Barcelona Lions Club

Wembley

2010-03-09T22:10:00.002+01:00

I went to the League Cup Final last Sunday, I enjoyed the weekend despite the result. I was a little underwhelmed by the new Wembley Stadium, I really expected state of the art facilities, and although the stadium is quite impressive and the views spectacular, it really is pretty much a bog standard modern stadium. I don't know where they spent 800 million pounds, certainly not on the pitch which was appalling.

Villa played well enough for most of the game, and there wasn't much between the two teams. Phil Dowd was really poor and only made half a decision when giving the penalty, but not sending off Vidic when it was clear to everyone that he had to go.

Villa's support was great throughout the game.

I think the game will be good experience for the players and we'll be back at wembley again in April and May.

Keep The Faith

League Cup Final at Republic House

2010-02-16T11:56:00.002+01:00

The League Cup Final against Manchester United will be on at the Republic House at 16.00. There will be a lot of Villa fans in the bar, it might be a good idea to get to the bar a bit earlier. If anyone has got their 2009-10 season membership cards, I'll give them out then. Can we make it a hat-trick of cup final wins against Man Utd? 1957, 1994 and 2010? Wouldn't that be nice.

Keep the Faith

Graham Taylor at Re:public House

2010-02-01T19:30:00.004+01:00

Graham Taylor was in the Republic House, Barcelona last Thursday to do a sports forum for the Barcelona Lions Club. Chris, owner of the bar and Lions Club member, got in touch with Graham and he kindly agreed to come over and do the event without charging any fee. We went for lunch with Graham and he was fully of great football anecdotes and trivia questions. In the evening he did the sports forum which was attended by about 35 people. He spoke very highly of Villa and not so highly of our former chairman Doug Ellis. He told us that he'd try to sign Gary Linekar from FC Barcelona, but that Ellis said the asking price of 1.5 millions was too way much. Graham also spoke about his time as England manager and his experience of dealing with players like Paul McGrath and Paul Gascoigne.

We presented Graham with a framed programme from the first leg of the AstonVilla FC Barcelona UEFA Cup tie in 1978.

Graham is a really nice person, very friendly and open. Thanks to him for coming over, and to Chris for organising a great event.

Keep The Faith

Villa Get at Wembley after 10 Years

2010-02-01T19:16:00.004+01:00

Villa are finally back at Wembley after a cracking 6-4 win over Blackburn in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. We can now look forward to the final on 28th February. United would seem to be clear favourites with their squad and big-match experience, but hopefully we'll be able to repeat our feats of 1957 and 1996 when despite being the underdogs we beat them both times. I think think this will be just the start of success under Martin O'Neill.

Keep The Faith

Graham Taylor visits Barcelona Lions Club

2009-11-26T12:01:00.003+01:00

Graham Taylor has kindly agreed to do a sports forum at the Republic House pub on Thursday 28th January. Chris Mason, one of the owners of the bar and a staunch Villa fan, contacted Graham about the possibility of coming over to Barcelona, and Graham agreed straightaway. The tickets for the event are 15 Euros, and priority will be given to Lions Club members. Anyone interested in coming should send an email to:

barcelonalions@hotmail.com

It should be a great evening.

Keep The Faith

Player of the Year Presentation

2009-09-04T22:36:00.005+02:00

We had the pleasure of presenting Stylian Petrov with the Barcelona Lions Club Player of the Year award last Sunday before the Fulham game. Stylian was a class act, a real gentleman. Thanks to Lions Club Co-ordinator Alan Perrins for organising the presentation, and to Katrina Adamson from the Marketing Department for taking us to meet Stylian.

Keep The Faith

Historical Perspective

2009-05-24T11:54:00.004+02:00

I've been reading a lot of post on various forums over the last few months, and obviouosly share the same disappointment in our decline since February, However, I feel we need some historical perspective here. For some supporters fighting for 5th place with 1 game to go in what is undoubtedly the best football league in the world is not enough. However, finishing 5th would represent our best league finish in 12 years. We have no automatc right to qualify for European competitions and the number of times we have actually qualified for the UEFA cup through our league position is relatively small. We played in the UEFA cup in 1975-76, but qualification was through winning the League Cup the previous season, 1977.78, 1983-84, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2001-02, and 2008-09. This shows that we have never consistently qualified for European competitions in our history. We have a chance to remedy this situation with the our current manager and chairman.

We have great traditions, a unique ground and a glorious history which I think are iillustrated by a few quotes here:

"Aston Villa - a name to conjure with, a name to inspire world wide affection, a name to admire and revere."

Peter Morris The First 100 Years

"If there is a club in the country which deserves to be dubbed the greatest (and the matter is one of some delicacy) few will deny the right of Aston Villa to share the highest niche of fame with even the most historic of other aspirants. For brilliancy and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found."

William McGregor - Football League founder & Villa chairman “The Book of Football” contributed by Wiliam McGregor 1906.

"You are one of the richest and most powerful clubs to be found in the football world, and I venture to say, without too much extravagence of speech, no club in the past has maintained such traditions in the football world as Aston Villa."

Joseph Ansell President Villa News and Record August 8, 1914

"The playing years with Aston Villa were the happiest of my whole life. About Villa Park itself hung an aura that seems almost to be visible. Most certainly it is there to be felt and I know of no other ground that has the same effect on one. Almost it seems to be peopled by ghosts - amiable ghosts whose job it is to breathe the great Villa spirit into generation after generation of ambitious youngsters who pass through the great gates to achieve a life´s ambition; to wear the famous claret and blue of the great club."

Billy Walker, Soccer In The Blood

"I remember arriving by train from Swindon. I took a taxi down to Villa Park. I had one look at the massive stand and impressive entrance and almost turned home. I thought, this place is too big for me."

John Neal after his transfer in July 1959 Villa Park 100 Years Simon Inglis

"Life at Vila Park was a dream. They’re the greatest club in the world as far as I’m concerned."

John Neal after his three years at Villa Villa Park 100 Years Simon Inglis

"My cousin played for Rangers and was always on about Ibrox. Well, the first time I came to Villa Park I couldn’t believe it. The thing which always gave me a thrill was the Carriage Drive, with the offices at the end, the bowling green on the side, and up on the facade of the stand, the lion. There was never a ground that came up to it, not even the marble halls of Arsenal. It looked old fashioned, but there was a real pride about the place."

Larry Canning, ex-player wing-half 1943 Villa Park 100 Years Simon Inglis

"I was never more happy than in my days in Birmingham. With all the moves, I spent 16 unbroken years living in the Sutton Coldfield/Streetly region, broken only when I moved to Middlesbrough. I remember, with affection, the help I received from club captain George Curtis, and the management duo of Vic Crowe and Ron Wylie. I cannot ever forget my first view of Villa Park, with that red brick frontage, and the enormous Holte End. There can’t be a better place to play than Villa Park."

Bruce Rioch interviewed by Eric Woodward Aston Villa News and Record 28th Nov 1990

"From the moment I joined Aston Villa in 1927, in the days of the great Billy Walker, I was immediately aware of the great traditions of this great club. I was taught to honour the famous claret and blue jersey and that nothing but the best is good enough for the Villa, on or off the field. Due to the club’s great past, the player’s, management and backrom staff always carry an extra responsibility."

Eric Houghton 1988, Aston Villa A Complete Record 1874-1988 David Goodyear and Tony matthews

"There is an aura about this club, a sense of history and tradition. Even the name is beautiful symmetrical, with five letters in each word."

John Gregory

"There is no other soccer club that is both so old and so rich in history as Aston Villa. It was mainly Aston Villa, through its founding fathers, their inspiration and the club´s successes, that gave the impetus to make professional football what it is in the world to-day. And, unlike their Birmingham neighbours, Aston Villa never had cause to change their proud name!"

John Lerwill Aston Villa’s Official Historian

"Many football clubs are proud of their histories, but Aston Villa can genuinely lay claim to having inspired the foundation of the Football League itself. The league was the brainchild of the club's then chairman, William McGregor, who invited 11 other clubs, Preston North End, Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Accrington FC, Everton, Burnley, Derby County, Notts County and Stoke City, to form the Football League, the world's first, in 1888. Villa's battles with Sunderland, "the team of all talents", formed the game's first titanic rivalry, and Villa won the league five times between 1894 and 1900, doing the double in 1897. But after another championship in 1910 it was 71 years before Villa won it again. The following year that team, captained by Dennis Mortimer and starring the midfielder Gordon Cowans and strikers Gary Shaw and Peter Withe, beat Bayern Munich 1-0 to win the European Cup, still Villa's greatest moment."

David Conn The Guardian March 5 2008

''Aston Villa are potentially a massive, massive Club, whom with the right leadership can be as big as anyone''

Martin O'Neill 1991.

"I feel immensely proud and priveleged to be the manager of this football club. After 15 months out of the game, I didn’t need asking twice when Doug Ellis enquired about my availability. And within half anhour of signing the contract, I received confirmation that I had made the right decision. The welcome I received on my arrival at Villa Park that evening was truly overwhelming, as was the reception I was given before our opening home match against Reading a couple of weeks later. .. I’m making no promises of instant success. That would be foolish in the extreme, because everybody at the club appreciates just how difficult it will be to revive Villa’s glory days of the early 80s and mid-90s. But you can rest assured that I will be doing my very best to make this club a major force in the Premiership."

Martin O'Neill August 2006 Aston Villa Yearbook 2006-07

In this last quote from Martin O'Neill he clearly articulates his mission for the club, and I feel that he and Randy Lerner are fulfilling their promises.

Finishing in the top 6 2 years running is real progress if we look at the situation of the club 3 years ago. In 2006 the team were near the bottom of the league with an unpopular chairman and an even more unpopular manager, there was discontent in the dressing room and on the terraces. If Randy Lerner had not taken over and installed Martin O'Neill as manager, I feel that we would be struggling to achieve 5th place in the Championship (old 2nd division). What Randy Lerner, Martin O'Neill, and the club have achieved in less than years is nothing short of astounding. We have a club at the top echelons of the most competitive in the world, an owner a board of directors who care about the fans and take their opinions into account when taking decisions which affect them, a stadium which has been rennovated in a tasteful manner with respect to our traditions, improved attendances, the rennovation of the Holte pub.

Whenever I hear criticism of Martin O'Neill, I always think back to a game against Manchester United on Boxing Day 1989 when Alex Ferguson was having a bad run, Villa won that day and the majority of the travelling United supporters were calling for the head of Ferguson. However, the club showed patience and look what Ferguson has achieved over the years.

We need to show patience and appreciate what Martin O'Neill has done for the club, and look forward to new chapters in our glorious history under his leadership.

Keep The Faith

My Nephews and Niece with Villa Legends

2009-05-21T22:07:00.002+02:00

The only reason I'm posting this is to show off my nephews Jude and Luka, and my niece Aisling with Villa legends and European Cup Winners Des Bremner and Dennis Mortimer. The photo was taken before the Hull game. It was the boys' first Villa game.

Keep The Faith

Player of the Year Poll

2009-05-01T14:43:00.004+02:00

You can vote for your Player of the Year in the poll on the right. I think there's one outstanding candidate this year, but that's just my opinion. Please vote, we hope to present the Player of the Year award to the winning player at a game next season. Last season Martin Laursen won the award and we presented the trophy to him after the Man. City game in August. Runner-up in last years poll was Ashley Young, followed closely by Liam "Agent" Ridgewell. You also have a chance to vote for a former Villa player this year as Scott Carson is a candidate despite his own goal for us in the Baggies' game eventually being given to Gabby by the dubious goals panel.

If, as expected, Martin Laursenshortly announces his retirement from the game, it will be a very sad day for the club. Martin has always given his all for the claret and blue cause, and always been as brave as a lion in every single game. A true Villa legend.

Keep the Faith

Keep The Faith

Is this the new Villa kit?

2009-05-01T14:39:00.003+02:00

Could this be the new Villa shirt for the 2009-10 season? Personally, I quite like it but I'd prefer it without the stripe. It looks like we'll be keeping Acorns on the shirt for next season which is great.

Keep The Faith

Paul Birch Dies

2009-02-10T22:43:00.002+01:00

Paul Birch has died of cancer at the age of 46. Birchy made his debut against Barcelona in the second leg of the European Super Cup final coming on as a sub for another local lad, Gary Shaw. Anyone who ever saw Birchy play will remember his 100% commitment to the Villa cause through thick and thin. A great professional and a real gentleman.

Keep the Faith

Vic Crowe Dies

2009-02-10T22:36:00.003+01:00

Former Villa player, coach and manager Vic Crowe has died at the age of 76. Vic served the club for 17 years in these 3 roles and it's often forgotten that he was the manger who stopped the rot at the club, beat Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final, took us to the League Cup final, got us out of the Third Division, took us to third in the Second Division and was sacked by Doug Ellis for all his efforts.

A true Villa legend.

Keep The Faith

Johnny Dixon Dies

2009-01-21T19:03:00.003+01:00

Aston Villa's FA Cup-winning captain Johnny Dixon has died at the age of 85.
The inside forward, who could also play on the wing, spent 17 years as a player at Villa Park after joining from Spennymoor United in 1944.
The highlight of Dixon's career was captaining Villa to their last FA Cup victory, when they beat Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley in 1957.
Having scored in his last league game, against Sheffield Wednesday, he spent six years as a youth coach at the club.
The other highlight of Dixon's career was helping Villa get promoted to the old Division One in 1960.
Dixon, born and bred on Tyneside, spent the rest of his working life still in the West Midlands as an ironmonger before retiring in 1985.

In his book Aston Villa - The First 100 Years, Peter Morris writes that the board's belief in the club was projected through the captain.

"It was Dixon's job to generate that spirit among his team mates. Dixon did just this and he was the one man who sustained it right to the finish by his own personal example. Johnny Dixon, of the wry Geordie grin and engaging friendliness for everyone, may not have been the Villa's most dominant captain, nor was he their most talented player. But no footballer can have worn the club's claret and blue colours with more pride or dignity."

Keep The Faith

Barcelona Lions Featured in Aston Villa News and Review

2009-01-17T23:28:00.003+01:00

The Barcelona Lions Club was recently featured in the Villa News and Review. Here's the interview that was published:

When was your Supporters Club formed?

September 2007

How many members do you have and where do you meet?

We have 45 members, and we meet in the Republic House pub, Passeig Sant Joan, Barcelona. One of the owners of the bar, Chris Mason, is a Villa fan and club member.

Tell us about your club’s first visit to Villa Park.

Spurs at home January 2008.

What was your most memorable trip to a game?

With the supporters club Wigan away last season. 5,000 Villa fans made it almost like a home game.

What’s your best Villa moment?

Watching us win the League at Highbury despite losing 2-0. At the time it was hard to phatom how we’d been in the old third divsion only ten years before and now were League Champions again.

Who is your favourite player (and why)?

Gordon Cowans because he was pure quality. He had absolutely everything in his game: great vision, superb passing, hard tackling, stamina and workrate. I believe he’s one of the most under-rated English players of all-time.

Where do you sit at Villa Park?

Holte End Block K.

How long does it normally take you to get here?

Flight from Barcelona to Birmingham two hours. Kings Heath, where my parents, to Aston thirty minutes in a taxi.

Keep The Faith

Great Performance against Arsenal

2009-01-03T17:49:00.002+01:00

Villa came back from being 2 goals down to draw against Arsenal in a superb game on Boxing Day. We went to the Gordon Cowan's Suite before the game, and had the pleasure of meeting Chris Nichol, scorer of one of the greatest Villa goals of all-time in 1977 at Old Trafford against Everton in the 2nd replay of the League Cup final.

The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric, and Zat Knight's goal was greeted as if we'd won the game. After completely outplaying Arsenal for the first 40 minutes and hitting the woodwork 3 times, Arsenal scored in their only attack and increased their lead shortly after the break. A few years ago, this would have been the signal for Villa to capitulate. However, under Martin O'Neill there is a never-say-die attitude amongst the player and they don't know when they're beaten. Another late goal ensured a point, but we really deserved to have won quite comfortably. This really shows the amazing progress the team has made under Martin O'Neill.

Keep The Faith

Jolly Roger Pub Hamburg

2008-12-10T13:52:00.004+01:00

The Jolly Roger in the St Pauli dock area of Hamburg is where a lot of Villa fans will be meeting up before and after the Hamburger SV game. The bar is named after the pirate symbol which the FC St. Pauli fans adopted in the 80s, and which has become synonymous with the club. St Pauli's Millerntor stadium is just across the road from the pub . Over the years the Jolly Roger has become something of a mecca for St Pauli fans, and it is also visited by football fans from all over the world, the walls are adorned with many different club scarves.

Budapesterstr. 44, 20359 Hamburg

FC St. Pauli.

2008-12-08T22:13:00.003+01:00

When Villa play Hamburger SV this month a lot of the travelling Villa fans will be staying in or close to The Reeperbahn, a street in Hamburg's St. Pauli district, one of the two centres of Hamburg's nightlife and also the city's red-light district. The St Pauli dock area is home to FC St Pauli . Although the club are in the second division they attract large crowds and have over 200 fan cluubs throughout the world. As HSV's stadium lies on the outskirts of the city many St Pauli fans see their club as the only true club in the city. Most of the club's fans see themselves as anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sexist, and they have been involved in numerous confrontations with right-wing ultra groups at home and away games. St. Pauli's arch-rivals HSV have a small but active neo-fascist ultra group who have an affinity with Glasgow Rangers. HSV fans unfurl their club logo at Rangers' away European matches. St. Pauli meanwhile have close links to Celtic FC, official St. Pauli merchandise can be bought in the Celtic club shop and the Jolly Roger flag, a symbol of the St. Pauli fans is often seen at Celtic games both home and away. St. Pauli fans in turn often attend Celtic away games in European competitions.

A lot of Villa fans will be making the Jolly Roger pub in St. Pauli their headquarters and hopefully a lasting friendship between the 2 sets of fans can be established.

Keep The Faith

Scousers Get Mugged

2008-12-08T21:50:00.002+01:00

What an amazing end to a game in which Villa, despite some great defending, barely deserved one point let alone the three which Ashley Young's late, late winner got us. We started in fine form with Steve Sidwell scoring a great goal after just 33 seconds, but then let Everton dominate long periods of the game. Lescott's injury time equaliser was a real sickener and his goal celebrations in front of the travelling Villa fans just rubbed salt into the wounds. How can a lifelong Villa fan with loads of family and friends who are also Villans behave in this way when he scores a goal against his boyhood team? The fact that his brother was on Villa's books, but didn't make the grade, might have something to do with. However, his behaviour is unacceptable. He'd hardly had time to finish celebrating his goal when he was well and truly skinned by Ashley Young who scored the winning goal with a world class finish. Villa showed great spirit in coming back and the celebrations showed how much the victory meant to the players, manager and travelling fans.

Keep The Faith

Barcelona Lions meeting up in Gordon Cowan's Suite

2008-12-01T19:33:00.003+01:00

Members of the Barcelona Lions' Club will be meeting up in the Gordon Cowan's Suite before the Arsenal game on Boxing Day. There will be former Villa players in the club. Entrance to the club is only for season ticket holders and Lions' Club members. If you need this seasons' membership card let me know, and I'll mail it to you before Christmas.

The club have sent me raffle tickets for the draw at the Lions' Club which cost one pound each. The top prize is a Director's match day experience for two, this includes the oportunity to dine with club officials and invited guests in the most exclusive suite. The porize also includes an overnight stay and breakfast at the Premier Inn Aston. Anyone interested in buying raffles tickets should let me know before 9th December.

Finally, we'll have new Barcelona Lions' Club Keep The Faith badges ready for the Arsenal game.

Keep The Faith

Aston Villa Supporters Club Christmas Event

2008-11-23T18:38:00.002+01:00

There is a Lions Club exclusive Christmas party after the Bolton game on Saturday 13th December in the Trinity Lounge. The Lions Club co-ordinator, Alan Perrins, has sent the following letter:

Aston Villa Supporters Club Christmas Event

Dear Chairperson,

Tickets are now on sale for the Lions Club exclusive Christmas party on Saturday 13th December in the Trinity Lounge (8pm).

Prices are £19.95 adult and £9.95 children, to include Turkey Curry, Rice and Naan or Traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

All of Villa’s trophies will be display for you to take a photograph - the European Cup, FA Cup, League Championship and League Cup available free of charge for a memento of the evening using your own cameras. Former players will be in attendance, and there will be a disco until late. The unveiling of the new Lions Club patron, as chosen by you, will be the pinnacle of the evening.
Hercules will be attending for the kids, with a few surprises in store for everyone.

The Christmas prize draw will take place at 10pm with some amazing prizes, including a Directors match day experience for two, the use of an Executive box and signed Villa memorabilia.

This promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment for all the family. Places are limited and tickets are now on sale now from consumer sales on 0800 612 0970. Alternatively you may fill in the attached booking form and return it completed to Rebecca.starkey@avfc.co.uk

The Holte Pub will be open to supporters clubs immediately after the match up to the start of the party at 8pm in the Trinity Lounge.

Supporters clubs wishing to stay over can receive discounted room rates at the Premier Inn Hotel, Aston by contacting jo.rogers@whitbread.com

The Friday evening before the event a free tour of the stadium behind the scenes with a tour guide will be exclusively available to Lions Clubs upon production of your membership card. The tour starts at 17.00 and lasts approximately one hour 30 minutes. To book this tour please contact alan.perrins@avfc.co.uk with the numbers in your party.

If there is anything I can help you with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards
Alan,

Alan Perrins
Supporters Club Liaison
Aston Villa Football Club.
alan.perrins@avfc.co.uk

Man Utd Game on at Re:public House

2008-11-20T21:46:00.005+01:00

The Man Utd game will be shown at the Re:public House from 6.30 on Saturday. Maybe Saturday will be the day when we end our dreadful record against them. Confidence should be high after the fantastic performance and result at the Emirates' Stadium. It looks like Berbatrov, Ferdinand and Brown will all be out, and Taggart banished to the stands. We've got to beat them one day, so why not on Sunday?

Keep The Faith

Great Win at Emirates

2008-11-17T19:07:00.002+01:00

Villa outplayed Arsenal on Saturday to gain a fantastic victory at the Emirates' Stadium. The victory was thoroughly deserved with great performances throughout the team; Curtis Davies and Martin Laursen were solid at the heart of the defence; Sidewell was like a man possessed, undoubtedly with a point to prove against the team that let him go as a youngster; Petrov showed why he's been many fans' player of the season soo far; and Gabby worked his socks off, causing the first goal and scoring the second. Ashley Young wasn't discouraged by his penalty miss in the first half and caused countless problems for the Arsenal defence. Wonderful to beat a Sky 4 team on their own patch, and really a statement of intent for the rest of the season.

Keep The Faith

Billy Walker

2008-11-15T08:27:00.003+01:00

When Villa fans debate who was the greatest player to ever wear the famous claret and blue shirt, the name of Billy Walker invariably comes up. Billy scored 244 goals in 531 League and Cup games for the club, skippered Villa for six seasons and won 18 caps for England, captaining his country twice, as well as winning an FA Cup winners' medal in 1920 and a runners-up medal in 1924. Only Harry Hampton scored more League goals goals for Villa than Hampton, but Walker is the club's overall top scorer with two more than Hampton's tally of 242 in all matches. In addition, he was one of the few players to score a hat-trick of penalties in A League game. Walker was fundamental to Villa in the 20s and 30s. . When Villa full back Tommy Smart was asked by fan or journalist to name the Villa team for the next game, he used to reply, "Billy Walker and ten others".

Billy Walker had a genuine love for Aston Villa, and this is reflected in one of the most beautiful quotations about the club in his auto-biography Soccer in the Blood.

"The playing years with Aston Villa were the happiest of my whole life. About Villa Park itself hung an aura that seems almost to be visible. Most certainly it is there to be felt and I know of no other ground that has the same effect on one. Almost it seems to be peopled by ghosts - amiable ghosts whose job it is to breathe the great Villa spirit into generation after generation of ambitious youngsters who pass through the great gates to achieve a life´s ambition; to wear the famous claret and blue of the great club."

Keep The Faith

Arsenal Game on at Re:public House

2008-11-15T08:17:00.004+01:00

The Arsenal game will be shown at Re:public House from 16.00. Hopefully we can come back from our 2 recent disappointing League results.

The photo was taken on the day we last won the League in 1981 and shows Villa fans in the packed Clock End. There were at least 20,000 Villa fans in the crowd that momentous day. I must have been the only Villa fan in the North Bank, how ended up there and managed to get into the Clock End before kick off is a long story. What a fantastic day it was, even though we lost 2-0. The scenes at the end of the games were unforgettable, the realisation that we had conquered the strongest League in the world after having been in the Third Division only nine years only, made the triumph even sweeter.

Keep The Faith

Villa Beat Ajax

2008-10-25T16:12:00.002+02:00

A great win against Ajax at Villa Park on Thursday. Although the game wasn't sold out, there was a tremendous atmosphere. The victory sets up nicely to qualify for the knock-out stage after Christmas.

Eamonn Deacy

2008-10-19T16:47:00.003+02:00

Eamonn Deacy is pictured here with Barcelona Lions member Martin Gallagher at Gordon Cowan's 50th birthday party in Cork. Martin describes Eamonn as a lovely, innocent bloke. Anyone who saw Eamonn play will remember him as one of the hardest men to every pull on the famous claret and blue shirt. He wrote to Villa 12 times before being given a trial and went on to play for the club between 1979 and 1984, making 30 appearances and picking up a Championship medal in 1981. When he was released by Villa in 1984 after briefly playing for Derby County on loan, but he gave up professional football, his attitude being that if he couldn't play for Villa he didn't really want to play for anyone else. He returned to Galway to work in his family's grocery store and to play for Galway United where he refused to accept any wages. A true gentleman of the game.

Keep The Faith

Pete Rushe RIP Holte-ender In The Sky

2008-10-12T22:14:00.004+02:00

Barcelona Lions Club member Pete Rushe has died at the age of 47 after a long battle with cancer which he fought with great dignity. Pete was a very fine person who leaves behind a loving family and very many friends. Our deepest condolences to his wife Bernie, his sons Edward and James, his parents PJ and Maureen, and his brothers Joe, Martin and Ray.

Loz Donaghy pays this tribute to one of his dearest friends:

RIP Pete

Pete, thanks for being a true friend over the past 30 plus years. There are some great memories of the nights spent in various pubs in town, the Windsor, Backyard Bar, Old Royal, St Paul’s Tavern, the Shamrock and the Irish Centre the craic was mighty and we drank and laughed in to the wee small hours.
Some brilliant times following the Villa home and away, winning the league in 1981 at Highbury, winning the European Cup in Rotterdam 1982, stopping Man Utd doing the treble Wembley 1994.
Our first ever Celtic v rangers old firm game in 1980
Great weekends away in Liverpool, Sheffield and London
Desperately sad that you’ve been called before your time.
All the best Pete, rest in peace

Keep The Faith

Chelsea game on at Re:public House

2008-10-04T22:55:00.003+02:00

The Chelsea game will be screened at the Re:public House from 16.00. Villa go into the game against a injury hit Chelsea team full of confidence. A repeat of last September's game at Villa Park would be very welcome.

Keep The Faith

What a Week

2008-09-23T09:10:00.004+02:00

A third away victory in the space of six day is an amazing achievement. On Sunday at the Hawthorns, Villa had too much class for a Baggies team who played nice football but lacked a cutting edge, unlike Villa who had John Carew in almost unplayable form. The Baggies have failed to beat us since 1985, long may this run continue.

Keep The Faith

Baggies Game on at Republic House

2008-09-19T22:25:00.003+02:00

The West Brom game will be on at the Republic House from 1 PM. As it's an early kick-off breakfast will be served in the pub. Hopefully with Ashley Young , John Carew and Curtis Davies returning we'll be too strong for the Baggies.

Keep The Faith

New Lions Club Benefits

2008-09-17T18:42:00.004+02:00

Lions Club coórdinator, Alan Perrins, has informed us of additional benefits for club members. Alan writes:

"The academy, ( Gordon Cowans suite) is now exclusively for Lions Club members and Season ticket holders. The TV screens are being changed, and a new large projector replaced. We have decided to give 3 match notice to the people who currently take residence in there. QPR, Lovtech and Sunderland everyone will be handed a letter explaining the Gordon Cowans suite will no longer accommodate anyone without a current Lions Club membership card or a season ticket.

"Former players will visit match by match to have a chat with you all. Usual bar and food facilities will be available as normal.

"The Holte suite is now available to Lions Club members as well as season ticket holders from the Sunderland home game onwards. I have fought hard to get this suite back for Lions club members, and delighted to let you know you may now use it! YOU MUST produce a current 2008/09 sky blue Lions club card to gain entry. No card, no entry end of chat! This is a benefit of your membership, so please enjoy using the facilities. Entry is on a first come first served basis, they will be and cannot be any reservations.

"I have more good news! I have negotiated a deal with a top hotel chain Premier Inn, with a special rate for supporters clubs. The hotel is situated just a few minutes from Villa Park on the waterlinks site. The price I have negotiated is for a two night stay £99.00 including continental breakfast. Please see the attached document for more in depth details.

"On top of this, any supporters club who books with them twice during a season, will be rewarded on Chairman’s day May 24th 2009, which is a bank holiday weekend in uk . Newcastle United are the opponents and a two night stay Saturday and Sunday night for just £65 for two nights all inc. This is exceptional value in my opinion.

"This hotel is clean, it has a great bar, restaurant and wide screen TVs all around set in a comfortable relaxed atmosphere. The hotel will be ideal as it’s so close to Villa Park, and those staying Friday and Saturday can come to the Holte pub on the Friday nights where I will be inviting some former players to come and spend the evening with you all."

Alan is doing a lot to organise the supporters' club network and getting the Lions Clubs and former players to have a much closer relationship.
New Barcelona Lions Club membership card for the 2008-9 season will be sent out shortly. Remember the cards also entitle you to a 10% discount on all merchandise bought at the Villa Stores at Villa Park and on New Street.

Keep The Faith

Great Team-spirit

2008-09-16T12:04:00.002+02:00

The reaction of the Villa players and manager Martin O'Neill after the Spurs game seems to embody the great team-spirit that Martin has instilled since his time at the club. The players really work for each other and there are no primadonnas. Even stars like Ashley Young and Gareth Barry have a great work ethic, and chase back and harry opposition players. The team and manager also appreciate the efforts of the fans and recognise their contribution at every possible opportunity as was shown by their appreciation of the travlling fans at the end of the game at White Hart Lane. Martin is clearly building a team which will challenge for major honours over the coming years.

Keep the Faith

Villa outclass Tottenham All-Stars

2008-09-16T09:02:00.004+02:00

Villa's blend of experience and young English talent comfortably defeated Tottenham's star filled side at White Hart Lane last night. The score didn't reflect Villa's dominance as Villa outclassed the Tottenham Globetrotters for the vast majority of the game. Perhaps there's a lesson for Man. City here in that building a team does not just involve throwing money about and making supposedly big name signings. Villa played as a solid unit throughout , while Spurs seemed very much a collection of individuals, although their team obviously needs time to gell. A great win in London at long last, and we can now look forward to th Baggies game with reknewed confidence.

Keep the Faith

Player of the Year Presentation

2008-08-25T19:22:00.002+02:00

After the Man. City game on Sunday 17th August we presented Martin Laursen with our Player of the Year trophy for the 2007/8 season. Alan Perrins, the Lions Club co-ordinator, and Katrina Adamson in the marketing department, were kind enough to arrange the presentation. Martin Laursen was a class act, a real gentleman.

Keep the Faith

Odense BK game on at Re:public House

2008-07-19T11:42:00.003+02:00

The first leg of the Intertoto cup tie against Danish side Odense BK will be shown at the Re:public House, kick-off is 8.05 PM. Hopefully, Villa will be too strong for the Danes and put the last 2 bad results behind them. A number of youth team players have been included in the squad. Marin O'Neill will surely address the problem of having such a small squad in the coming weeks.

The second leg of the tie next Saturday 26th July will also be shown at the Re:public House.

Keep The Faith

Sidwell Signs

2008-07-13T22:26:00.003+02:00

Steve Sidwell has finally signed for Villa from Chelsea. The signing would seem to be another indication that Gareth Barry will be on his way. Sidwell seems genuinely excited by the move and was very complementary about Martin O'Neill and the club. He told the official site:

"No disrespect to the other clubs – I’m not naming them but there was a lot of interest – but even before contact was made with Aston Villa this was the club I wanted to join.
As soon as I sat down with the manager and he outlined his ambitions and where he wants to take the club, for me it was a no-brainer.

"Martin O’Neill really does sell his vision for this club. I knew before I met him how he was going to be and he’s just like he is on TV. He’s a great man with great enthusiasm.

"A lot of players speak very highly of him – not just here but throughout football – so it’s great to teanm up with him and hopefully we’ll have a long and successful relationship."

Martin O'Neill is bound to help Sidwell recapture the form which made him one of the most sought after midfielders only a year ago. Being around world class players at Chelsea can only have improved him as a player and he seems very hungry and eager to do well at the club.

Keep The Faith

New Kit Launched

2008-07-07T22:36:00.003+02:00

The new home and away kits were unveiled today at a slick presentation at Brindley Place. The kit itself is a simple, traditional design with the club's new sponsor Acorns, the children's hospice, on the front. Several first team players including Martin Laursen and Nigel Reo-Coker modelled the new kit. In a touching gesture at the end of the presentation, the players were joined on stage by the children who appear in the Acorns' promotional video. Villa's marketing and merchandising goes from strength to strength. Dodgy kits made by even dodgier companies seem a thing of the past.

Keep The Faith

Football Aid Breaks Record at Villa Park.

2008-07-04T13:42:00.002+02:00

Fifty-four Aston Villa fans have set a new Football Aid record for the most amount of money ever raised from playing on the hallowed turf of Villa Park.
Over £21,000 was raised by Villa fans, each of whom had paid for the unique chance to pull on the famous claret and blue shirt and play in a 90 minute fully officiated charity football match on the 10th May 2008. The match was supported by an array of Villa legends, including Gary Shaw, Brian Small and Charlie Aitken, the latter managing the home side in the first of the two explosive games of the day. While the Away team won the first game with a 3-2 victory, the Home team triumphed in the second, coming back from 3-1 down to eventually winning 4-3. Fan Steven Diggory, who had travelled up from London for Game 2, said that no matter what the score line was, everyone knew that the charities would walk away the winners.He said: “Thanks to the Football Aid team and the staff at Aston Villa, I was able to have one of the best experiences of my life. It is a great idea and also being from the area originally, it is admirable that local people benefit from the funds that are raised.
“Absolutely everything about the day was perfect, (although we lost 4-3) and I am already in training for next year!” In past years, moneys raised from this event have helped fund projects including the Aston Parish Church, the Wilson School and Sports College and the Aston Community Youth Project, all of whom were nominated by Aston Villa Football Club.All funds raised from the event are distributed through Football Aid’s parent charity Field of Dreams, and split between Diabetes research and management programmes and other highly deserving charitable projects nominated by Aston Villa FC. If you would like further information regarding playing in the event, please visit the Aston Villa Football Aid page at www.footballaid.com or contact the sales team at info@footballaid.com.

Bodymoor Heath Match Report

2008-06-30T22:32:00.003+02:00

On Saturday 21 June the club and, in particular, Supporters' Club Co-ordinator, Alan Perrins organised a game at Bodymoor Heath between a team made up of chairmen of official Aston Villa Supporters' Club and a team made up of Aston Villa employees. Loz Donaghy who represented the Barcelona Lions Club at the game has sent us his match report.

ASTON VILLANS 4 ASTON LIONS 4

From Barcelona to Birmingham, from Denmark to Daventry, from Holland to Hall Green on an overcast first day of British Summer Aston Villa supporters from across the UK and Europe arrived at Bodymoor Heath to play in a friendly game to thank them for their loyal support.

This was a real ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ moment, the chance to pull on the famous claret and blue colours and play in a side with Aston Villa legend Sid Cowans does not happen very often, time to seize the moment and enjoy every second of it.

The opposition, Aston Lions are a team of Aston Villa staff managed by Neil Rioch and captained by former Villa player Pat Heard.

From the kick off the Aston Villans dominated play and created several great goal scoring opportunities unfortunately these were all squandered. As time went on the Aston Lions came back in to the game and produced a couple of chances unfortunately for them they came up against Mark Goodwin in goal who produced some excellent saves to thwart their attack. Finally after concerted pressure the Aston Villans took the lead, with a lovely smooth passing move started by Sid Cowans the defence was breeched with a fine shot by Chris Cooper.

Half time 1-0

The second half continued where the first left off with the Aston Villans dominating and within 10 minutes of the restart a deserved 3-0 lead had been established. Unfortunately a couple of dubious substitutions by the Villans lead to confusion in the defence which allowed the Lions to pull 2 goals back. Thankfully Sid still possesses the ability to hit wonderful passes to any area of the pitch, one of these sublime strikes let the Dutch lad Ferdie Delies in for the Villan’s forth goal. With the two goal cushion the Villans sat back and let the Lions in for a further two goals. The final score was 4-4 and in fairness a good result for both teams. After the game the players and supporters retired to the Holte Hotel for a few celebratory drinks and a bite to eat.

What a fantastic day, Bodymoor Heath is a state of the art facility, one could not help but be impressed with the place Randy Lerner has invested wisely in the players of the future for our club. Playing on the same side as Sid Cowans was an honour, to hear the great man say “great pass” will stay with me for a long time and I’m sure bore the arse of friends and family for years to come.

Aston Villa holds a special place in the hearts of all Villa fans, days like yesterday reinforce what a great institution Aston Villa is. Former Villa player Dave Rudge travelled up from Torquay for the game; Ferdie Delies and Kasper Anderson travelled from Holland and Denmark respectively. After the game at the Holte Hotel Villa legend Charlie Aitken was entertaining guests at an 80th birthday celebration. He still had time for autographs and a chat with the lads coming in from the match at Bodymoor Heath.

A big thank you to Alan Perrin for organising the game and making the day an unforgettable occasion. An extra special thank you to Aston Villa F C one of the finest football clubs in the world.

Loz Donaghy

Keep the Faith

Barcelona Lions to attend Man City game

2008-06-18T09:32:00.005+02:00

Barcelona Lions members will be attending the first home game of the new season on 16th August. We hope to organise a pre-match tour of Villa Park and we have a provisional agreement with the club to present Martin Laursen with the Barcelona Lions Club Player of the Year Award after the game. We'll be meeting in the Aston Social Club before and after the game. Most of the members coming over are exiled Brummies, but we also hope to have some Catalans who have converted to the Villa faith. We now have almost 50 members in Catalonia, Britain and Ireland. Club members will receive the new Barcelona Lions Club badge in the Aston Social. When we have more details on the pre-match tour and post-match Player of the Year Award we'll post the details here.

Keep The Faith

Barcelona Lions to play at Bodymoor Heath

2008-06-18T09:20:00.003+02:00

Barcelona Lions will be represented by club member Loz Donaghy at an Aston Villa Supporters' Club Chairmens' team, the Aston Lions, against an Aston Villa employees' team, the Aston Villans. The match will be staged at Bodymoor Heath and is strictly invitation only. Loz will be wearing number 2 with Barcelona Lions on the back of his shirt, he'll be playing right back for 45 minutes. Alan Perrins, the Supporters' Clubs' Co-ordinator, has arranged the game as a reward for the hard work done by the chairmen of the supporters' club. After the game there will be a complimentary barbecue and supporters' club awards ceremony. It's another indication of how the club is moving forward and giving the supporters' club network the support and coordination they deserve. A report on the day and photos will appear on the site next week.

Keep The Faith

Acorns Deal Confirmed

2008-06-04T22:31:00.003+02:00

Villa have confirmed that the Acorns logo will be on the shirt for next season and this consolidates an official relationship which has existed between the club and the children's hospice since 1986. Rather than accepting lucrative commercial offers from companyies to emblazon their name on the shirt, Villa have opted to promote the hospice for free. In addition, there will be donations form the club and continued visits from player to Acorns 3 hospices in the Midlands.

The deal makes you very proud to be a Villa fan and shows that football is not just about money. There will be excellent public relations benefits from the deal which has been accounced in a very understated mainly.

Keep the Faith

Latin Lions Visit Villa Park

2008-05-25T19:44:00.004+02:00

The Latin Lions are the only official Aston Villa Supporters' Club in Italy, the club is made of Italians and Basques, mainly supporters of Athletic Bilbao, who have a love of English football and Aston Villa in particular. Members of the club recently visited Villa Park for the derby game and obviously made a very good choice. Before the game the Italians were taken on a guided tour of Villa Park and after the game they meet many of the players. In addition, they presented Martin Laursen with their Player of the Year trophy.

Keep The Faith

Re:public House

2008-05-20T22:21:00.002+02:00

Barcelona Lions Club members watch nearly all Villa games in the Re:public House pub on Passeig Sant Joan, 74. Chris, one of the owners of the bar, is a Villa fan and Barcelona Lions Club member. It's a nice, friendly bar and the prices are very reasonable, especially compared to the vast majority of English and Irish bars in Barcelona. We'll be watching the Inter-toto Cup games there in July, and all the Premiership games from August.

Re:public House

Is this the new Villa shirt?

2008-05-16T21:26:00.004+02:00

This may be the new Villa kit for new next season. It's not a radical change from the current shirt and is in the same traditional style which Randy Lerner seems to favour. The most radical change is not in the kit itself but in the possible new sponsor. The club will not be renewing the deal with online casino 32 Red, and there is speculation that Villa may be about to announce a deal with the children's hospice Acorns. Several Villa players regularly visit terminally ill children at the hospice and the club already have a formal relationship with the 3 hospices. The deal would be excellent PR for the club, and be more in line with the values of the club.

Keep The Faith

Laursen Barcelona Lions Player of the Year

2008-05-13T22:29:00.003+02:00

Voting closed today in the Barcelona Lions Club Player of the Year award. The voting was very close with Martin Laursen receiving 30%, followed by 28% for Ashley Young, while Liam Agent Ridgewell came third with a more than honourable 26%. We hope to award the inaugural Barcelona Lions Ian Taylor Trophy to Martin at the first home game of the new season.

Keep The Faith

Ollie Bids Fans Farewell

2008-05-13T19:34:00.002+02:00

Olof Mellberg played his last game for Villa on Sunday against West Ham in a draw which ensures we'll be able to play in the Inter-toto Cup in July and hopefully gain a UEFA Cup place. Ollie ensured Villa Legend status with the gift of a Villa shirt to every one of the 3,200 fans who travelled to Upton Park. Villa played very well and deserved more than a draw, but we look forward to European football again at Villa Park next season.

Keep The Faith

Rubery Ken at it Again

2008-05-04T22:19:00.002+02:00

Regular Keep Right on website poster Rubery Ken has been at it again. This time he's doing a bit of a Nostradarmus and predicting Saturday's result at Craven Cottage:

"For me, Fulham are a bogey team for The Mighty Blues, I cant remember beating them, Just got bad memories, 1975 They broke my heart, will never forgive the lucky B*****ds and then 18 of August 1979 Yours Truly 21 that day, Half time The Mighty Blues 3 Fulham 0, Full time The Mighty Blues 3 Fulham 4 They broke my heart, will never forgive the lucky B*****ds, Now on to today, and 18 of August 2008 I am 50 years old and I am going to be a mascot for The Mighty Blues IT will be brilliant if I am mascot and we are playing a premier team. Just read the post about Rob Hopkins and the great escape of 1983. I was getting a bit worried about Fulham but just read fulham havent beat us on our last 12 visits to Craven Cottage. So who knows are The Mighty Blues Fulhams bogey team. All I will say is No Matter what, come 5 o clock Sunday 11 May whether we stay up or get relagated, I WILL SUPPORT THE MIGHTY BLUES FOR EVER MORE. KEEP RIGHT ON."

Doesn't the mention of Fulham and 1975 bring back some sweet memories.

Keep The Faith

Young Lions Win League

2008-05-04T22:00:00.003+02:00

Villa U18s beat FA Youth Cup Winners Manchester City to clinch the FA Premier Academy League crown. The Young Lions won 2-0 thanks to goals from James Collins and Chris Herd. The superb youth set up at Villa Park is clearly bearing fruit and hopefully some of the Villa Youth will become first team regulars.

Keep The Faith

Holte End Fag Unfurled

2008-05-04T21:51:00.002+02:00

The new Holte End flag was unfurled for the first time on Saturday before the Wigan game. It was passed across the Lower Holte and will be a regular feature at home games where it will alternate between Lower and Upper Holte. The checked flag was the winning design in an online poll on the offical site and the club has paid for it. It's another nice gesture by the new regime.

Keep The Faith

Farewell to Ollie

2008-05-04T21:41:00.003+02:00

Olof Mellberg played his last game in the famous claret and blue at Villa Park yesterday. Unfortunately, the result wasn't what we wanted, but Ollie was given a rousing send off. He didn't hesitate to remind our Small Heath neighbours of the score in the recent derby game.

Ollie will be remembered very fondly at Villa Park for his commitment to the Villa cause through thick and, mainly, thin . The best of luck to him and his family in Italy.

Keep The Faith

He's Bigger than Me and You

2008-04-25T23:02:00.003+02:00

John Carew celebrates our glorious victory against Small Heath Alliance last Sunday. Big John appears to love it at Villa and is really appreciative of the fans, when his name is sung he applauds the fans even during the games. There seems to be a close bond between the fans and players that exists at very few clubs. This communion between players and fans bodes well for the future of the club and will help to bring back glory to Villa Park.

Keep The Faith

Ian Taylor Celebrates Small Heath Drubbing

2008-04-25T22:49:00.005+02:00

This is Ian Taylor shortly after the 5-1 drubbing of the noses last Sunday, he's obviously a very happy man and must have enjoyed the game and result like all Villa fans. He is now a football agent, amongst his clients is Gareth Barry, we can only hope that he can persuade our captain to stay on at the club he has graced for the last 10 years.

Keep The Faith

Pride of Birmingham

2008-04-22T23:02:00.002+02:00

Villa completely outclassed Small Heath on Sunday to achieve our biggest League win against the noses since 1960 when we beat them 6-2. We played attractive attacking football and the score was in no way flattering. Ashley Young, Gareth Barry and John Carew were all superb and the overall performance was excellent.

The Small Heath faithful who nearly all made the 3 mile journey from the Sty to the cathedral of English football forgot to keep right on till the end of the road and disappeared after the fourth goal.

15 Villa fans turned up to the Republic House to watch the game and the atmosphere was great.

Keep The Faith

New Mosaics Unveiled

2008-04-17T22:31:00.003+02:00

Five new mosaics have been unveiled on the facade of the Holte End. The mosaics resemble those that existed on the beautiful old Trinity Road stand which was brutally discarded by Doug Ellis. They are really impressive and help return Villa Park to the cathedral of English football. It's another great gesture by Randy Lerner and sends a clear message about how the club now honours and treasures our history and heritage. The timing of the unveiling is opportune coming as it does in the week leading up to the derby game. The noses will no doubt be impressesd.

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Aston Villa Former Players' Association in Barcelona

2008-04-13T23:05:00.002+02:00

Aston Villa Former Players' Association President, Neil Rioch, General Secretary, Karl Court and former player, Darren Bradley were kind enough to visit us at the Republic House on Saturday. They were in Barcelona to attend the European Association of former Players' annual congress where speakers included Alfredo De Stefano. We presented the FPA members with framed photos of the new Barcelona Lions poster designed by Mac McGuinness. It was very interesting to chat to them and they are a credit to the club. Neil told us that they hope to bring the Aston Villa All Stars team over to Barcelona to play against the Barcelona veterans team. Many thanks to the FPA members for takin time out of their busy schedule to come and see us.

Keep The Faith

Best Premier Away Win Ever

2008-04-13T22:44:00.002+02:00

Villa strolled to their most emphatic away win since the Premier League was formed in 1992 at Derby on Saturday winning 6-0, and the goals were scored by 6 different players with Petrov's wonder goal being the pick of the bunch. The goal will do Petrov's confidence a lot of good and the win sets us up nicely for the derby game on Sunday. Nigel Reo-Coker avoided a yellow card which means he's eligible for the Small Heath game. His aggression and commitment will undoubtedly be needed against the noses for their cup final.

Keep The Faith

You Couldn't Make it up

2008-04-09T22:46:00.003+02:00

Just when you thought the circus in the town couldn't get any funnier Small Heath come up trumps again. Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady have been arrested and questioned by police.
City of London Police investigating alleged corruption in English football
The pair were questioned in connection with allegations of false accounting and conspiracy to defraud. If charged and found guilty, there could well be a points deduction which may lead to relegation. There is bound to be some friendly banter regarding this in the derby game. Well, Small Heath never let us down.

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Barcelona Welcomes Former Villa Players

2008-04-01T09:54:00.004+02:00

The Sports Group of the European Former Football Players Associations (EFPA) will celebrate its Congress in Barcelona for the second consecutive year on 11th and 12th April, 2008. Under the motto “Still Playing” it will develop a series of activities to discuss and analyze the role of former players and the future of football. The Congress wil be attended by Aston Villa Former Players' Association Chairman Neil Rioch and General Secretary Karl Court. During their stay in Barcelona they will be visiting the Barcelona Lions Club.

The objectives of the II EFPA Congress, that will take place at the facilities of F.C. Barcelona, are to make known the Association in all Europe, to become a debate forum on today’s and tomorrow’s football and to promote the values of football and fair play among the young.
The opening session will count with the presence of Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona.

The Congress will house a cycle of conferences with the participation of representatives of various clubs and of organisations devoted to promote social activities among former players, such as Cross Cultures and Homeless World Cup.

The mission of EFPA is to seek and foster public, social and institutional recognition of the former player as a piece of living history of European Football as well as for his contribution to the development of European Football Clubs. Furthermore, EFPA is based upon the values of sportsmanship, fair play, solidarity and integration.

Aston Villa Former Players Association (FPA) was formed in January 1997 to provide comprehensive representation, support and benefits to all of its members. It is a non profit-making association governed by Constitution and managed voluntarily by former players and others with specific skills.

The motivation for establishing the FPA came from reading a newspaper article reporting the predicament of a former Aston Villa legend who was selling his medals to "make ends meet". So, it appeared whilst the established Aston Villa Old Stars football team was raising huge sums of money around the country for very worthy causes, the plight of "our own" was inadvertently being overlooked. Something had to be done!

Since its formation and with the invaluable assistance of both the Professional Footballers Association (the players union) and Aston Villa Football Club, The FPA has been able to help many former players who have required urgent medical treatment, surgical operations or assistance with hardship. This is and will remain the core purpose of its existence.

From the beginning, business standards have been applied to the management of the association that continues to operate as a very professional, efficient and effective organisation that is respected throughout the UK and now, as members of EFPA, in Europe also. The AVFPA is generally regarded as the best former players' association in the UK and has advised 14 other clubs on setting up and running their own FPAs. Aston Vila Former Players' Association contines to champion the club's proud history and bright future.

http://www.efpafootball.com/index.php

http://www.astonvillafpa.org/

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William McGregor Statue

2008-03-31T22:54:00.004+02:00

William McGregor joined Villa in 1877 and after helping establish Aston Villa as one of the great football teams of England he went on to found the Football League, the first football league in the world, in 1888. He later became known as the “father of the league.” He chaired both the Football League and the Football Association and he also became President of the Football League. By the end of McGregor's association with Aston Villa he had seen them win the League 6 times and the FA Cup 4 times. To honour one of the greatest figures in the club's history the Aston Villa Supporters' Trust is currently raising funds for a statue to honour the visionary Scot. The club has already pledged funds and there will be a collection organised by the Trust before the Bolton game.

For brilliance and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found.

William McGregor

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Villa's Poet Laureate

2008-03-30T23:11:00.004+02:00

"Supporting Aston Villa has taught me a lot about life. You win some, but you lose a lot."

This is probably a sentiment many Villa fans would recognise. It comes from Benjamin Zephaniah , the Villa-mad Handworth born poet. Benjamin has achieved commerical success and critical praise. He's got 10 honorary doctorates and a hospital ward named after him in Ealing. His books are the most stolen in British libraries, a fact he's very proud of. Benjamin has remained a lifelong fan and is a patron of Aston Villa Supporters’ Club. "When I was a teenager," he recalls, "I used to Villa Park- every other week. It was a lot different then - 25,000 people stood here on the famous Holte End, I was almost the only black face." He now lives in the East End of London right next door to the West Ham ground but , he says "I still support the best team in the world - Aston Villa!" His love of the Villa is so great he's even talked about his sentiments for the club in one of his most popular poems Knowing Me:

With my Jamaican hand on my Ethiopian heart

The African heart deep in my Brummie chest

And I chant Aston Villa, Aston Villa, Aston Villa

Keep The Faith

14 Years Ago Today

2008-03-27T22:55:00.002+01:00

On March 14th 1994 Villa defeated Manchester United to win our 4th League Cup and deny United an unprecendented triple of League FA Cup and League Cup. United were favourites going into the game but Big Fat Ron got his tactics spot on and Villa beat United 3-1 with 2 goals from Dean Saunders and one from Dalian Atkinson. A similar score on Saturday at Old Trafford would be very welcome. We can always dream.

Keep The Faith

New Blues Flag for Derby Game

2008-03-18T09:30:00.000+01:00

Birmingham City owners, somewhat irked by Villa's financing of a giant flag to be unfurled before the upcoming Derby game, have decided to follow suit and paid for their own supporters' flag which reminds us of their shameful history and grim future. A poll was conducted on their official website and this is the winning flag. Impressive.

Keep The Faith

New Keep The Faith Badge

2008-03-09T09:10:00.000+01:00

We've now got a new Barcelona Lions - Keep The Faith crest created by Mac McGuinness. The badge is an adaptation of the classic Northern Soul Keep The Faith badge. Enamel badges bearing the new crest will be available soon.

We now have a delivery date for the Barcelona Lions Club enamel pin badges: 19 th March.

Keep The Faith

Marvellous Marlon Player of the Month

2008-03-08T13:30:00.000+01:00

Marvellous Marlon Harewood has neen voted Player of the Month on the official Aston Villa site. Marlon gained 43% of the votes for his great performances in February although he didn't start any matches. This says a lot for his great attitude and enthuiasm which have won over the Villa faithful. Villa fans have really taken to Marlon and he's quickly becoming a cult hero.

Keep The Faith

Glowing article about Randy in the Guardian

2008-03-05T13:14:00.000+01:00

There's a great article by David Conn in the Guardian about Randy Lerner and how he's used his own money to revive the fortunes of our great club, and how he respects and honours the heritage and tradition of Aston Villa. The final paragraph of the article gives a nice little history lesson:

"Aston Villa can genuinely lay claim to having inspired the foundation of the Football League itself. The league was the brainchild of the club's then chairman, William McGregor, who invited 11 other clubs, Preston North End, Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Accrington Stanley, Everton, Burnley, Derby County, Notts County and Stoke City, to form the Football League, the world's first, in 1888. Villa's battles with Sunderland, "the team of all talents", formed the game's first titanic rivalry, and Villa won the league five times between 1894 and 1900, doing the double in 1897. But after another championship in 1910 it was 71 years before Villa won it again. The following year that team, captained by Dennis Mortimer and starring the midfielder Gordon Cowans and strikers Gary Shaw and Peter Withe, beat Bayern Munich 1-0 to win the European Cup, still Villa's greatest moment."

We wait a similar glowing article on the porno dwarf and the dildo brothers at the Sty.

Keep The Faith

Rubery Ken

2008-03-04T18:20:00.001+01:00

Now we all know that the Bluenoses are not the brightest bunch in football, but a certain poster on the ultra-hi-tech site Keep Right On is undoubtedly a sandwich short of a picnic. Kenny "SOTV KRO" Rubery is a regular poster on the site and some of his drivel has to be read to be believed. Here is a selection of some of his finest moments:

"We are the best fans in the world and please dont ever forget it."

"When compared to teams in the league who are round us, Middlesbrough, Reading, Bolton, Wigan, Sunderland, Fulham, and Derby the support of all those teams is no better than ours perhaps Sunderland you could argue is better than ours but if we had Middlesbrough and Newcastle as our local rivals our support would be fantastic."

"Why is there no ticket office in Northfield making it easier for the thousands of Mighty Bluenoses who live in and around this area to buy tickets."

"Its a fact if we was 6th in the league won 11 drew 7 lost 5, you would struggle to get a ticket for any away game and at home."

"We have always travelled better away than the vile I have been going down The Mighty Blues since I was 5 (1963)and we always take more support to vile park than they have ever done to St Andrews."

"So come on lets give praise were praise is due for where we are in the league and the fact we have never won F**kall our support is magnificent and once Alex sorts our team out and we start climbing up the table, you watch our home and away support go up."

The guy is obviously deranged and if he's not already an inmate of the fine mental institution in his neighbourhood, he should be.

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New Villa Park Mosaics

2008-02-28T16:57:00.000+01:00

One of the main features of the beautiful old Trinity Road Stand that was so brutally discarded and destroyed by Doug Ellis, and old Holte End was a series of huge mosaic signs on the walls of the two stands, and in an attempt to re-instate some of the ground’s former glory, five of these signs are being remade by Mosaic Workshop. They will follow as closely as possible the original designs which featured the name Aston Villa along with the club’s crest and some decorative scrolls, all in the traditional colour scheme of claret and blue. This is another indication that Randy Lerner understands and honours the traditions and history of our great club.

The mosaics are due to be installed and unveiled before the end of the season which may indicate that the unveiling will be for the Wigan game.

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Feed The Hare

2008-02-25T13:46:00.001+01:00

Marvellous Marlon Harewood scored another wonder goal to secure 3 points at reading. He's really becoming a cult figure, the fans love his enthusiasm and the fact he's never complained about not starting games. He even has his own song "Feed the Hare, and he will score", which even though it's a rehash of the Man City "Feed the Goat", sounded really impressive a treading. Villa's away support was once against magnificient especially considering it was such an early kick off. The performance was really solid and we've got another vital 3 points in our European quest.

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Ridgewell Player of the Year. Vote now.

2008-02-21T22:41:00.001+01:00

Who is your player of the season so far? Liam "Agent " Ridgewell was an unlikely candidate, but after his cracking goal in November at the Sty when his true colours shone through, he may get a few of your votes. "Once a Villan always a Villan", as they say. Have your say on the poll on the right. The winner of the vote will receive the inaugural Barcelona Lions Ian Taylor Trophy which we hope to present to the winner at a Villa game at the end of this season or the start of the next season. Get voting, and please notice their is no option for Petrov.

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New Villa UEFA 1977/78 Badge

2008-02-16T13:47:00.000+01:00

A new Villa badge which comemorates Villa's 1977/78 UEFA Cup campaign is in circulation. The badge has the Villa crest as well as the crests of Villa's opponents that year:Fenerbache, Górnik Zabrze, Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. In the first round Villa comfortably beat Fenerbache 6-0 on aggregate. Górnik Zabrze were the opposition in the next round and Villa won 3-1 on aggregate. Villa also won the third round 3-1 on aggregate, but this time the opposition were a much tougher proposition; the Basque giants, Athletic Bilbao. The fourth round saw Villa face Johann Cruyff and Barcelona. 49,619 supporters were packed into Villa Park for the first leg. With 10 minutes to go Barca were 0-2 up and looked to be cruising. However, Cruyff was substituted and Villa scored two goals. In the second leg John Gidman was unfairly sent off early on, and Villa lost 1-2 on the night and 3-4 on aggregate.

The badge is of a very high quality and is a real collector's item.

First Villa Park hat-trick in 13 Years

2008-02-12T22:28:00.000+01:00

John Carew scored a second half hat-trick on Saturday to secure victory against a pretty poor Newcastle team who had somehow taken the lead in although Villa's first half performance was well below par. Saint Martin's substitutions at half-time were inspired, Marvellous Marlon Harewood harried and bullied the Newcastle defenders and Craig Gardener had two superb efforts on goal. John Carew scored his first hat-trick in three years before eighty Norwegian Villa fans who were over for the game. Appaerntly the Norwegians had a reception in their hotel and Gary Shaw was one of the guests. He announced that he wouldn't be able to stay long as he had a prior engagement. At four o'clock in the morning he was still there and going strong.

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Former Villa Players Visit Barcelona

2008-02-07T23:19:00.000+01:00

Former Villa player and Chairman of the Aston Villa Former Players' Asociation Neil Rioch will be visiting Barcelona to attend the European Federation of Former Players' Association's annual conference at the Camp Nou in April. Neil, who is Bruce Rioch's brother, will be accompanied by the General Secretary of the association and Barcelona Lions Club member, Karl Court, and another ex-player who has yet to be named. The Association's delegation will be visiting the Barcelona Lions Club during their visit.

The Former Players' Association are very active in providing support to ex-Villa players going as far back as the 1930s. In addition, Villa legends like Tony Morley, Gordon Cowans and Gary Shaw regularly turn out for the Villa Old Stars.

We're really looking forward to the visit, and are really grateful to Karl and Neil for agreeing to meet up with us.

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Barça Supporters' Club in Britain

2008-02-06T18:08:00.001+01:00

The Penya (supporters' club in Catalan) Union Blaugrana (blue and claret in Catalan) is an official Futbol Club Barcelona supporters' club based in the UK. It was formed last year and Gary Linekar is an honorary member. The majority of members are followers of FC Barcelona who live in the UK, but there are some Catalan members as well.

Barcelona Lions Club member, Nick Clarke, is also a member of the Penya Union Blaugrana. Nick's been a Villa fan since birth, but is also a soci (member in Catalan) of Barça. He regularly comes over to Barcelona to watch games.

The Penya watch Barcelona away games in the BCN Sports Bar, Avinguda de Roma, where there are a wide range of scarves on display; including a 1982 European Cup Winners' Villa scarf which Nick donated. It's very much a locals' bar and the beer's cheap. Carlos and Virginia Pastor, the bar owners, are also honorary members of the Penya.

http://www.penyaunionblaugrana.co.uk/

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25th Anniversary of European Super Cup Win against Barcelona

2008-01-29T10:17:00.000+01:00

At Villa Park on 26th January 1983 Aston Villa completely outclassed Barcelona to overturn the first leg 1-0 defeat to gain a glorious victory and win Villa's second European trophy. Gary Shaw, Gordon Cowans (penalty), and Ken McNaught scored the goals in a feisty game which ended with two Catalans, Julio Alberto and Marcos, and Alan Evans being sent off. Villa dominated from the start, and played the Catalans off the park.

The Villa line up that night was Spink, Williams, Gibson, Evans, McNaught, Blair, Bremner, Shaw (Birch), Withe, Cowans, Morley (Walters).

The photo above is of the matchday programme which has photos from the first leg played in the Camp Nou a week earlier on 19th January.

Hopefully it won't be too long until we're back at the Camp Nou on a regular basis.

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Barcelona Lions feature in matchday programme

2008-01-29T09:53:00.000+01:00

There was a short feature on the Barcelona Lions in the Blackburn programme. The editor programme editor, Rob Bishop wrote:

"Kieran Donaghy has the opportunity to watch football at the Nou Camp whenever he wishes - but he would rather come to Villa Park.

Kieran, who has lived in Barcelona for 12 years, is so devoted to the boys in claret and blue that he set up the Barcelona Lions Club five months ago.

And while he normally has to settle for following Vila from a distance, he brought his family over for our game at Wigan as well as making a tour of Villa Park.

Kieran tells us: "My wife Noemi is Catalan and both my daughters- five-year-old Rosa and 18-month-old Aina - were born here, but all three support Villa as well as Barcelona.

"I occasionally go to the Nou Camp, but I'm sure I'll be going more often in the near future when Villa are qualifying for the Champions' League on a regular basis!"

In the meantime, Kieran (right) and his brother Loz, a Holte Ender for the past 30 years, were delighted to unfurl their Barcelona Lions flag in the Villa dressing room, with a little help from Rosa."

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Marvellous Marlon

2008-01-23T20:00:00.000+01:00

Marlon Harewood came off the bench to equalise and turn the game around at Anfield on Monday night. After a below-par performance in the first half where we struggled to keep possession for more than two passes, Martin O'Neill's substitution of Craig Gardener for Marlon changed the course of the game. Marlon looked really aggressive and up for it, he worried the Liverpool defence with his pace and strength. He scored a lovely equaliser with an overhead kick, and minutes later we went ahead when Ollie Melberg's shot took a wicked deflection off Auerlio for an own goal. We withstood the inevitable Liverpool onslaught until the 82 minute when Crouch scored. Desoite the disappointment of conceding such a late goal, we would have settled for a draw at half-time. How times have changed and now we're disappointed when we only draw at Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool.

There were 3,000 Villa fans in the Anfield Road End, which is great for a televised Monday night game. They made a hell of a lot of noise throughout the game, and there was mayhem when we scored both gooals.

Things are cerainly looking up at B6.

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Barcelona Lions Club Crest

2008-01-16T13:12:00.000+01:00

We've now got a Barcelona Lions Club crest which was created by club member Marcus Mac McGuinness. Mac has adapted the old Villa crest of the 70s and 80s. I think it looks great. Many thanks to Mac.

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Giant Flag for Villa park

2008-01-15T22:36:00.001+01:00

The club are funding the production of a giant supporters' flag which will be unfurled before the start of every game at Villa Park. The idea for a giant flag came from supporters,and the club are asking the opinion of fans through an online questionnaire. It seems a very democratic process, and the sort of thing which could never have happened during the Ellis regime. Fair play to Randy and the club for listening to supporters yet again.

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Henrik Larrson

2008-01-14T22:59:00.000+01:00

Henrik Larrson is rumoured to be close to a 3 month loan move to Aston Villa. According to the Birmingham Evening Mail, despite their many faults they're uually quite accurate with Villa transfer, he could be signing as soon as this Wednesday. Martin O'Neill says he knows nothing about it, but then again he would. Larrson would be a great loan signing and someone who it'd be brilliant to bring off the bench when we can't break through the oposition defence. He's still a world class player and a thorough professional.

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Villa Reading

2008-01-12T23:12:00.000+01:00

A comfortable home win with a brace from John Carew, who seems to be loving life at Villa Park, and yet another goal from Martin Laurssen. Martin is one of the finest centre-halves in the Premiership at the moment and certainly deserves a new contract. When Ashley Young took the corner all the Reading players knew who would head the ball, but could do nothing to stop him. In addition to his goalscoring feats, his defending is almost impeccable. If he signs a new contract, i'm sure he'll go on to be a Villa legend.

Now we're up to sixth place, on equal points with Liverpool, Everton and Man City. Our next game is against Liverpool at Anfield in a televised game on Monday 21st January. It'd be great to get a result there and possibly end the Benitez era.

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Wigan away

2008-01-12T13:47:00.001+01:00

Some of us came over to England for the Wigan away game over Christmas. We set off from Birmingham at 10 o'clock and arrived in Wigan at about 12. The weather in Lancashire was grim; torrential rain and a gail force wind. However, this didn't stop us enjoying the pre-match entertainment in the Red Robin pub by the ground which was full of Villa fans, and then the Marquee which is a social club underneath the away fans' stand. the atmosphere in the Villa end was great, there were 5,400 Villa fans there and they generated a lot of noise throughout the game, despite the desperate playing conditions: the Wigan pitch was more like a cabbage patch than a Premier League pitch. The first half performance was pretty poor, the players looked a bit tired after the exertions of Boxing Day at Chelsea. However, the Villa boys came out aggressively in the second half, and fully deserved the subsequent victory. Curtsis Davies did really well to score with a header from a corner, and Gaby finshed delighfully after some excellent wing word form Ashley Young.

We stayed in Wigan for a couple of pints, anfd then headed back to Brum to enjoy the delights of a night in Digbeth. A great result and day out.

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Barcelona Lions Villa Park Tour

2008-01-10T22:24:00.000+01:00

We were over for the Wigan away game and went on a tour of the ground organised for us by Katrina Adamson in the marketing department. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and it was very easy to see many improvements at Villa Park. The new signage is excellent, the Villa store has a superb range of quality merchandise, and the Holte Hotel is a joy to behold. the atmosphere at the club was really upbeat, and all of the staff spoke really highly of Randy Lerner and Martin O'Neill. The doom and gloom of the end of the Ellis era is truly a thing of the past.

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