AV Former Players Association Newsletter Pt 1

A monthly newsletter from the Aston Villa Former Players Association:

Welcome to the first of what will be a monthly newsletter from Aston Villa Former Players Association, keeping you up to date with the news, events and happenings within the organisation.

MAIN SPONSORS REMAIN ON-BOARD

During what have been turbulent and difficult economic times for everybody, the Aston Villa Former Players Association is delighted to have retained our two main sponsors for 2010/11. Medsport GB remains the official sponsor of the Aston Villa FPA, and FragranceMad.com will again be the official sponsor of the Aston Villa Old Stars football team. Visit their respective websites at www.medsportgb.co.uk and www.fragrancemad.com

ASTON VILLA OLD STARS

The Aston Villa Old Stars football team kicked off their 51st consecutive season of fundraising fixtures on Sunday 28th March 2010 against a Malachi Trust XI at Holyfield`s Sports Club, Erdington, Birmingham. The game was played in front of a sizeable crowd with the strong Aston Villa Old Stars team, which included Gordon Cowans, Tony Morley, Paul Merson, Tony Daley, Colin Gibson, Pat Heard, Mark Kinsella, Bryan Small and Darren Bradley, running out as deserved 3-1 winners with goals from Gibson, Merson and Morley.

FORMER PLAYERS AT CARLING CUP FINAL

Many former Aston Villa players were in attendance at the recent Carling Cup Final at Wembley against Manchester United on Sunday 28th February 2010. Star spotters in the crowd may have noticed among others; Charlie Aitken, Andy Blair, Jimmy Brown, Mark Burke, Frank Carrodus, Gordon Cowans, Jim Cumbes, Tony Daley, John Deehan, John Donnelly, Dion Dublin, Bernie Gallacher, Colin Gibson, Andy Gray, Chico Hamilton, Pat Heard, Jimmy MacEwan, Peter McParland, Chris Nicholl, John Pearson, Leighton Phillips, Neil Rioch, Ken Roberts, David Rudge, Gary Shaw, Bryan Small, Garry Thompson and Jim Walker. Many of them travelled to Wembley together by coach, and although the result didn`t go in our favour, the lads really enjoyed meeting up with each other again and made the most of the day.

FPA`s QUEST FOR CHARITY STATUS

The Aston Villa Former Players Association is making good progress towards obtaining full registered charity status which, when achieved, will greatly enhance the extensive health, welfare and educational support we already provide to former players in need, and also increase our ability to raise even more that the £4m already generated for other charities and deserving community causes. More details next month.

FORMER PLAYERS HELP RAISE OVER £18,000

An Aston Villa Former Players Association team were guests at the excellently organised PriceWaterhouseCoopers quiz night held at Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre on Thursday 25th March 2010, at which £18,835 was raised for St Giles Hospice. The Aston Villa team comprised of Neil Rioch, Jimmy Brown, Bobby Thomson, Jimmy MacEwan and Jim Walker. But with categories that included English History, Classical Music, and The Arts, it came as no surprise that the lads picked up a very deserving wooden spoon!

GRADUATE WORK-PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY

Do you have a family member or friend seeking a work-placement opportunity? We are looking for a graduate to assist with the Marketing and Business Administration functions of the Aston Villa FPA. Please contact us at info@astonvillafpa.org

"THE GERRY HITCHENS STORY" BOOK SIGNING

Villa may be on their travels to Bolton this weekend, but you could still meet a club legend or two by popping down to Villa Park on Saturday 3rd April. Author Simon Goodyear is hosting a signing session for his excellent book about this late and great Villa legend at the Villa Village Store between mid-day and 1.30pm, with Ron Atkinson, Peter McParland, Charlie Aitken, Bobby Thomson and Ron Wylie all due to attend.

"CELEBRATION OF LIFE" MEMORIAL SERVICE

This year Aston Villa Football Club will be holding the first "Celebration of Life" memorial service at The Holte Suite, Villa Park, on Friday 23rd April 2010 at 2pm, in memory of all those Aston Villa employees, players, supporters and/or associates that have passed away. The service will last for approximately 90 minutes and will be led by the club chaplain Ken Baker and will include tributes from Aston Villa Football Club, Aston Villa Former Players Association, the Armed Forces, Acorns Children`s Hospice and Wilson Stuart School. After the service, there is an informal reception where those present can share fond memories of departed friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Aston Villa Former Players Association site: www.astonvillafpa.org

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