Aston Villa FPA Newsletter - 9

Issue 9 of the monthly e-letter from Aston Villa Former Players Association, keeping you up to date with the news, events and happenings within the organisation. W: www.astonvillafpa.org

EX VILLAN`S HELP TO RAISE OVER £8,000

There was a strong Aston Villa former player presence at the two-day football & golf event held in Devon earlier this month, which raised over £8,000 for the new Sports Academy set up by Brend Hotels Group for youngsters in the South West.

Chris Nicholl managed a football team that included former Aston Villa players Allan Evans, Ken McNaught, Bruce Rioch, Steve Staunton, and Neil Rioch (who coordinated the event), alongside former Man Utd internationals Arthur Albiston and Clayton Blackmore, former 3-time European Cup winner Jimmy Case from Liverpool, former Man City players Kenny Clements & Paul Power, and former Arsenal & England striker Paul Mariner.

These were joined on the 2nd day by a host of other sports and TV personalities for a golf day on the magnificent Saunton Sands Golf Club links course, ranked the 31st best golf course in the world. An excellent formal dinner was held after the golf at the superb Saunton Sands Hotel to complete a very successful two-day event.

GREAT TURNOUT TO HONOUR 'SID`

Staunch Villa fan and good friend of the Aston Villa FPA, Gerry O`Halloran, organised a superb 'Tribute Dinner` at Walmley Social Club recently in honour of Gordon Cowans completing 25 years of service to Aston Villa football club.

A 'full-house` included former players Andy Blair, Jimmy Brown, Micky Buttress, John Capaldi, Chico Hamilton, Pat Heard, Ken McNaught, Tony Morley, Jon Pearson, Neil Rioch, Gary Shaw, Steve Staunton, Garry Thompson, and Aston Villa FPA Gen. Sec. Karl Court.

Guest speakers were former Liverpool star Jan Molby, and ex Aston Villa & England manager Graham Taylor OBE who made a moving and humorous speech about 'Sid`, the man he re-signed for Villa in 1988 from Bari in Italy. Also, splendid tribute messages from Aston Villa CEO Paul Faulkner and Villa legend Paul McGrath were received and read to the audience.

WELL DONE CHASETOWN FC

The Aston Villa FPA sends its congratulations to chairman John Donnelly, CEO Mike Joiner and all our friends at Chasetown FC on winning the £10,000 Evo-Stik competition prize for ground improvements.

XMAS PRESENTS AT 'FragranceMad.com`

If you`re looking for the perfect Christmas gift, log onto the website of www.fragrancemad.com, official sponsor of the Aston Villa Old Stars football team.

FragranceMad.com supplies discount designer perfume, aftershave, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, tanning products and gift sets online at highly discounted prices, often with up to 75% off the retail price, and also provide free delivery in the UK.

Having worked in the perfume trade for nearly 40 years, their experience and bulk-buying capacity allow huge savings on their wide range of products, which they are able to pass on to customers. FragranceMad.com only sell new, retail products and none of their products are testers.

FragranceMad.com is a UK based company situated in the West Midlands. Visit the website now!

'OLD STARS` FINISH SEASON IN STYLE

With the last scheduled match of 2010 at Lichfield City FC on Sunday 28th November being cancelled due to a frozen pitch, the previous fixture at Cinderford Town FC on 14th November became the Aston Villa Old Stars last match of the year, and what a finish it proved to be!

A strong 'Old Stars` line up hit 15 goals against their prophetically named opponents 'Rank Outsiders FC`. The Aston Villa Old Stars team was (4-3-3) - R. Tye; D. Norton, K. McNaught, S. Teale, C. Gibson; M. Kinsella, G. Cowans, S. Staunton; M. Burke, M. Carruthers, T. Morley.

The team now has a well-deserved break before commencing the 52nd consecutive year of fundraising fixtures in March 2011, and the demand for the Aston Villa Old Stars has not diminished with over 50 fixture requests having already been received for next year.

CLASSICAL GENIUS IS A CLASS ACT!

Former players Des Bremner & Neil Rioch and their wives were honoured to be personal guests of Aston Villa fanatic and world-renowned violin virtuoso Nigel Kennedy at his sensational Symphony Hall concert earlier this month.

If you haven`t seen him in concert yet you are missing out on an incredible experience. It is no wonder Nigel is the best-selling violinist in history.

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