Mick Dale

[Stu82]

He looked after me on my tour last September, he stayed with me (wheeled me round), while another chap did general tour.
He made it a brilliant day.
I am shocked he is going, as he is a great ambassador for the club.

[BC Villain]

I did a stadium tour with Mick about 6 years ago.  Absolutely brilliant guy who has a genuine love for the club, which came over really well on the tour we were on.

I know someone who has done a tour of a lot of stadiums in the UK (he's a Dundee fan) and he said ours was the best one he did by a mile, as the others just wanted to rush you through the tour so you would spend money buying their tat in the shop

[Dave P]

I did one tour (not with Mick) Andy we were told a story that was absolute fiction, which annoyed me at the time, but if everyone else enjoyed it, what's the problem?

Was it the origin of our colours story as I was told that on the tour I did a few months ago?

[London Villan]

The tiles in the bartons… which was built 25 year after we were formed…

[Brazilian Villain]

I did one tour (not with Mick) Andy we were told a story that was absolute fiction, which annoyed me at the time, but if everyone else enjoyed it, what's the problem?

Was it the origin of our colours story as I was told that on the tour I did a few months ago?

Was it that Villa Park's most beloved stadium guide has a daughter called Emma?

[exigo]

It's tragic to think that people like Purslow have no understanding of what made our great club great in the first place. It's people like Mick.

[Max Villan]

It's tragic to think that people like Purslow have no understanding of what made our great club great in the first place. It's people like Mick.

You do get a feel that what made a lot of us fall in love with this great club is being dismantled.

I'm no enemy of bringing the club into the 21st century, but you can do that alongside keeping a nod to what made us.

[exigo]

It's tragic to think that people like Purslow have no understanding of what made our great club great in the first place. It's people like Mick.

You do get a feel that what made a lot of us fall in love with this great club is being dismantled.

I'm no enemy of bringing the club into the 21st century, but you can do that alongside keeping a nod to what made us.

The £10 bus return. The pay £1500 and jump the season ticket queue. the let's get rid of the guy who's helped build our heart and soul.
It's not hard to spot a pattern.

[PeterWithe]

I’ve not done the tour and don’t know Mick but I don’t like the sound of this at all, another little piece of our fixtures and fittings being dismantled.

[dave.woodhall]

I did one tour (not with Mick) Andy we were told a story that was absolute fiction, which annoyed me at the time, but if everyone else enjoyed it, what's the problem?

Was it the origin of our colours story as I was told that on the tour I did a few months ago?

It wasn't. What are they coming out with about the colours now?

[Drummond]

I did one tour (not with Mick) Andy we were told a story that was absolute fiction, which annoyed me at the time, but if everyone else enjoyed it, what's the problem?

Was it the origin of our colours story as I was told that on the tour I did a few months ago?

Was it that Villa Park's most beloved stadium guide has a daughter called Emma?

I went to school with a girl called Emma Dale.

[FrankyH]

I remember being outside the ground a few years back with my mate Andy Turnstile. He was talking to Mick , and like everyone has said, seemed an all round great bloke. Ken McNaught  walked passed tapped Andy on the shoulder, smiled and said "Are you holding court again Mick !" Even in that briefest interaction , anyone could see people (including Ken) had a genuine affection for him.

[SoccerHQ]

You could employ anyone to guide you around the ground. All you need is to do a bit of research. What you cannot replace are stories delivered with the absolute love of the club and from years of experience. That’s the difference and that’s what money can’t buy.

Yep, first tour I went on was about 1999 and it was the late great Jack Watts just reeling off stories about first coming to VP just after the first World war.

I was only 10 at the time and given it was the school holidays plenty of other kids and we were all sat round him in the Trinity listening to his stories like that grandad you visit for xmas!

I think with world wide attraction of prem now they're advertising these tour jobs for people who are multi-lingual as we'll get more of that clientele for tours when we're making europe regularly so not sure if Mick's been let go for that or diversity or whatever else.

[SoccerHQ]

https://careers.avfc.co.uk/job/tour-guide?source=google.co.uk

Seems it's getting combined with the ticketing department unless it was already a duel role? Have to know plenty for the living wage anyway.

When I last went they used to have three tours a day (with option of meal in Corner flag restaurant) so a while ago so I presume know it's just once if you have to split time with our ticketing operation.

[Paul.S]

You could employ anyone to guide you around the ground. All you need is to do a bit of research. What you cannot replace are stories delivered with the absolute love of the club and from years of experience. That’s the difference and that’s what money can’t buy.

Yep, first tour I went on was about 1999 and it was the late great Jack Watts just reeling off stories about first coming to VP just after the first World war.

I was only 10 at the time and given it was the school holidays plenty of other kids and we were all sat round him in the Trinity listening to his stories like that grandad you visit for xmas!

I think with world wide attraction of prem now they're advertising these tour jobs for people who are multi-lingual as we'll get more of that clientele for tours when we're making europe regularly so not sure if Mick's been let go for that or diversity or whatever else.

You may be right. I’m glad I did the tour and Mick’s love for our club just shines through. A good Villa man who obviously loves the job and it was like he couldn’t wait to tell you all about the club. Let’s hope this carries on but I’ll be sad to see him leave.