingmy head off in an away end somewhere....

[class-of-82]

My grandad was a villa fan and when I was 7 he took me to my first game at villa park in 1967.
But to be honest it has to be those beautiful colours no matter what anybody says no other two colours go better together than claret and blue.

[levico]

Wasn't too interested in football as a young child but then new neighbours moved in and the son, about my age, kept going on about the Villa - who had just won the FA Cup.

That sparked my interest albeit that I didn't attend my first match until 1963 - beat Arsenal 3-0.

[PaulWinch again]

Grandad was from Aston and I was just drawn to the club. Hopefully one day we'll be rewarded for suffering all this pain!

[cdbearsfan]

Dad came to Brum in the early 70s from Glasgow and went to a Villa game and a Blues one. He said that Villa drew 0-0 and the Blues game had lots of goals in it, but he just preferred the atmosphere at Villa.

So it's his fault that I'm a Villa fan (at least I'm not a nose I guess).

It's also his fault that I support Clyde.

Exactly the same with my dad, by coincidence.

[OzVilla]

Dads side are Villa.
Moms side are Blose.
Dad took me to the football.
There wasn't a choice.

[Exeter 77]

My granddad grew up in Lozells. My dad drove supporters and team coaches in 60s, 70s and early 80s. I was indoctrinated before I was born.