spreading the Villa message around the world

[russon]

Please pardon the indulgence but this pic was published in the Press & Journal (Aberdeen's equivalent of the Birmingham Post & Mail) last week and it's given me my 'cheapies' as they say up here. Not the article itself but the photo, me and my brothers stood on a packed Holte End and it being published in an Aberdeen paper! Villa get no coverage or respect up here (as you'd expect given B6 is 400 miles away) so I've manufactured a way of getting Villa on the map. Up yours Delors! It just gave me a kick that's all, it's the little things in life!

Anyone else succeeded in infiltrating rogue regions? Eg. closer to home, I saw us beat WBA while standing in the Hawthorns home end years ago while wearing my Villa scarf tied around my waist. Listening to their fans' bitterness as they slid to defeat was sweet indeed. As I said, it's those little things in life and given our current parlous state, they mean more than ever.

[cdbearsfan]

Good work!

Can't think of too many convertees I've made. My ex used to come to games but I think she preferred the post-match drinks to the actual game.

Come to think of it, so do I!

[brian green]

My younger son had a kick around side in Central Park all dressed in the sacred colours some years back.  One of them was in a band/group.  His wife was the one out of Shakespeare in Love I think.  When I worked in the Empty Quarter in Saudi, a baggies fan and I had New Years Day 1 v 1 game at Hofhuf oasis.  Villa lost heavily I'm afraid.  I am crap at football but I gave him a few nice bruises.  I think I will offer to coach Jedinak.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I watched an Icelandic film last night (Virgin Mountain) and half way through the main character gets invited to watch on TV the Fulham - Villa game. Later you hear Villa are in the lead, they say it's a fantastic game and then Villa score again. Considering the film was made last year, I wonder how long ago they had to go back to find the footage.

Oh and well done, Russon.

[ChicagoLion]

What is the book called

[eamonn]

What are cheapies? And do you ever miss banking?

[BC54 VFC]

Well done. Would be good to be able to read the full article.

[russon]

Well done. Would be good to be able to read the full article.

hopefully this link gives you the full story https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/outdoors/1048593/read-stonehaven-golf-course-way-never/

Eamonn - 'cheapies' is effectively a shortened version of 'cheap thrills'.

Chicago Lion - the book is called Stoney Baloney and is available on Amazon kindle or paperback https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=stoney+baloney&sprefix=stoney+baloney%2Cstripbooks%2C152

[croatian]

Aberdeen?

Worked up there for Marathon Oil a few years ago. I couldn't get away quick enough. Strange people. Some winter days it never got properly light.

The auld howf and the egg and dart pubs were ok though.

As was the chippie, ashdene/ashmore? Where you could get lobster and chips!

[robbo1874]

I've posted this before.

Mid-90's I was working in the Falklands and they have lots of people from st Helena there doing the civvie jobs. I tried to get them all supporting villa and gave them the collymore AST  away shirt when I left if they promised to start a supporters club in St Helena.


Also went on a safari in Sth Africa a few years ago and gave one of our guides the acorns home top when I left. He was made up it was Nike, but pissed off it wasn't a Liverpool shirt. You can't have it all I suppose...

[Axl Rose]

Good work, Russon.

Over the years, through teaching, I've converted a small army into Villa fans. At the very least, we are the second team of many Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Italians, Greeks and Polish. From 2003, when I started teaching until.about 2011, it was easy to convert people as we weren't doing too badly.

Nowadays it is a little more difficult, but a photo of the Holte End brickwork, or our beautiful colours seems to go down a storm.

[footyskillz]

Excellent stuff!!

[brian green]

I am surprised Robbo that you did not meet Damon in the Falklands.  He was shooting a documentary there.  Good lad my son, very droll, guaranteed to make you piss your claret and blue shorts.

[Dave Cooper please]

I am surprised Robbo that you did not meet Damon in the Falklands.  He was shooting a documentary there.  Good lad my son, very droll, guaranteed to make you piss your claret and blue shorts.

I remember that. Didn't he do the "yomp" that The Marines did across the island?

[robbo1874]

It was a long time ago when I was there- fascinating place. Met some great people. Glad to get home at the end though. I can't imagine what it would've been like trying to 'take' it back off the Argentinians though. They probably thought once they had invaded, it was theirs for keeps. Would've been a logistical nightmare for the British forces, given the distance and the terrain and weather conditions there. Always wondered why all the effort went into it, until I learned of the potentially huge oil reserves in the region...