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So When Did You Start Supporting Villa?

Ok, the latest poll, suggested by Doug4Ever asks:

When did you start supporting Villa?

Might as well take this further, so in the article comments or forum explain when you started supporting Villa and how/why?

www.footballfanscensus.com has also got a quick poll asking very similar, why not give them a quick shout as well!?

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Writer: J P Fear

Date:Tuesday December 8 2009

Time: 4:55PM

Your Comments

1969 when born! Because of dad. No choice, thank the good lord Paul McGrath. First game was 78

The Fear

1969 when born! Because of dad. No choice, thank the good lord Paul McGrath. First game was 78

The Fear

i was born may 30th 1982. my dad took me to villa park an had a picture of me IN the european cup. so same as you fear - from birth. first game was 1990 v spurs, we won 2-0

100% prepared

i was born may 30th 1982. my dad took me to villa park an had a picture of me IN the european cup. so same as you fear - from birth. first game was 1990 v spurs, we won 2-0

100% prepared

First game 1969 at the age of 5. First away game, Spuds at Wembley 1971 (still got the £1 terrace ticket in a display case on the wall at home). Dad was a Villan, Mother from the dark side. He always threatend me with a 'trip to Small Heath' if I misbehaved. The two nearest bus stops were the number 11 which took me to our little piece of heaven. The other was the old number 94 which went past the devils lair. First football kit was provided by my Grandad. Unfortunately it was a red kit. Never liked red or my Grandad after that (only joking about not liking my Grandad).

voiceoftheholte

Born 69, 1st game 77 and I have my Grandad to thank! Still miss the old barriers in the Holte where he used to stand me on... Happy days eh?

Stourbridge Villan

Born 69, 1st game 77 and I have my Grandad to thank! Still miss the old barriers in the Holte where he used to stand me on... Happy days eh?

Stourbridge Villan

First game, 15th December 1956 - Villa 2 Charlton 0. 25th December 1956 - my Grandmother bought me a wooden football rattle as a Christmas present. 27th December 1956 - used some "Christmas money" to buy two small tins of paint from Woolworths. One tin "Claret" and one tin Blue. Spent the next few days painting and varnishing the rattle. January 1957 - took rattle to next home game against Everton and Villa won 5-1. Never looked back .......

randy

Notts Forest @ Villa Park 89/90 season, my Dad took me to my first game and fell in love with the villa. I remember being in the North Stand (yes I was one of those high pitched kids shouting "Villa, Villa"), and getting scared when we scored, i hadn't expect that roar from the crowd lol. Great memories UTV

revival4us

I stumbled upon Aston Villa by accident at the age of 7...my dad didn't live with us and me and my twin brother noticed that other boys our age supported football teams, whilst we had never watched football at all...so we looked down the football league tables and selected a team each. I selected the team with the best name (Aston Villa) whilst my brother ended up with Coventry City...the fool! Luckily, I lived only 10 miles from VP, so a few years later, (1990) I went to watch us for the first time...we got beat 4-1 by Leeds!

keithlees1978

my first was up in the old Trinity upper, I was 8, chap next to me lost his false teeth he was shouting so hard and I remember the shivers down my spine when the fans started stamping their feet, no sound quite like that, the lovely old wooden stand really used to rock. Sadly we lost 2-1 to Everton, took me over 30 years to forgive them

The Fear

born 85 cant remember exact age. my uncle (married into the family) tried to make me a bluenose but my dad threatened me with either support the villa or no christmas presents. first game was chelsea in either 94 or 95 i couldn't go all the time because my dad was a steward there. When i was about 10 i was the mascot kid, met all my heroes especially my fave at the time, Tommy Johnson who was injured. Sat next to big ron in the directors box and heard him refer to Savo as a "bit of a headless chicken". Savo then scored a great goal to win the game. 1 - 0 win over sunderland. Been obsessed with Villa ever since and used to love the stories my grandad told me about waiting til half time to go in. in the old days because they used to open the gates for people at half time.

Thom85

Can't remember the exact year I started to support The Villa. I think I picked Villa because I liked the colours blissfully unaware I had chosen a local team. It was probably around the time they won the European Cup however annoyingly I don't remember watching the match on the night. My Dad claims he supported The Villa before I did but I'm sure he just copied me!!! Parents wouldn't let me go during the 80s due to all the media coverage of football violence. Dad took me to my first game, FA Cup 4th round vs Port Vale 6-0. I think it was January 1990. 5 months before Italia '90. Football Fever really struck me that year. We sat in Trinity and got soaked, my Dad didn't go back until I took him two seasons ago. He couldn't believe how much VP had changed. First away game was Big Ron's first game in charge against Sheff Wed, first game of the season. I think we won that 3-1. Have been going ever since and usually on my own. Pretty much always been a Holte End leftsider. I too really miss those barriers on the terraces.

Adam Deuce

I was born in October 1951 and my first game was 1962 when I was still 10 years old. The game was on 10th September v Arsenal at home...we won 3-1. I stood at the top of the Witton End and paid 1 Shilling (5 pence) entrance. I can't remember the goal scorers but i do recall that a few of our players then subsequently ended up as Football Club managers. I lived in West Birmingham (Quinton) and all my friends were Albion fans. My cousin from Erdington got me interested and used to bring me Team photographs. A new neighbour moved in next door but one and took me to the match. When i started working in Halfords Lane, Smethwick in 1969 i was right by the Hawthorns and the factory and offices were packed out with Baggies fans. We had a 'pocket' of about 6 Villa fans and we used to go down the Villa for the Wednesday night matches. My best memories being 4 of us fans going to every single away game watching our rise back to the top division in the early 1970's.

Bangkok Villan

I started supporting as a six year old because of the colours too, seemed every other team was red or blue in the mid 70's to me, so Villa sort of stood out, went to first game at home against Forrest, they were all in yellow, think it was 77 or 78, Brian Little got fouled and his boot came off he was so miffed he picked the ball up and booted it out the ground, still without his boot on, over the Witton Lane, wouldn't get away with that now, first away game Coventry about 7 years later, Garry Thompson scored and we won 1-0, then got chased all the way back to the station

ant1ant1

Been following Villa since quite early 90's, but restricted to check for results, catching some highlights. A proper Villa _supporter_ I only became about the time MON entered the stage and Villa emerged from the desert. Bit of a gloryhunter, me. :p

Knowone

2006. Had just gotten Fox Soccer Channel and finally started watching. My brother picked the Arsenal, other friends went with Chelsea and Liverpool, and one went with Fulham because of Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride. First game I saw on TV was Man United vs Aston Villa at home where Villa lost 4-1. However Gabby's goal was beautiful, combined with Ash's cross right on his head and then Martin O'Neil errupting. That excitement was enough for me. Been watching every game (usually in a *****ty stream over here in the states) ever since.

TheYank

Same as most posters here - when i was born in 69 - first game i think was around 74 - Man City and we lost

Lost_In_Ca

Same as most posters here - when i was born in 69 - first game i think was around 74 - Man City and we lost

Lost_In_Ca

Was about a 5 year old when a mate found an old villa kit in his garage that must have been his dad's. Neither of us had heard of them and he said he mated them.... I moved to Sutton Coldfield early 90s and lived over the road from David Platt and Tony Daley a mile or so down the road... Took an interest in them and literally had no choice cos the school was villa mad... have loved em ever since.

johnnyuk

17/09/68 (birth). Sat in Trinity Upper from 72-79. Stood lower left of holte from 79-81. Stood upper left of Holte from 81-91. Moved to US in 1991. On all returns I've sat in the Trinity. I will NEVER sit in the Doug Ellis. Watched the first round UEFA Cup tie in 1978 from the back of the Brand New North Stand. Have never SAT in the Holte end..... I'm curious to know how it feels to sit where I stood for so many years.....

gmvillan

First game of 1962-3 season. Beat West Ham 3-1. Derek Dougan scored two. Ironically, my son's first match was also a 3-1 win v West Ham. Boxing Day 1990 i think.

krfeskivilla

First game of 1962-3 season. Beat West Ham 3-1. Derek Dougan scored two. Ironically, my son's first match was also a 3-1 win v West Ham. Boxing Day 1990 i think.

krfeskivilla

First game of 1962-3 season. Beat West Ham 3-1. Derek Dougan scored two. Ironically, my son's first match was also a 3-1 win v West Ham. Boxing Day 1990 i think.

krfeskivilla

First game of 1962-3 season. Beat West Ham 3-1. Derek Dougan scored two. Ironically, my son's first match was also a 3-1 win v West Ham. Boxing Day 1990 i think.

krfeskivilla

Must confess to a little mistake earlier. Although playing Spuds in the League Cup Final in '71 was my first away game, I haven't got the ticket, so have no idea how much my Dad payed. The £1 ticket I mentioned was actually from the Norwich League Cup final in '75. Mind you this had increased to £4 for a bench seat against Bluescouse at Wembley in 1977. Flippin inflation must have been horrendous in the 70's??

voiceoftheholte

World Cup, Italia '90. I couldn't have cared any less about football until that World Cup. When David Platt scored the goal against Belgium I thought I would support the team he played for. First game was Spurs at home 1991, we drew 0-0 and sat in the Trinity Road Upper with my Dad who is a Leeds fan. I don't know how he used to take me to Villa games. If I ever have kids, if they don't support the Villa, I won't be paying for them to watch someone else.

notthedougellisstand

August 1966, I was 7 years old and England had just won the World Cup. My grandfather took me to my first game, Villa 1 Newcastle 1 (Johnny McLeod scored if I remember rightly). A shilling for me and OAPs I couldn't understand why there was no commentary at the ground. Villa were relagated that year but I witnessed some great games in the old first and second divsions, and the atmosphere was always electric. Huge crowds (57,000 plus) for games against Man Utd Busby Babes and that ugly Small Heath mob. We used to go down Witton End but later to the Holte End where I had to sit on top of the crowd barriers to see. I moved wtih my family to Australia in 1969 at the age of 10 but am a bigger fan than ever, now we can see all the games on Fox Sports. I listened to Villa win the League in 1981 on short wave radio whilst in the South Australian outback community of Nunjikompita, fading in and out. My son is 24 and never been to England, but is just as big a fan as I am. 40 years on and I can still remember te days as a young boy at Villa Park.

AussieVillain

First game was 1969 v blackpool......standing to one side of the goal..dad get a ball in the face from Andy Lochead!!....lol how I laughed!!

Steve64k

Like others I was born a villan, in 55 as dad was villa mad. First game he took me to I was 3 (1958, Villa 1-Blackpool 1. I went with him on and off over the next few years and started going on my own from the age of 12 during the 67/68 season. By then dad had a pub in Small Heath, literally 100 yds from the sty!! Hard to imagine kids of 12 dong what I did then these days. Caught the bus into town then the villa park special from Corporation street and back.

jonah

First game was 1969 v blackpool......standing to one side of the goal..dad get a ball in the face from Andy Lochead!!....lol how I laughed!!

Steve64k

jonah

I could do the usual and say I was born a Villa fan, and I suppose I didn't sit down and pick the club I wanted to support, but I can remember starting to show an interest in football and the villa in 1993, Big Ron was in charge and I used to watch highlights as a full game wouldn't hold my attention at that time, I remember the first full game I watched was the 1994 League Cup Final I was hooked, I then started to get the Match and Shoot magazines every weekend and even watched Ireland (well half the Villa team) in the 1994 world cup!! My first game at Villa Park was against Tottenham on Sunday 21st January 1996. Won 2-1, McGrath and my hero Dwight Yorke bagged the goals.

young_jonah

No choice about who I supported, my great-grandad played for Villa ! Can't remember first game. Always lived too far away to go to more than a handful of games a year. Then I moved to the other side of the world, I watch games on Fox at 3am in a cloud of beer. There's only one Aston Villa !! :)

ExpatVillaShirt

Born in 1983. My old man has always followed them. I started following them in about 1991 when I was about 8. It was when I started collecting the Pro football cards at school then when the Premier league started I collected the Merlin stickers. Those were the days! Every breaktime do swaps with mates in the playground. Before collecting the football cards I used to say I supported Villa but didn`t know anything about them and didn`t know any of the players. My first game was against Oldham in the league. I cant remember much of it but I think we lost.

Ratman

I think it was the 84-85 season. A friend of the family took me up for the home game versus Leicester City. At that point I was thirteen years old and had never been to any match before, although I followed footy avidly on the T.V. I remember four things very clearly: 1) The Trinity Road Stand...I was gobsmacked...totally blown away that a football ground could look like this. 2) The pitch: incredibly green. Before I entered the ground I could see little flashes of it through gaps in the turnstyles. It just seemed to glow. I couldn't wait to get in the ground. 3) Seeing Peter Withe warming up, right there in front of me, in the flesh. Then the rest of the players appearing for the warm up, too. 4) The smell of beer wafting around the Trinity. Final score: Villa 0 Leicester C. 1. An awful game in hindsight, and an awful era just beginning for Villa - but I wasn't to know any of that. I was hooked and the following season I got my first season ticket. If anything, though, it was that Trinity Road Stand that got me first.

donegalvillan

Started supporting Villa after retutning to the UK in mid to late 80's (Dad was in the Forces so i spent most of my mis-spent youth overseas). Don't know (or can't remember) why i picked Villa, but first game i remember going to was '92 (?) at home to Liverpool, dean saunders home debut after signing from the pool, and he got 2 against his former club, brilliant. and even better was that ronnie rosenthal blast against the bar from in front of an open goal from 3 yards out ! been going upto VP somewhere between 5-10 games a season ever since. (would like it to be more but family commitment, cost and distance doesn't allow it!)

AV-Damo

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The Fear

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The Fear

I started in 1962 - we lived on Albert Road then moved to Bevington Road. Had a long association with the club. Used to deliver the evening mail to old man Ellis and Charlie Taberner. Used to deliver to the old Villa Cafe where I met and used to get ribbed by Bruce Rioch, Harry Gregory,Leighton Phillips, Johnny Dunn,Dave Rudge, and so may more. Also used to sell the villa lottery tickets. Memories.

nazvfc

Born in France in 1984, I started to support the Villa following a school trip to Stourbridge in 1993/4. During that trip, we went on a tour of Villa Park and that was enough for me, Villa til I die ever since! First game was in October 1998, Aston Villa vs Leicester City (1-1). Tony Cottee opened the scoring for MON & Heskey's team and Ugo Ehiogu equalised after the break. It was pouring with rain, and I was SO wet sitting in the front rows of the old Trinity Road Stand but nevermind, we were top of the league and I'll remember that day all my life! I try to go to games at least once a year now, mostly during the summer as it's easier for me. I always thought I was a bit of a talisman for Villa before the awful Wigan game last august, as I had never seen Villa lose until then... Always sitting in the Holte End nowadays, as I need to get as much of the wonderful Villa Park atmosphere as possible on each of my visits. Up The Villa!

delirium

19/08/1989 - from birth! because of dad/i am colourblind and that claret looks just fine that way. first game i saw was at home to ipswich town. we went one nil down, but then julian joachim pulled two back for us to win. one off each post. UTV!

benji_starsky_avfc

It would have been sometime in the 60's i was born in Frederick Road in 59 and was dragged screaming to Australia (lovely place) when i was 8 yrs old so although i was born near Villa Park i've never had the chance to go there . I spent every saturday night listening to BBC world service trying to find out how the Villa got on most times the reception was so bad you could hardly hear it. We used to get 50 mins of football a week on ABC TV but sometimes they didn't even show the Villa . Nowadays we get every premier league game (except one) every weekend on satellite . I think i've only missed 3 Games this season and 2 of those were league Cup and with live streaming on the net i even caught up with most of the pre season friendlies .

Doug4ever

P.S I think this is the most exciting time to be a Villa Fan since Ron Saunders era .

Doug4ever

P.S I think this is the most exciting time to be a Villa Fan since Ron Saunders era .

Doug4ever

It was 1990, I was 9, had no interest in football until my mate and his Dad took me to a Villa game. My Dad, a Bluenose, worked in the Merchant Navy at the time. We beat Port Vale 6-0 in the FA Cup and I've been hooked ever since! I'm the blacksheep of the family, thank god for my mate, if it wasn't for him I'd be living a life of torture as a nose!! Come on the Villa!

antvillan

My first game was in 1967 but I was born into a Villa family, my Grandad had a cobblers shop in Brantley Road right by VP he made and fixed the boots for people like Pongo Waring( his main drinking partner) My dad was born there, and he decided when I was 7 that I was old enough to go. My other Grandad made me a wooden step, painted claret and blue, to stand on as I was too small to see, Stood in the old Witton lane,(with the grass bank at the top)then in the old Trinity paddock( I was there for the 1970 league cup semi against Man U) watched from all over the ground ever since

trekker

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