Damon's article in the Graun

[dave shelley]

It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.

On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!

I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.

Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.

So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.

And yes, it's a great article.

Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married.  The house, along with my parents are no longer there.

[dave shelley]

Living in Ireland, means being surrounded by glory hunters, often defined by what age groups they are. 50s Leeds United, 40's-30's Liverpool, 30's Man U, 20's mix of Man U and Arsenal, under 20's Man City, Chelsea, which is understandable.

My 2 kids 16 and 13 are Villa, brought them both to their first games when they were around 5, and try and get to at least 2 or 3 games a season, they have always had the kits.
Whenever they got any stick at school about being Villa, i taught them to ask their friends how many games they had been to, knowing that our trips to VP were always more. A lot of the  glory hunters have been to only one or two games in their lives, including some of the older ones.
This year i took them to their first away game Fulham, they loved it. This season i plan on bringing them to their first Villa Blues derby.
They love wearing their Villa tops to be different, they get excited to see another Villa top in Ireland, they even taught themselves the words to Shit on the City "as Gaeilge".
I would love to take them to Wembley one day to see us win a trophy.
You owe it to your kids, don't let them grow up as glory hunters, we did not choose we were chosen. They will thank you for it later.

My four-year-old grandson finished playschool for the last time today and there was a little party for all of them at the playschool.  Mrs S and I went along and there he was, in his Villa polo shirt that I had bought him the last time I was over.  There was a little three-year-old lad there that my daughter pointed out; that turned up the other day in a full Villa kit.  I tried to find his parents but they'd left.  My daughter said she will find out about them when they return in the new school year.  We show up everywhere.

As an aside to that.  On the drive home I came up behind a car that had Manchester City stickers all over the rear window and you just knew that he was a plastic, Johnny-come-lately gloryhunter.

[dorsetvillian]

My Dad was from Tamworth and although we lived in Southampton he took me to Villa Park  when we visited the relatives once or twice a season.  I was first taken in 71 and then started going regularly on my own once leaving school in 79. My son is now 18 and started going with me from the age of 3. He's always lived at least 150 miles away from Villa Park but like me Villa are a  constant in his life and a great connection between Dad and Son. Going to games together is always a great day out no matter how bad Villa are. I'm sure he will pass the tradition on no matter where in the world he chooses too live.

[The Edge]

Tell your kids not to be gloryhunting fans. They'll thank you in the end

Thanks for posting this article. Great read and some of the messages with the article made me very proud to follow in my dad's footsteps to Villa Park. Still one of the country's favourite grounds  among the neutrals.

[amfy]

My Dad was from Tamworth and although we lived in Southampton he took me to Villa Park  when we visited the relatives once or twice a season.  I was first taken in 71 and then started going regularly on my own once leaving school in 79. My son is now 18 and started going with me from the age of 3. He's always lived at least 150 miles away from Villa Park but like me Villa are a  constant in his life and a great connection between Dad and Son. Going to games together is always a great day out no matter how bad Villa are. I'm sure he will pass the tradition on no matter where in the world he chooses too live.

In my younger days I used to be on the same 6.25am train from Southampton as Dorset Villain after we moved to Southampton from Oldbury. There was quite a little crew of us the season we won the league - some starting out all the way from Bournemouth, others joining us at Basingstoke, Reading and Oxford. Happy days!

On the day we moved to Southampton, when I was 7 years old, I asked my Dad if we would support Southampton now, and he said 'Don't be so bloody stupid!'

[dorsetvillian]

I was certainly part of that group and still go to games with some  of them now. I now live in West Dorset but  will see some those old timers at the  Bournemouth Lions annual summer BBQ on Sunday. Guest of honour is Dennis Mortimer, so it should be a good afternoon.  The Bournemouth Lions is a very active Villa  supporters club with a good number of members making regular trips to both home and away games.

[Damo70]

The words of 'My Old Man' resonate with me. My old man spent two years 'on the books of the Blues' (before I was born). My next door neighbour took me down the Villa after his two teenage sons had 'bribed and brainwashed me' (in the words of my bluenose family). They gave me their old Villa tops they had grown out of. I loved being the black (or claret and blue sheep) of the family. Despite all the bluff and bluster there are only four members of my family who go to Small Heath or Villa games. Myself, my son, my cousins husband and his son. All of us Villa fans. The rest just talk the talk and give it the big 'un. Some of them even own a Small Heath shirt.

[The Edge]

I was certainly part of that group and still go to games with some  of them now. I now live in West Dorset but  will see some those old timers at the  Bournemouth Lions annual summer BBQ on Sunday. Guest of honour is Dennis Mortimer, so it should be a good afternoon.  The Bournemouth Lions is a very active Villa  supporters club with a good number of members making regular trips to both home and away games.

Fantastic!

[Hopadop]

It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.

On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!

I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.

Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.

So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.

And yes, it's a great article.

Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married.  The house, along with my parents are no longer there.

It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.

Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.

[dave shelley]

It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.

On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!

I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.

Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.

So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.

And yes, it's a great article.

Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married.  The house, along with my parents are no longer there.

It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.

Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.

Ah!  I was down with the riff-raff, just by the roundabout with Dovedale Road.   There were a few shops and a bank across the road.

IIRC, there was one, if not two of the Birmingham Six that lived in the groves opposite the College Arms.  There or thereabouts. 

The College Arms has, for many years been a McDonald's burger joint, at least it was the last time I took a spin down there.

[DB]

My old man took me when I was 4. Never even considered another team, when at school I was surrounded by Dogheads and glory L-pool fans. I went with him until he passed when I was 13. One thing I miss is going up with him and chatting about how we are doing etc. My boy is now 2, he will be Villa, can't wait to take to VP.

[Pat McMahon]

It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.

On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!

I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.

Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.

So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.

And yes, it's a great article.

Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married.  The house, along with my parents are no longer there.

It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.

Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.

Ah!  I was down with the riff-raff, just by the roundabout with Dovedale Road.   There were a few shops and a bank across the road.

IIRC, there was one, if not two of the Birmingham Six that lived in the groves opposite the College Arms.  There or thereabouts. 

The College Arms has, for many years been a McDonald's burger joint, at least it was the last time I took a spin down there.

My brother in law's dad was a relief manager for pubs back in the 80s. He was a big bloke, had been a wrestler for a while, and could look after himself. On his first day in the College Arms, less than an hour after opening,  he was hit on the head from behind with a bar stool and knocked out.

That was the College Arms for me.

[PeterWithe]

Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.

I went in a few years ago to a retirement party for a senior teacher of one of the local Catholic schools, it's a beautiful building from the outside but rather tatty and functional inside.

This was before the Popes visit mind so they might well have thrown some money at it around then.

[peter w]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/02/08/ranking-all-54-stadiums-in-premier-league-history/old-trafford-stadium-home-to-manchester-united/

[LeeB]

It feels funny reading it as on my Dads side of the family there is absolutely no history of football supporting at all, so I'm the first in my family. I have passed it onto my son though and despite living miles away he still watches out for the scores even if he doesn't come that often these days. Hopefully one day he'll have kids of his own and do the same.

On my Mums side my Grandad was a massive Hearts fan so I follow them as my Scottish team but haven't been to see them play. They are very much the Scottish Villa as well, double the agony!!

I'm in a similar boat - Dad was from the Rhondda and had no interest in football. He liked rugby but we failed to bond over that or much else, except a shared mistrust and loathing of my sister's boyfriends.

Mom was born and bred Erdington but neither she nor my granddad ever spoke much about the football. I know it was cheap to go but I don't think they'd ever spend any money going out there or anywhere else. He'd spend all of his free time on his allotment. I've got wonderful memories and stories from him, but nothing about the Villa. Closest to it is seeing players on the 107 occasionally and living next door but one to Vic Potts (wartime player and lovely man) on the College Road.

So I don't have much of a tradition to pass on, but I'm still trying to do it.

And yes, it's a great article.

Hopadop, I lived on the College Road before I got married.  The house, along with my parents are no longer there.

It's a long old road Dave, I reckon everyone has a spell there sooner or later. We were near Chester Road, not far from the College itself.

Speaking of which, one of these days I'm going to have a look round there. It was a mysterious place growing up - I was amazed they let the pope in.

Ah!  I was down with the riff-raff, just by the roundabout with Dovedale Road.   There were a few shops and a bank across the road.

IIRC, there was one, if not two of the Birmingham Six that lived in the groves opposite the College Arms.  There or thereabouts. 

The College Arms has, for many years been a McDonald's burger joint, at least it was the last time I took a spin down there.

We lived just behind the social club opposite, seem to remember Desmond Douglas the table tennis player lived in one of the Barret homes at the bottom of our road.