Villa Store in Bullring

[Rory]

Any excuse to post this again

DEFIANT Blues fans took to the streets in protest against the decision not to allow an open-top bus tour through Birmingham to mark the team’s Carling Cup win.

Despite fans last week claiming thousands would gather for their own unofficial celebration, only around 100 gathered in the city centre’s Victoria Square having walked there in small groups following the civic reception at St Andrew’s yesterday.

They then marched through the streets, chanting: “We’re Birmingham City, we’ll do what we want,” as bewildered shoppers looked on.

They stopped outside Aston Villa FC’s official shop on New Street, where they shouted and swore to workers inside, before heading on through Bullring shopping centre up to the Chinese Quarter and along Hurst Street.

They started to disband after getting lost and failing to find Sherlock Street, where they had planned to end their protest over Birmingham City Council’s decision not to hold a parade due to health and safety reasons.

Andrew Henry, a 21-year-old trainee social worker, of Sheldon, attached a huge Blues flag to the columns of the Council House.

“I know I am speaking on behalf of every Birmingham City FC supporter when I say I am disappointed we didn’t get an open-top bus parade,” he said.

Brendan Anderson, 46, a builder of Bartley Green, who was in Victoria Square with his son Liam, 12, added: “I can’t believe we have been denied this parade, it’s a disgrace.”

Carer Kevin Roberts, aged 45, of Yardley, said: “I think it’s appalling. The official celebration was pathetic It would have been much better to have done something last week. It’s spoilt it for me really. It’s like we never won.”

Always makes me smile.

Literally the greatest moment in their history, and still they find time to stop 'outside Aston Villa FC’s official shop on New Street, where they shouted and swore to workers inside'.

Still, I have to give it to them. They have won a trophy more recently than us.

Their 'propah Brummies', 'drink in town', 60k stadium with a bizarre tunnel is nonsense. They know that just as we do.

But I'm 36 and I think I'd celebrate for about three days if we won the League Cup again.

It's something we need to rectify.

[tomd2103]

The club have announced plans for a store in Bullring opening in May. Fantastic step. Right next to Selfridges, we need that sort of presence in the best shopping place in the city.

Was in the Bullring earlier today and was trying to work out where it will be, as I'm sure I read somewhere that it will be over two floors.

[Hampshire Villa]

I remember getting my first ever Villa shirt from Harry Parkes by the Law Courts way back when. My Mom had to sew the badge on

[eamonn]

So?


*(sic) Sew?

[Percy McCarthy]

The club have announced plans for a store in Bullring opening in May. Fantastic step. Right next to Selfridges, we need that sort of presence in the best shopping place in the city.

Was in the Bullring earlier today and was trying to work out where it will be, as I'm sure I read somewhere that it will be over two floors.

One floor with a mezzanine in it.

[Mortimer's Bear]

I remember the shop we had in the Pavilions back in the door, back when town was actually worth visiting.

[olaftab]

I remember the shop we had in the Pavilions back in the door, back when town was actually worth visiting.

It's still well worth visiting. I am sorry that you have a negative view of our city centre.

[darren woolley]

It will be good to see another club shop in town I used to go in the old one a lot.

[saunders_heroes]

I remember the shop we had in the Pavilions back in the door, back when town was actually worth visiting.

It's still well worth visiting. I am sorry that you have a negative view of our city centre.

Spot on. I enjoy going into town these days. Some lovely bars and restaurants there now. I don't understand why so many people continue to run it down, and in my opinion it's far better than it was when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s.

[Brend'Watkins]

I remember the shop we had in the Pavilions back in the door, back when town was actually worth visiting.

It's still well worth visiting. I am sorry that you have a negative view of our city centre.

Spot on. I enjoy going into town these days. Some lovely bars and restaurants there now. I don't understand why so many people continue to run it down, and in my opinion it's far better than it was when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s.

That's true.  Back then it was deserted but for two or three nights of the week.  It now seems to be bustling all of the time.

[LeeB]

I remember the shop we had in the Pavilions back in the door, back when town was actually worth visiting.

It's still well worth visiting. I am sorry that you have a negative view of our city centre.

Spot on. I enjoy going into town these days. Some lovely bars and restaurants there now. I don't understand why so many people continue to run it down, and in my opinion it's far better than it was when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s.

That's true.  Back then it was deserted but for two or three nights of the week.  It now seems to be bustling all of the time.

Still, it takes more than that to lure people away from the bright lights and stump-like family trees of Kingsbury.

[saunders_heroes]

I remember the shop we had in the Pavilions back in the door, back when town was actually worth visiting.

It's still well worth visiting. I am sorry that you have a negative view of our city centre.

Spot on. I enjoy going into town these days. Some lovely bars and restaurants there now. I don't understand why so many people continue to run it down, and in my opinion it's far better than it was when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s.

That's true.  Back then it was deserted but for two or three nights of the week.  It now seems to be bustling all of the time.

Tht's right. I grew up in Ladywood so I was in and out of town all the time. Come 5.30pm it was dead.

[KingstandingVilla]

I wrote a bit called "how to be a Zulu" that appeared in the zine, and then went round on emails.

[eamonn]

Stump-like family tree, brilliant!

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Deadly had a book signing at the old Villa shop in the Pavilions; it was the day after we lost to Doncaster.