Villa chose me, not the other way around
I GUESS that's the way for most football fans.
Whether it's because of geographical location or familial influence, there tends to be a point in a supporter's life when they just know who they follow.
Some of us probably can't even remember when it was, so early was our indoctrination into the Villa cause. If you have to think about which team to support, it's just not the same is it? Particular when it means you're probably going to be a long distance fan of Manchester United or Chelsea.
I'm lucky enough to remember. During my early years I wasn't much into football, and Villa even less, mainly because my father and I tended to butt heads on anything and everything.
He's second generation Villan, so it made sense to steer clear of the club, and the sport.
But by the time I hit 17, I'd grown out of my stroppy adolescence and realised that dear old dad and I argue because we're so alike.
And of course that meant there really was no other team for me. It's in my blood.
When my dad was a nipper he used to travel on the supporters' bus from Nuneaton with my grandad, and has some fantastic tales about the crowds he saw and matches he watched.
They'd moved to Nuneaton from Brum in the war, but of course never left the Villa. Thank the lord, otherwise the close proximity of Coventry City could have had a damaging affect on my life.
I may have come into the game relatively late at 17, but my mother's even worse - she only got the football bug when she hit her late 50s.
Now the three of us, plus my partner, have the same seats every year in the Doug Ellis Lower. I don't feel the need to call it Witton Lane anymore - oh how I've grown!
Now at the age of 34, and having witnessed cup wins and fantastic European nights, I'm finally seeing the possibility of more of the same.
So I guess it's only right to say, thanks dad. And grandad, a true Holteender in the sky.
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I must confess, i didn't get Villa into my system nearly as quick as i wished i'd done!!
As a kid, I had a weird obsession with Eric Cantona so i tended to sort of follow Man Utd! Then he retired, then i didn't know who to follow?? Man Utd were crap as far as i was concerned now Cantona was gone!!
So, In May 1998, a week short of my 10th birthday, my dad took me and my then 8 year old brother to see Villa vs Arsenal on the last day of the season. We sat in the old Trinity Rd stand just by the tunnel. Dwight Yorke scored with that cheeky penalty!! I had seen the light, that day Villa gained two new fans! Me and my little brother!
We haven't looked back since and do you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way!!!
UP THE VILLA!!!
My choosing of Aston Villa was rather abstract. Having grown up a Man U fan (you can't get much else in NI, that or Liverpool) I remember Villa beating Man U in 1994. Cut forward a couple of years, still quite young, I think maybe 10, we were being shown how to make bar charts on old BBC computers. As an example our teacher asked us what football team we supported, cue the whole class saying Man U or Liverpool, when it came to me, I said Villa, just to be different, but it stuck with me and I've supported Villa ever since.
VILLA TILL I DIE.
All my mates are Bluenoses, I used to come home on leave from the RAF go to the Red Lion in KingsHeath (Bluenose pub) wearing my VILLA top used to get hassle from people who didn't know me, only for them to be told to get lost he's always been in this pub long before most of you.
Great times. Now I'm down in Cornwall missing the VILLA, but you'll never take that away from me.
Watch it alway on the Net.
UP THE VILLA
I had no choice to be honest.
I was born in 1977 so was too young to appreciate us being really successful. Sometimes during the 80's I wished I was a liverpool fan as children do but realised even then that I was "stuck" with Villa as I saw it then.
My grandpa went to his first game in 1922 and took me to my first game when I was ten we lost 4 - 0 to Arsenal. Things have got better.
My grandpa actually died at villa park during half time. So the ground really is holy to me and my family.
Both me and my brother have season tickets for the first time in our lives this season (Thanks to RL) Grandpa would be so proud.
Villa till I die.
It was a cold foggy night, 1974, I was 14. As a ManU fan (well, they had not long got rid of G. Best) I went and stood with a school friend in the Holte, surrounded by old geezers in dirty raincoats, the smell of "Old Holborn" and the intimidating Holte end, which as I remember, seemed to disappear up in the fog. 10 fags, a program, entry to the ground and bus fair for about a quid.
If I recall correctly it was a 0-0 against Oxford United, just before things started to pick up with promotion and the League Cup.
My Father took me to the Albion back in the 60's, but i never returned.
What can I say? Mind you I'm a bit of an "armchiar" these day's...
I have to say it wasn't like that for me. I wouldn't say Villa chose me at all. Then again, I don't support Villa so that might explain it.
Think Martin O'Neill is a legend though... Best thing to happen to Villa for many a long year...