Why are you Villa?

[SX150]

Born in Nursery Road Lozells and all of Mums side of family have been Villa since year dot. Dads side were from Stoke on Trent and converted to Coventry City on relocating. So supporting the greatest football club in the world was never in doubt.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I am a glory hunter.

Its not being going well the past 30 years I admit.

[amfy]

My grandad was, but he was the only boy of 7 children in Smethwick, and his sisters all married into Albion, so we have swathes of strpeyfilth in our family.
Still - got our own back when my Dad married my mum & her Dad was an Albion fan. My Dad took her & both of her younger brothers to The Villa, & Villa they have stayed - so my immediate family Dad, Mum, & uncles on both sides are all Vila

[Goldie.7]

Growing up I could see the ground from my old house in Erdington. Also my best mate used to live on Gladstone Road off brookvale which because it's so high has a spectacular view of VP, also I would ride my bike everywhere and on matchdays I would ride to the ground via the canal at Spaghetti and come out by electric avenue and head to the ground to peek through the gates and sometimes take my radio to listen to the comms as I watched. Also when they built the new Trinity I went to the ground pretty much everyday in my final school years to watch it being knocked down and rebuilt, just watching in amazement that you could see directly into the place, pitch and the other three stands in all their glory close up. Started going down regularly after that when I bagged a nice cash-in-hand Saturday job that finished at half one...........perfect!

[remy]

My family moved to South Birmingham in 1987. Football wasn't even on the radar. Started secondary school a few months earlier and there were 3 distinct cliques. The knuckledraggers were skin head type racists. The Carrier bags were sharing the one brain cell. Lo and behold, the sensible, friendly, civilised fellows were of the claret and blue persuasion.

Hours and hours discussing players, games, stickers, internationals and Alan Macinaly.

I'm the only one in my family and now have passed it onto my kids. Wife supported Manure early in our relationship - wtf ?!! Soon put an end to that nonsense.

I cannot countenance supporting another team (shudder).

[silhillvilla]

Because of my grandad . Thank you John , RIP.
Holte Enders in the sky !

[leylandalbion]

Lived in Sutton 1st game taken by dads friend....never looked back...or should that be forward? My 3 lads were all born and bred in leyand, Lancashire..all now have a villa shirt plastered on them permanently...I do feel a some what guilty...however sets them apart from their Manc/scouse mates who never go to games...

[exigo]

Born in Birmingham.
My Dad was a Villa fan.
His Dad was a Villa fan.
His Dad was a Villa fan, whose ashes were scattered on the pitch.
His Dad was a Villa fan, married in Aston church. And possibly buried there too.

[olaftab]

As a child I lived in Cato Street, Nechells and my best friend lived in Needham Street. We were at the Secondary school in Elliot Street. My friends family moved to Holte Road and we both used to walk around Villa Park after playing football in Aston park whenever I went to his house. The 1969/70 season did it for me. Yes that was the worst ever season in our history but I started following Villa results through the Sports Argus. If I remember right we won the last two games but got relegated nevertheless to the Third. I really really felt sorry for the club and the team. That summer the world cup in Mexico drew me even further into love with football. In our first season in the Third division I wanted to go and watch home matches  but there were two problems. As a school boy I had no money and there is no way I could ask my dad as he would not let me go near VP on match days for reasons I have written about previously. However when we drew manu in the semi final of the League Cup we were both determined to be there. My friend managed to persuade his older brother  to give us the money for tickets and the rest is history full of love and hate!

[Rioch is King]

1969 and Albion were a good side, my mates at school wore Albion shirts for games so I asked my dad if I could have a football shirt. He took me to the Harry Parkes sports shop in town and when I asked for one of the shirts with dark blue stripes and white arms he looked at owner and said "I think we can find a better one than that don't you Mr Parkes" I didn't realize at the time how far back the Villa went in my family.

[Billy Walker]

Seeing the original Trinity Road Stand for the first time when I was taken to my very first Villa match - it took my breath away and sealed the deal.

[Neil Hawkes]

My uncle took me to my first game in 1971. Sat in the Trinity, (I was small and young then), against Halifax, won 1-0, Ray  Graydon.
Remember this, but can't remember what I went in the kitchen for an hour ago!

[Deano's Mullet]

Born in kidderminster in 1977. Dad was a WBA fan. I looked out for harriers results but wanted to support a league team that was local and picked the villa, primarily for the colours and secondly cos they had the best name in football. Really gained interest in the 88 promotion season but didn't manage to go till first game of next season vs Millwall. First hero was David platt.

[ozzjim]

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

God I remember that post. You know it is really sad that I couldn't write it again now in the same way. Strange how life changes in different directions and perspective is different.

[papa lazarou]

Born in Chester St, Aston, I was indoctrinated into the faith in my early years by Dad - all of his family were of the blessed persuasion, but the first game I can clearly remember is in 1963 when my uncle took me to a game against Blackburn Rovers. I spent half time running up and down the bank at the back of the Witton End.
I spent all of my teen years and more travelling around second and third division grounds until the resurrection.
Didn't give my boy much of a chance of following anyone else and so it goes on.
It doesn't feel like my club right now - just hoping that it all changes soon and that we win the FA Cuo before I pop my clogs.