I always find it hard to say goodbye to something or someone that I love, especially something that I've held onto for such a while. In this, my first non-movie related blog in...well, a long while...I shall say goodbye to something that has been with me for the past 23 years, though not always in good stead. I've stuck with you through thick and thin - I was with you when you reached your highest highs, and I was there when you felt nothing but despair. I'm not talking about a person, I'm talking about a team, my team, Aston Villa.
Some may think its pretty strange that a youngster from Southend-on-Sea should support a team from a suburb of Birmingham, especially given the distance between us. Why was I a fan? Well, I think my dad dearly wanted me & my brother to follow in his footsteps and be Tottenham fans. Unfortunately, in my brothers case he took him to see Southend United play Liverpool in an FA Cup match. From that moment my brother was hooked - and still is - on the liverpudlians. As for me, well I wasn't into football as a kid. Sure, I liked playing it (don't let my current looks deceive you, I did use to be thin & speedy with a small hint of technical skill) but sitting & watching a game on tv for 90 minutes seemed too much, especially when I knew there were better things on tv. However, it was a Coca-Cola cup game that Villa were playing against Tranmere that got my attention - I was transfixed by these players & really got into the game. I think I broke my dad's heart when I turned round at 10 years old and proclaimed that Villa were my team.
It's not the greatest story in the world I know, but this was how I came to start my love affair with the Brummie team in claret and blue. I always knew it would be tough to watch home games, so every chance to see them on TV was taken (we didn't get any satellite channels until 2004) by going to friends or neighbours that had SKY. I had hoped beyond hope that they would come & play my hometown team in a pre-season friendly or a cup game but alas, it never happened. I made do with Match of the Day, games on SKY & all the season-in-review videos (yes, videos) that I could.
My dad, bless him, decided to treat me once for my birthday & took me to see Tottenham vs Aston Villa at White Hart Lane. I thought we'd be sitting among the Villa fans, my people. Unfortunately my dad didn't want to destroy all those years of following the lilywhites to sit in the away end, so we compromised & sat in the Family Stand. This was Gerry Franci's first game in charge of Spurs, and they had a good squad compared to - what was at that time - an ageing Villa team. Thankfully, age proved for something as Villa shot into a 3 goal lead in just half an hour. It was so hard having to keep quiet (as well as having my Villa scarf hidden underneath my jacket) when I was just exploding with joy (it was like the moment you lose your virginity - I'd never been so happy!). Unfortunately, I did have to get up & cheer when Tottenham brought it back to 3-3 (damn you Klinsmann!!!!!) but I can assure you that my cheers were given halfheartedly. Then it happened. The one moment that I couldn't control. Villa went 4-3 up thanks to Dean Saunders. I got up & cheered. My dad pulled me back down aware that a few hundred people had turned round to stare at me jumping for joy. Thankfully, I was only young & this was the Family Stand so we got away with it, but at that moment I pulled my Villa scarf out & was a proud brummie for the final few minutes of the game. My dad was a good sport about it - I think he was just proud that he took me to a Tottenham game - but I think he decided against taking me to see his team play in the hopes that I was jinxing them.
As a kid, I tried to determine where I would play on a footie pitch. As much as most kids dream of being a star striker, I didn't have the pace for it, nor was I one for supplying pinpoint crosses, so a winger was out for me. I tried defence but I enjoyed the tackling aspect too much, so I was taken out of defence and tried in goal. My response to that? First it was indifference, then it became happiness. Diving to my right to save a shot & the reaction of my teammates gave me such an adrenaline rush. It was due to this that my mum & dad got me my first Villa jersey, a goalkeepers jersey. I loved being between the sticks but I picked up a stomach injury in the middle of school, and this prevented me from diving anymore. Once I recuperated I found that I would suffer discomfort if I dove to the left, so in the end goalkeeping came to an end (though I do still dabble occasionally, though I still have issues diving to my left - forget that if I end up in goal against you though!
In 1994, I watched my beloved team beat Manchester United for the Coca-Cola Cup (now the Carling Cup) 3-1. I was proudly sporting my brand new Aston Villa cup final kit (yeah, I had the whole kit at that time, I was so badass) & I took to playing footy from a new position of central midfield. I was a dirty player, constantly swiping, pulling & pushing opposition players, but I could spot a good pass and bundle through defenders to get a shot on goal (and on some occasions actually score). I was a penalty expert, and could curl a spot-kick into the top corner 9 times out of 10.
As the ageing Villa side I came to love was ending, I was blessed to see the new era of stars come through - Ugo Ehiogu, Mark Draper, Gareth Southgate, Dwight Yorke, etc. I was also looking forward muchly to the arrival of Savo Milosevic (I even had a brand new Villa kit with his name & number on it) just based on his scoring history in (what was then) Yugoslavia. As every Villa fan knows, he wasn't that great & took a while to get used to scoring in England, but I was still a fan, & this was a sign that Villa were going in the right direction & picking up stars from abroad was the first step, especially when mixed in with good homegrown players (Ian Taylor will always go down as a legend in my books, based on his love for the club, as well as scoring a crucial goal in the 96 Coca-Cola Cup final (along with Savo!)).
With the 90s coming to an end - & Villa being a top-six team - surely the only way was up? For a while it was, with Villa sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League. However, we couldn't sustain a winning margin and we ended up tumbling back to the top half of the table, but missing out on Champions League football & the Premier League title. Since then - despite some good moments (especially with Martin O'Neill at the helm until he resigned) - Villa are now languishing just 5 points above the relegation zone with 4 games left (& a big game against Bolton tonight), & with a small squad & a severe lack of experienced players (as well as strikers - you know times are bad when you have to rely on Heskey to keep us safe) it will be tough to survive.
Over this past season, I've shown a lack of support against this team. They hired a manager from our fiercest rivals who was available cheap due to relegation the previous season, & have failed to buy top-quality players. The squad seem to have accepted their fate & having even looked like they wanted to be there in a number of games this season. It's finally got to the point whereby I say, it's time for a break. It's been a tough decision, one that has been ummed-and-ahhed over for the past 8 months, but I feel its the best decision.
During these past 23 years, I've also supported my hometown team Southend United, and have had the pleasure to work there as well (during the 1995/97, 96/97 & 97/98 seasons you would have found me as the Deputy Chief Steward patrolling the ground and the stands), during which time I met some of the most amazing players ever - meeting Chris Powell & having the chance to sit & talk to him at Steve Tilsons testimonial was a highlight, as was chatting with Simon Royce, Mickey Bodley, Andy Ansah & Mike Marsh in the players tunnel before a game. I always look out for their results and, when possible, I'll go to a game. Starting next season I aim to be at as many home games as possible, maybe make this a father-son thing too, who knows. This is where my loyalty now lies.
So, after 23 years Aston Villa will still be in my heart, and I'll still look out for their results, but the anger and heartache has now left me numb to have them as my number one club. It's time to move on amicably, as I know that for me leaving maybe someone else will take my place and take this club to heart.
Before I end this blog, I decided to pool together what to me was my ideal Villa Squad during the time I've supported them (I would include the entire 1982 European Cup winners team, but that was before I started supporting this club). These days, clubs need to register a 25 man squad for the season, so I'm going to do the same. This may not be your choice (if you're a Villa fan) but it's who I would pick:
FIRST 11:
GK - Mark Bosnich
DF - Olof Mellberg
DF - Gareth Southgate
DF - Paul McGrath
DF - Ugo Ehiogu
MF - Tony Daley
MF - Ian Taylor
MF - Andy Townsend
MF - Mark Draper
FC - Dion Dublin
FC - Juan Pablo Angel
SUBS:
GK - Brad Friedel
DF - Steve Staunton
DF - Alan Wright
MF - David Platt
MF - George Boateng
FC - Gabby Agbonlahor
FC - Dalian Atkinson
REMAINDER OF SQUAD:
GK - Nigel Spink
DF - Earl Barrett
DF - Martin Laursen
MF - Lee Hendrie
MF - Kevin Richardson
FC - Dean Saunders
FC - Savo Milosevic
It was a tough choice, as there have been a number of players that have worn the claret and blue that have been true servants to Aston Villa and that I have offered support for, so honourable mentions go to the following:
Marc Albrighton, Marcus Allback, Bosko Balaban, Milan Baros, Gareth Barry, Darren Bent, Patrik Berger, Wilfred Bouma, Gary Charles, Ciaran Clark, Stan Collymore, Gordon Cowans, Carlos Cuellar, Sasa Curcic, Curtis Davies, Mark Delaney, Nathan Delfounseo, Fabian Delph, Stewart Downing, Gareth Farrelly, John Fashanu, Graham Fenton, Steve Froggatt, David Ginola, Shay Given, Mustapha Hadji, Emile Heskey, Thomas Hitzlesperger, Ray Houghton, Stephen Ireland, David James, Julian Joachim, Rohnny Johnsen, Tommy Johnson, Robbie Keane, Zat Knight, Nii Lamptey, Gavin McCann, Paul Merson, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Garry Parker, Stiliyan (Stan) Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Peter Schmeichel, Steve Sidwell, Nolberto Solano, Thomas Sorensen, Steve Stone, Stephen Warnock, Dwight Yorke, Ashley Young.
So the time has come to bid adieu to the biggest team in the Midlands - the pride of Birmingham - the mighty Aston Villa. It's been very emotional, but now I can apply all my dedication to my hometown team for the past 23 years, Southend United FC. It's been a blast & a trip Villa, but it's time for a change now. Thank you for entertaining me as a child, and for giving me the chance to follow you all these years.
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