Match Programme - Man City

Al Saunders - Oakland Raiders

Recently I was informed that Al Saunders, current offensive coach for the NFL's Oakland Raiders, is the great-nephew of legendary Villa manager Ron Saunders.  I just sent a note to Coach Saunders inviting him to be an honorary member of the California Lions Club.  It is amazing how Villa connections pop up everywhere!

Villa legend - Ron Saunders

Al Saunders

 

Detroit "Lions" and Update on FB

So I just heard that the newest U.S.-based Lions Club has been established in Detroit.  The Detroit Lions Club headed up by Mike Pearson.  UTV! 

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Have started a page on Facebook using the FB "Page" format.  The orodinal AVFC California FB page used their old "Groups" format which has only basic admin features compared to the updated "Page" format that is now used by most businesses and organziations.  I'm in the middle of moving as many of the AVFC California photos to the new page.  I will keep both pages up for a little while and then will give a warning with a date when the old "Groups" page will disappear.

Momentum for an Annual Event

 

 

The 2013 North America Lions Club Meet-Up held in Chicago this past weekend was an amazing success.  Kudos to Simon Leach, chairman of the Chicago Lions Club, for taking the lead in planning and organizing the event.  A tremendous thank you to the owners and staff at The Globe in Chicago.  It was a perfect venue and we all felt right at home.  Your arranging for our match field and the "fully equipped" team bus was above and beyond the call of duty.  Thanks so much!

 

Many voices in the crowd were eager for another one next year - so I think the momentum is already building to turn this into an annual event.

 

UTV!

Audio Boo

I recently discovered "Audio Boo" and Aston Villa's official Audio Boo page.  It is a great way to listen to Jack Woodward's iconic commentaries and descriptions of Villa goals.

http://audioboo.fm/channel/avfcofficial

Villa and U.S. TV

One of the most challenging aspects of this Lions Club chair thing is figuring out when Villa games are being broadcast "live" in the U.S.  Typically, the matches that are televised in the U.S. are broadcast on the primary Fox Soccer:  Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Soccer Plus, and Fox Soccer 2Go (internet by subscription).  Every once in awhile maybe ESPN2. 

I was informed today by a couple of our members that tomorrow's Liverpool match, listed as being broadcast on Fox Soccer 2Go, also is available live on "The Fuel Channel", which I have never heard of before.  Apparently it is available on DirectTV and ATTUverse.  I'm not even sure if our pubs have this channel. 

Because television is our only visual link to the Villa, I am going to have to find good sources for this information.  It's a challenge.  Once central site that is good is LiveSoccerTv.com

 

Birmingham for the Holidays

It's been great helping some California Lions who will be traveling to Birmingham for the holidays sort out tickets for December, January, and February home matches.   Probably one of the most satisfying duties of a Lions Club Chairman. Also, will be getting the AVFC California flag to one of the traveling members so he can fly the California Lions colors at Villa Park.