Why are you Villa?

[Steve67]

I was born on Fentham Road, just off the Trinity Road. You can see Villa Park from the house I was born in.  We have had some superb times, some brilliant players, some wacky but creative managers. Villa Park is a world wide renowned stadium. Brilliant club, going through a crap period at the moment.

[tomd2103]

In my family i am the first generation of Villa fan, my father was a 'Taff' and a Cardiff supporter he moved to Birmingham to marry my mother.

Some great stories in this thread.

The one above is a similar story for me really.  My Mum's side of the family are from Birmingham (Handsworth / Handsworth Wood area) and my Dad's from mid Wales.  My Dad moved to Birmingham to marry my Mum in the early 70's and was instantly converted into a Villa fan by my Villa supporting Grandpa, whose father had been a fan since the early 1900's.  I went to my first game with my Dad as a five year old in 1985 and have been going regularly ever since.  Some of my earliest memories were me and my brother standing on milk crates on the Holte End, hats with half Villa and half Rangers or Celtic, inflatable bananas and a vicious dog guarding a scrapyard we walked past on our way to and back from the game.

Old age and health problems had caught up with my Grandpa by the time I started going and he went less and less.  He still talked about Villa all the time though and would phone after every game we had been to and asked how we had played.  Him and my Nan moved house shortly before he died and in the clear out he gave me an old book about the Football League because "it had some great stuff about the Villa in it".  On the night after he died, I picked up the book and hadn't realised he'd written a little note in it.  It simply that said "In the hope that when Villa win the Cup you'll be there cheering for me".  I'm not ashamed to say that reading that really got me and still does.

I've really felt like packing it in over the past couple of seasons, but I just can't turn my back because without being over dramatic, I really feel like the club is a part of me and my family.             

[nodge]

Got something in my eye.

[Richard E]

Dad is from Small Heath (!) so I had a lucky escape. Thankfully his Grandad was Villa and indoctrinated him into The True Faith.

[aj2k77]

Dads family have always been Villa. He forced them on anyone he came in to contact with. My Mom pregnant was taken a game in 72/73 I think and had to stand on the Holte as it tipped down with snow. I was born in the year we won the League, so it was meant to be!

He took me my first game in 87, Watford at home 1-1, it wasn't the best but my first full season had the joys of Taylors march back to the top. The first few games I was too nervous to watch, so I just sat on the steps reading the program, listening to the crowd. We went to Wembley together in 94 and he got us lost walking back from Wembley to the pick up pub and we had to sleep in a train station. He's always loved the Villa and although he doesn't go down anymore he still sits listening to them on the radio, creature of habbit.

 I have a son now and from his bedroom he can see Villa Park in the distance, he's been on the steps but not to see a game yet, he's only 3. Hopefully he has kids and we can keep the chain going strong.


UTV

[SirSteveUK]

My Grandad came from Shropshire to Brum  and started taking my dad down to VP either side of the war. Dad married a lady born in Vllage Road (in the shade of the Witton Lane Stand) and I was born in Heathfield Road Lozells. My first view of VP was out of a bedroom window on a tour of Aston Hall from my primary school - and I was educated just the other side of Aston Park at K.E.G.S

Like some have already said - it was meant to be , wasn't it?

My first match was 1959 - a vintage year - and my son is 4th generation

[SoccerHQ]

Was taken to my first game at 7 and that was it really. Was Villa mad from that moment. Quite fitting with this season it was a 0-0 draw with West Ham aswell!

[ROBBO]

Dad was raised in Aston i was bought up in Great Barr and all our exteded family (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins etc)were within walking distance and there were lots of them all Villa supporters, saw Sir Stanley Mathews play one of his last games at Villa Park and was weaned on Dixon,Mcparland, The back line of Sims, Lyn, Aldis and Baxter will live in my memory forever.

[PeterWithesShin]

I doubt of interest to anyone but here is my dad (as a boy obv) and grandad withe FA Cup. They are the 2 on the right, and the photo was taken in a pub in Cradley. Photo got a bit battered over the years!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Apart from the obvious...
born in Aston - at home - Mum had been having half of mild with her brother, my Uncle Bill at lunch-time...to give her strength no doubt...and she went into labour shortly afterwards.
Villa were just always there - a big part of the family's life and the neighbourhood. I can't remember anybody supporting any other team except my cousin's husband who was a nose.
Dad would always tell me about the great players - Pongo, Eric Houghton, Frank Barson, and Uncle Frank of course.
I always loved it that Uncle Frank was born in Aston and so were his 3 boys, 2 of whom went on to play for Villa as well.
My brother took me to my first games - we'd sit on the grassy bank in Aston Park peeking through the gaps and listening to the crowd, then go into the game at half time when they opened the gates and let you in for free.  When we moved to Tamworth, aged 8 - I didn't go for a few years - but Villa were always there.
Started going again when I as about 11, on the Midland Red special (3 and thruppence) and got the bug again, bigger than ever. Went to my first away game - on my own - didn't know there were special trains and coaches etc - when I was 12. Sheff Utd.  Soon got that one sorted and went to any game I possibly could.
Always thought it typically modest that nobody in the family made a fuss of our Villa connections or that not many of my family except me and older cousin Barry went to games.
My own lad is not a football fan but is Villa - works Saturdays/he came to the Blackpool game - I get my sister to VP when I can, my God son is Villa and takes his boy now and then (I save all my programmes/tickets etc for him), and occasionally drags his Dad, my brother, along with him.
I've moved quite a few times but never more than about 60 minutes from VP and always attended most home games but have hardly missed a game home/away for the last 10/12 years.
I love the approach to Villa Park, walking towards the Holte is like coming home, and meeting like-minded, dedicated, loyal fans every week who feel every bit of the game so strongly. I love our name, our colours, our history, our ground, our love for our club.
Up The Villa!   

[claret and blue blood]

Moved to Holte Rd in 1957 when I was 3 years old.Dad took me to the Villa when I was about 5.We used to 'mind' cars parked in our road before the games and walk in for most when they used to open them just after half time.Stood right at the front of the Holte when Colin Withers was our keeper and Tony Hateley was number 9.First year at Holte Grammar school we were relegated in 1967.Got the cane for racing down to Villa Park on lunchtime to hand in a protest to the old Norman Smith board.Tommy Docherty came to our school and addressed us at assembly in 1969.
Absolutely love the Villa,seen us win everything except the F A cup,seen the lows and highs and I will keep going.
This is without doubt the longest low period and definitely the most frustrating.
Lets hope we can have some good times again soon.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Dad was raised in Aston i was bought up in Great Barr and all our exteded family (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins etc)were within walking distance and there were lots of them all Villa supporters, saw Sir Stanley Mathews play one of his last games at Villa Park and was weaned on Dixon,Mcparland, The back line of Sims, Lyn, Aldis and Baxter will live in my memory forever.

F Moss (junior) was often in that line-up too Robbo.

[Richard E]

The correct answer to this question is of course 'because how could anyone not be?'

[flybo]

My dad and uncles where old bread Villa one week and small heath the next.
Dad took me and my older brother to our first ever game away v Walsall in division three we live close to Walsall. :-(.
Money was short so did not start going to games till i left school and was at work went with an old friend just after the 75 league cup final and have been going since.
Sadly my dad passed away in 1976 so i only got to do one more game with him Southampton home division two.
i am now the only active villa supporter in the family. My brother is a manure fan but i think that had something to do with the air crash. my nephews are a mix of Walsall and manure but one of them is a Villa fan but does not attend games. VTID

[Legion]

The original thread many, many years ago was opened by one of the best posts ever from ozzjim.