My Dad died last week peacefully.
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My Dad didn't grow up as a Villa fan. He had no ties to Birmingham and had never seen the city until his mid 20s. However, he was a football fan.
In his childhood he was an Arsenal 'fan' as many were in Ireland during the World War 2. I assumed it on the back of their many successes in 1930s.
He moved to London as a young adult in the 1950s looking for regular work and a better life. His older brother, who preferred Spurs, moved a couple of years earlier and Saturday afternoon after five and half days work a week meant watching football.
Craven Cottage (George Cohen and Johnny Haynes), Stamford Bridge (teenager Jimmy Greaves), Highbury (a rare fallow period), Upton Park, and White Hart Lane with Danny Blanchflower and company as the stylish team were about to become a forever national powerhouse. In the minds of their own fans at least. To this day he is the only person I know who went to see Wimbledon at Plough Lane whilst they were in the Southern League.
Shortly after the 1960s began, he relocated to Birmingham after his brother returned to Ireland. This meant he could be in proximity to his sister who had moved over and now lived in Coventry. Alas I have 4 older Sky Blue supporting cousins as a result.
Football in West Midlands meant Wolves, Albion, Villa and Blues. He went to all 4 to start with along with his friends. Wolves were the best team and Albion better than the other 2.
He only took to one. Aston Villa. Peter McParland his favourite player. He went to many games in 1960s, and even broke his leg trying to get in when there was a lockout in FA Cup game.
As the decade progressed he got married, followed by kids. He seemingly lost some interest in football.
A few months before I was born, he went to Villa Park for the 1972 game v Santos and to see the Greatest of them all play in the Greatest place to play. It was the last time he attended for a good while.
As I grew up he worked on Saturdays and coupled with the dark days of hooliganism put many folk off. I was lucky to be taken to Villa by an older cousin or with my schoolmate and his Dad and then more regularly my Dad's mate and long term neighbour. Programs from games I didn't attend were plentiful Not often did I go with my Dad.
We watched highlights and news bulletins on TV as Villa moved through the gears winning the league, Liverpool title's being put to bed and Ipswich overhauled.
He roared so loud when Peter Withe scored, I thought the kitchen extension in progress was going to have to be rebuilt. He laughed heartedly when McNaught did his shadow boxing against those nasty bastards that everyone loves nowadays.
Then, as I grew older I'd stand on and then sit in the Holte End with my own mates as my Dad's occasional visits meant a comfy seat for him as a guest in one of the boxes. Like me he was a huge. huge Paul McGrath fan.
My Mom said he jumped around the living room like a kid at Christmas as we put Fergie's boys in his place in 1994.
Why did you chose Villa over Blues all those years ago Dad, I asked when there was a chance we could play the Rags in 1996 League Cup final? Oh simple, they care far more about Villa than their own team. They always have. I appreciated him cutting out any middleman in that respect. He bore no grudge against our neighbors as he was well acquainted with Gill Merrick in mid 1960s as they were both regulars at the Grange in South Yardley.
His last visit to watch a Villa match was from the from the warmth of Trinity Road restaurant area on 140th anniversary of his long-since adopted club. It was an 80th birthday present from said Coventry cousins. Coincidentally, the now departed Chris Nicholl and Gary Shaw were on his table - it was a non-descript 1.1 v Saints but there were some all time greats in attendance. He loved it.
We went a year later for a Father's Day meal which is now much upgraded restaurant which sits adjacent to the Holte End and Trinity Road stand. The stadium empty, though resplendent in beautiful evening sunshine. That was the last time he went to Villa Park. The photo I took will adorn his order of ceremony at his funeral.
My Dad didn't grow up a Villa fan but I am mightily glad he encouraged me to grow up as one.
