A Pint with our Leader

Having a pint at the Brasshouse with our Lions Club leader - Alan Perrins!  (4 May; Friday before the match against Tottenham)

First Trip to Birmingham and Villa Park

I've returned home following my first trip to Birmingham and Villa Park.  All I can say is that it was an amazing trip.

Touring Villa Park and seeing just how much that facility has to offer was great.  Viewing the many hospitality areas (classy), the corporate suites, changing rooms, media areas, and walking pitch side.  What I enjoyed the most was seeing the Acorns Suite and history provided by our tour guide Pete.  After the tour, Pete was gracious enough to help me take some photos of our AVFC California flag in different spots around the pitch.

In front of the North Stand

In the lower section of the North Stand

With the Holte End in the background

Of course the highlight of the trip was on Sunday, 6 May, when I attended the Villa-Spurs game and then later played in the Chairmen's game.   The whole thing was surreal.  I was able to join other Lions Club members in the Lions Club Lounge prior to the game and then sat in the Doug Ellis stand for the game.  Hearing the singing coming from the Holte End gave me goose bumps.   The result was a 1-1 draw, but it was the point that secured our Premiership safety.

Lions Club interior

Lins Club exterior entrance

Villa Park at halftime

With Bob Clayton, Alicante Lions Club chairman

After signing the "Support Stan" wall

About a week prior to leaving for Birmingham, I was experiencing some slight pain in my left achilles, but it didn't seem serious and I was hoping that it would be ok.  Well, as I walked alot during the first few days, it didn't get any better...an even started to become more uncomfortable.  By Sunday, it was getting pretty painful, but there was no way I was going to back out of playing in the chairmen's game. I got on the pitch and was limping pretty badly, but being able to play on the Villa Park pitch was my focus.  The at one point I went up to compete for a ball in the air and then came down on my left foot and I felt something "give way".  After that - I knew I was in trouble and had to come off.  Today is my first business day back home and I need to get an appt to see my doctor.  My lower leg remains swollen, stiff, and a bit bruised.  I hope that I didn't do too much damage.  Was it worth it though?  ABSOLUTELY.

Thanks Alan Perrins

One of our California Lions Club members has some friends that I will have a chance to meet up with prior to the Villa-Spurs game.  They are members of the Knowle & Dorridge Lions.

I also look forward to meeting Alan Perrins, our Lions Club liaison.  Alan has really been front and center  in being the advocate for the Lions Club Network within Aston Villa.  The annual awards event appears spectacular (I have not been able to attend this event yet), the chairmen's game on the Villa Park pitch is a great gift, and the establishment of the Lions Club Suite at Villa Park (formally the David Taggart Suite) are just a few of the amazing benefits for Lions Clubs to enjoy.  Thank you Alan for all that you do!

You are going where?

So I'm heading over to Birmingham for the final home game vs Spurs and to also play in the Chairmen's game on the same day.  Telling friends here in the U.S. where and why I am traveling to Birmingham is always an adventure.  Those who are football fans totally get it and are excited for me.  Some say, "Aston what?".  While others might say, "Interesting."  The way I see it, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity - to play on the Villa Park pitch!
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On another note - I wonder how hard would it be to connect more with the U.S. Lions Clubs?  Obviously, the geographic differences make meeting up regularly impossible.  Do we talk about doing someone annually?  It is great to hear about all of the activity that this summer's tour is creating all across the U.S.  Looking forward to creating great U.S. hospitality for our Villa lads.

Processing Tickets

Just received the group tickets for the Villa/Portland Timbers match and spent a little time tonight processing them to send them out to those members I have received payments from already.  Its pretty exciting to have this event coming up in July.  With the physical tickets in hand - it is starting to feel very REAL now.  Being part of a supporters group so far from Birmingham has its challenges.  Since AVFC California covers the entire state, we are spread out geographically.  This Portland trip will be great to have a bunch of us together in one place.  I know that the English chairmen have there own set of challenges too (buying match tickets, arranging coaches, away fixture travel, etc.).  Technology helps keep some of us Villans abroad in touch and connected with the Club.

Also received my Spurs match ticket from Birmingham in the post today.

So...why Villa?

Being a native Californian that grew up playing the typical American team sports (baseball, American football, and basketball). my interest in the Beautiful Game came on late in life.  In 2004-2005, I began to take an interest in my local Major League Soccer (MLS) side San Jose Earthquakes and went to a few games.  A couple of years later, I began following the major European leagues on television.  Understanding a season that involves league games, cup games, derbys, Champions League, Europa League, etc. was mind boggling at first.  Since so many Premiership games are now televised in the States and that it is known as the most popular league in the world - it only made sense to pick a Premiership team to support.

I am also a volunteer at a local East Bay pediatric palliative care facility called the George Mark Children's House.  I had heard about Acorn's Children's Hospice - which had facilities that George Mark Children's House was modeled after.  One day, while continuing to search for a team to follow in the Premiership, Acorns had just become Villa's charity partner (and shirt sponsor at that time).  I thought, "Was this the same "Acorns" that I knew about?"  Sure enough it was and my search for a Premiership team to support and follow ended.  It had to be Aston Villa.  I made sure that I would own each of the shirts that Villa had worn with Acorns as the shirt sponsor.

In 2009, I discovered the Aston Villa Lion's Club network.  At that time, there were no U.S.-based clubs in the west.  On a whim - I started AVFC California.  in the last 3 seasons, our membership has grown to 60+ (most based in either the Los Angeles area and San Francisco area).

It is amazing how in a short period of time, I have become a Villan.  I remember hearing people talk about  Villa being in their blood because of homeland, family, etc. tied to Birmingham.  I like to think that Villa is also in my blood.  The only difference is that it has taken me 50 years to discover it!

UTV