How I became a Villa Fan | Aston Villa | The Holy Trinity Show | Episode 3

[@ronaldjohnson4470]

A villa fan for 62 years. It all started with the name. As an eight year kid from the Caribbean living in London, I was expected to support a London team, but when I heard the name Aston Villa it was like love at first sight. Fantastic stadium and colours. Thank you for your channel, you have great passion for Villa. I subscribed immediately.

[@itstherealjammin]

I appreciate you Mr Johnson ❤️

[@NationalTreasureExplorers]

Great story man

[@nathanjgtaylor1985]

Good lad, love this story mate! UTV!!

[@johnregan2443]

The 'CHOSEN FEW '. UTV.

[@deejay5224]

Similar story bro. An Asian from north London where by right it should've been spurs or arsenal. My big brother who was footie made wanted me to get into football as well so took me through his panini album. It was the jersey design and colours which did it for me!

[@wizardflaps]

Never a dull story when it comes to a Villa fans' calling, especially when they hail from anywhere outside of B6. I grew up in the North West of England as a Dutch kid where everyone supported Man Utd or Liverpool to the extent that in primary school at breaktime we would always play Utd vs 'Pool and that was it. You had to choose one of those. When I was first old enough to really get into my football outside of playing, really looking up the stats and histories and watching the games (when I was allowed to stay up late enough for Match of the day around 8 or 9 years old) I saw that Villa had just beaten Manchester United in the 94' Coca Cola Cup final 3-1. The day after my birthday (I begged for that Muller shirt for my birthday present and only went and got the Cup Winners edition). The name sold it, the colours, the trophy. Then we went on to smash Wimbledon 7-1 and Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 and later beat Leed 3-0 in '96 to pick up a second League Cup. Never looked back. Rain or shine. The sun is out now. UTV

[@theholytrinityshow]

That’s brilliant Arr! It’s emblazoned in our souls. Almost love at first sight.

[@razormansaysuk934]

Mate - I'm a Brummie Villa Fan: you've earned your Villahood!! One of 'us'.

[@JohnSmith-fr7js]

My family are from Aston and I lived there until I was 5 years old, I don't think Tom Hanks would have liked it, back to back slum housing outside toilets, no bathrooms and shared wash houses built next to sweat shop factories in bombed out streets just after the end of WW2, people today have no idea what real poverty is like. So it was obvious which team we would support and my earliest memories are of Aston Villa bringing the FA Cup back to Birmingham after defeating Sir Matt Busby's "Babes" 2-0 at Wembley in 1957 with both goals scored by Peter MacParland, a shock result which the rest of the country never forgave us for! A couple of years later my hero was Gerry Hitchens whom we adored, and he broke all of our hearts when he signed for Internazionale for £85,000, I never felt so bad again until Andy Gray left Villa for Wolves 1979, hope history doesn't repeat itself with Jack Grealish.... Villa till I die!

[@MrBjorn6]

Dam you go way back!

[@cranso86]

I'm from Ireland. 1994 we won League Cup, Staunton, God McGrath, Townsend and Houghton Irish and Villa contingent that played with Ireland at USA 94, I was 8 and first World Cup I remember. The Irish connection got me supporting Villa.

[@paulhanson5164]

I wasn't grabbed from afar, I'm a Brummie from a mixed relationship, my mothers family are all Villa, her first husband, the one responsible for my existence is/was a bluenose. I have vague memories of him taking me to watch the Blues and only vague memories of him as I haven't seen or heard from him in 50 years. A lucky escape, I could have ended up following that lot. Didn't take much at that age to turn me away from the dark side. Then on the 13th of September 1975 at the age of 11 my uncle took me to my first game at Villa Park. It was one of the special days in my life, I can barely remember the match other than it was against Arsenal and we won 2-0. But I can still see myself pre match sat outside the Upper Grounds pub, then going through the turnstiles into the Trinity Road, half way back in the first tier, half way between the dugouts and The Holte End. I spent half the game just gawping in awe at The Holte, the size of it, the noise, which I'd often heard on a Saturday afternoon several miles away at my Aunts place in Erdington. At 13 I was allowed to get a paper round, I did so with the intention of being able to take myself to Villa Park and I've been taking myself, my kids and my grandkids ever since...UTV

[@gmansid3576]

‘Scum’ - that made me chuckle. Nearly 5000 miles away but Pete’s as tuned in as if he’s from Erdington. Long may this quality channel continue.

[@petercollins5861]

for many years, i didn't have cable tv. in 2006 or so, my buddy got divorced and moved into my house in Arlington, Washington to get back on his feet. he couldn't understand how i could live without cable tv and insisted that we go in on a subscription, which included a sports channel that broadcast EPL games on Saturday mornings. i began getting up early to enjoy the matches and at some point decided that i needed to choose a team to follow. i have an aversion to rooting for the perennial champion teams in any sport (NY Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, etc.) so the likes of Man U, Liverpool, etc. were right out. My brother went to university in London and became a Tottenham fan, but something about that team didn't suit me. Likewise, watching Chelsea (dominant at that time, with Man U) usually left me thinking, "what a lotta chubs." one Saturday, I watched a match where a young guy named Gaby Agbonlahor scored the game winner against one of those big four (may have been Man U, i don't recall). i saw the manager, Martin O'Neill leaping on the sidelines, celebrating what the commentators were calling, "a famous win for the Claret and Blue." later that week, on espn, they broadcast a program where they had fan-commentators doing play-by-play of the game. lots of back-and-forth ribbing and ridicule, shouting at bad calls, you know the drill. at the point where Gaby scored the winner, the Villa guy shouted, "YESSSSSS, Up the Villa!!" i'd never heard a phrase like that stated in a positive tone. there were a few other clubs i kind of liked, but finally, i said to myself, "right! time to pick a team." i put the sports page of my local newspaper on my kitchen table, with the Premier League table in the center. i put my head up, closed my eyes, swirled my index finger in the air and poked it down on the paper. i opened my eyes and read, just above my fingertip, "Aston Villa." "Well," i said to myself, "can't be more conclusive than that." i now live in northern British Columbia, Canada, where i don't have cable tv. I love your program. Up.The.Mighty.Villa. (p.s. my eyes may not have been completely closed)

[@airtonmaciel2724]

I am an Aston Villa fan from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. In 2012, with the PL becoming the world’s most interesting league, I decided to choose an English team to play on FIFA 12, and Villa was there, with its colors, and its history! It was easy to choose Villa amongst the others. And still having Gabby and then Benteke, was awesome. And here I am now, following all those great channels, and supporting Villa no matter what happens. In 2018 I got the chance to be at Villa Park at the Swansea game, Dean Smith’s debut. Up The Villa 👊🏻👊🏻

[@jamesjthrash]

W😊ot 1:50 twot

[@jamesjthrash]

E🎉❤t😢to

[@jamesjthrash]

Ru😢p😊urottpt 3:41 😊t 3:50 😂

[@jamesjthrash]

Tt 4:29

[@jamesjthrash]

Otetur

[@markhunt3666]

Great story that. I am also a vVillan from another country, but not quite as far away in Wales. Swansea to be precise. My dad took me to Villa park under the mid week light to watch Aston Villa play Swansea City in 1983. I was 14 and a young Swans fan living in the shadow of the old Vetch field. I was standing on a mik crate in the north stand getting blasted by the noise coming from the holte end. Villa thumped the Swans 5 nil and 3 of the goals were scored right in front of me. All 3 in my memory were smashed into the top corners. So I went up a Swans fan and came back a Villa fan, myself and my 2 lads have been ever since. Keep up the great videos. UTV Mark, Welsh Villan

[@JohnSmith-fr7js]

There is a version of the story on how Villa chose their colours of Claret & Blue and it seems that it was all a big mistake! In 1885 at a board meeting called to decide what colours the team should play in the vote was for Chocolate & Blue as a nod towards the Cadbury's Chocolate factory down the road at Bournville, so a memo was written and handed to a messenger boy to take to the shirt maker for 11 shirts of colours ..."Chlt & Lt. Bl." (Chocolate and Light Blue) ... the tailor deciphered the short hand note as .."Clt. & Lt. Bl." (Claret & Light Blue). The shirts were delivered on the day of the match so it was too late to change them and Villa went ahead and played in Claret & Blue, the following year (1886) Villa did actually start playing in Chocolate & Blue but it was not popular and in 1888 they went back to playing in Claret & Blue".

[@theholytrinityshow]

That is amazing!

[@johnlowe992]

Great story! I was born in Birmingham into a Villa family and my son is now a 5th generation Villa fan. But as we live in Tokyo now, we watch the games on TV. Having said that, we managed to watch every minute of every Villa game last season.

[@JP76-UTV]

We just had a new fan born in Tokyo, my little niece and she’s already got her first kit :) Note to Pete - given our growing fan base (I’m always amazed when I meet Villa fans in Japan) do you see any merit in signing players with regional growth in mind, say for example Minamino or perhaps Alphonso Davies for our Canadian fans? They have to be great players of course, but I know how many Japanese soccer fans started buying Liverpool shirts when they signed Minamino and it probably covered his transfer fee. Just a thought and would love to hear yours. Cheers and UTV!

[@abdul-muminoshodi6254]

Great Video. I am in Toronto, Canada myself. I identify so much with your story. Mine is very similar but quite different. First time in boarding school in Bristol, had to go through the joyful exercise of choosing my team. Everyone was supporting boring Chelsea, at that time or obvious Manchester United because they were winning. Rather than follow the crowd, was a bit contrary and wanted a team that spoke to me personally. For all your reason yes Aston Villa, but the time the most exciting teams in that period were Crystal Palace, a certain Ian Wright was scoring beautiful goals. But Aston Villa were a brilliant team, Mark Bosnich , Paul McGrath, Tony Daley, Dean Saunders, Dalian Atkinson (Of blessed memory). I just kept coming back to them. THEN that incredible goal against Wimbledon, which is still one of the best goals I have ever watched scored by Dalian Atkinson. From that goal onwards, Aston Villa has being my team through Pain and Glory and hopefully to more Glory

[@jefflewis5852]

I was at that match when he scored that wonder goal. My brother who is a blue nose had come to the match for something to do and even he was clapping, what a goal just simply beautiful.

[@mikesydney4212]

Good work Pete, love the enthusiasm. I live in Sydney in Australia, born in Solihull was at Highbury in 1981 and in Rotterdam in 1982. Just came across the channel keep it up 👍

[@seamusking321]

For me, I was dating a girl at the time who's dad was into Arsenal. In an effort to try and foster a good relationship with him, I made an effort to try and watch them, right? Well, first game I managed to watch was on May 15th, 2011, where Villa smashed them 2-1, and right then I knew red wasn't my color. From then it's been a hell of a ride over the last 10 years, and I've never regretted it since.

[@jackietaylor1614]

Love your style and passion for all things claret and blue. My Dad -Ted Small - was Stadium Manager at his beloved Villa Park from 1982 -1996 and helped transform the stadium into the special place that it has become.

[@marcmurrell8827]

My mother, grandfather and uncles would often take a young 5 year old Walsall born boy on the bus then the train over to majestic Holte end, on Saturdays i would have the added bonus of a cup of bovril or tea with toast in the friendliest cafe i have ever known, Aldo's in Witton. Being sat upon a crash barrier on tge right side of the Holte with people i had never known patting me on the head when we scored the amazing sound of fellow fans in song, these are just some of the ways the love of the old lady claimed my heart, Forever Villa, UTV

[@sturoberts5688]

I was born in a small town called Bromsgrove England which was about 20 minutes south of Birmingham. Shortly after being born my family moved to Hamilton, Ontario where I have been ever since. Sometime in the 1970s when my parents returned from a vacation in England my father brought me back the wonderful claret and blue Aston Villa football shirt. I immediately became an Aston Villa fan for life. On a later trip my father brought me back a scarf that I didn’t hang on my bedroom wall but I wore it proudly to school. There were some tough times in the past 15 years or so but I will still proudly wear the claret and blue!

[@chrisevans5245]

Name & colours & ground. Love it. Definitely different from my story. My grandfather started going to Villa Park in the 1910-1911 season when he was 9 years old. In those days they opened all the exits at half time so loads of kids would go in to watch the 2nd half for free. So it"a in the blood and my own kids are Villa too.

[@theholytrinityshow]

Wow Chris. It’s amazing when support is intergenerational like that. It makes it so much more meaningful. YOU’RE BORN INTO IT!

[@leftmono1016]

Similar for me, it’s in the blood. Dad, Grandad etc. Can’t wait to get back down to Villa Park! Only 6.7 miles away 😀 Always love to see such passionate fans from across the world. Kudos for using the word ‘scum’ 😂 UTV.

[@carljones7380]

My first game was in 1970 i was only a year old with me dad, mam was at work season hadn't along started what choice did he have but to take me too stood on the Holte end and never stood anywhere else in the ground . I can remember the witton end with No roof.

[@yonathangonzalez6670]

For me it was the name, the colors, and the late 90s/early 2000s badge of Aston Villa that drew me in. I used to play fifa 2005 as a kid and when flipping through the clubs, Aston Villa just stood out to 8 year old me and I’ve been a fan ever since.

[@orourkedafootball]

Brilliant stuff. I'm from Dublin in Ireland and ended up as a fan through family connections with the Birmingham area. Every one of our stories are a little different.

[@lrye-xyz]

I grew up in South Africa and became a fan in 1976. I played football with an expat friend from Birmingham. Villa was his team and became mine. Little did I know then, that I would move to the Midlands 40 years later and be able to watch them live at Villa Park. You’ve made a great start with your channel. Love your passion and insights!

[@craigosborne3260]

You are similar to myself and I became an Aston Villa fan, in 79-80. In Australia we used to get the scores and the league table in the Sydney Papers. I noticed this team with the Name Aston Villa. I never saw them, but that stated my interest. They won the first division that season and I was captured as there was some tv news and I saw the crowds gather for the team. A few months later a new television network started. SBS. SBS was a television station for new Australians. They had Italian movies and Greek shows and Vietnamese news etc. They also had Football Highlights. They also showed FA Cup matches and kept you up to date with all the leagues and Aston Villa were in Europe and they would show snippets. I was hooked. My friends had never heard of Aston Villa , but SBS showed the Final live. Wow. I have a lot of English friends who support many a varied team, passionately. I lived in Western Australia for 10 years and 30% were English. I live back in Sydney and I tell people like you about Aston Villa FC. It was nice to hear a similar story to mine. I’m about to have my 57th birthday. We must be of a similar vintage

[@paulgriffiths9271]

I moved to the midlands for work and went to many grounds just for the experience. The Holte End was all standing at the time and I liked the atmosphere and remember felling devastated when AVFC were relegated from the old top tier Division 1. So began the love affair and ultimately marriage to AVFC. In the video you reference the red/white & blues kits of various teams but didn't address the claret & blues of Burnley & West Ham. Burnley changed to claret & blue in homage to the champions AVFC and in the hope it would change their luck. West Ham (at the time Thames Ironside) were given a full team strip after some Villa players lost a bet with the West Ham owner and couldn't pay out cash on the wager so settled by handing over the team strip. In the following season WHFC started playing in those colours. The Villa players who were responsible for washing the kits and losing the bet told the club that the team strips were lost!!! So Villa are the original claret & blues...

[@roxammon5858]

Dad was a Villa fan, my two school chums were Villa fans. I wasnt a football fan until they took me to the ground one Saturday to see [ I think it was Bury Town FC] in 1968. The old Division 2. And that got me hooked and have supported them ever since. I lived in Birmingham at the time but now live in Poole in Dorset.

[@AllanJW1]

Nice episode, Pete. Well done. My own story for becoming a Villa fan is simple. I was about 5 years old and living in a suburb of Birmingham. I had obviously started talking to kids at school about football and who they supported. So I asked my dad; "Which football team should I support, Dad?" expecting some fob-off about 'closest to where you were born' or something. He replied; "Oh! That's already decided; you're a Villa fan. I'm a Villa fan so is yer grandad. We're all Villa fans together." I felt warm and happy. I was welcomed into a tribe. I belonged.

[@GodofMMA23]

My story is nearly as random as yours....and I'm British. In north wales where I'm from, no one supports local teams like Rhyl or prestatyn town, everyone supports a premier league team....after all, Liverpool is only 20 miles down the road....back in the early 90's, all my friends in primary school supported a red team, everyone seemed to support Liverpool or man Utd, the only difference was wether the shirt they wore said 'sharp' or 'candy'... I (despite hating yoghurt) really liked this team's shirt sponsored by 'muller', I prefered their claret and blue, then when i told my Irish mother that this team had a nice shirt, she said ' oh, I think that's who Paul McGrath plays for, ' so the rest is history...

[@theholytrinityshow]

That’s brilliant Liam. I love reading these.

[@alexavfclineham7301]

I grew up in Herefordshire around 50 miles from Birmingham, my dad wasn't in to football but I was massively. I just supported England until I was 8 when I started playing junior football, my mate at football and his family were villa fans and I knew Birmingham was fairly close, that along with the colours had me sold, that family also took me to my first villa game. Loved hearing your story, and it's true, the villa chooses us UTV

[@1963billevans]

Late 70's, early 80's those were the greatest times at VP.... Like today, the team was underrated and not represented at national level, but they had a great manager and superb unity. Can we do it again? I hope so! And yes, the colours are magnificent too!

[@TheSpotForFPL]

I'm always up for an origin story. This is amazing! Thanks for sharing,

[@paulhobday9272]

Fantastic story! What a character you are! Top guy!

[@heron9524]

Aston villa are a majestic club. Been a supporter of them all my life. Your content is brilliant. Up the villa.

[@iane2263]

Super story enjoyed it UTV

[@grahamdavis2969]

Love your story, brilliant. I live NSW Central Coast, about100km Nth of Sydney. Grew up around Stratford upon Avon, about 1hr STH of Villa Park. Been following the boys since 1957(5yr old), and first game in 62 v Arsenal. Went through all the highs and lows of struggling, 2nd and 3rd Div, and then the amazing climb back up to the pinnacle of Div1 champions and Rotterdam. The Holte End is still the greatest ‘home’ stand in football, probably only equaled by Liverpool’s Kop. When ever I go back to Uk, I have to time it so can get my Villa Park fix. VTID

[@villasambabrasil8737]

Sir,you are a natural in front of that camera,love what you are doing.Love the enthusiam,and the passion shine through.Superb.

[@davida.pickett1134]

Hi Pete, love the new channel. Member of the AVFC Toronto Lions Club living now in London and caught my first match at Villa Park on May 23 sitting in the Trinity Road Stand. Immediately got on the waiting list after that experience and cannot wait for the upcoming season. Was in the market for a EPL team to support three years ago and my soon to be father in law suggested the Mighty Villa during their run to win the Championship playoff, that was when I knew Villa had chosen me and I haven't looked back! Let me know if you're ever across the pond and we'll catch a game.

[@stuarthumphries8520]

Tom Hanks agent is a Villa fan... that is how he heard about Aston villa. Love the videos keep them coming

[@docca123]

claret and blue are celebration colours - raising a glass of claret wine to the sky

[@theholytrinityshow]

Very good point Daniel!

[@docca123]

@@theholytrinityshow love you too sir - my heart melts

[@rjbride]

I want to give this two likes! Absolutely loved hearing your story. The way you describe the almost mystical draw of the claret and blue and the presence of this this name appearing is so true!! 😂 I’m in Dublin and began supporting in 1992, all my family are Leeds and Villa were the only realistic challengers to Utd for the league so everyone cheered for Villa. Also Liverpool was ubiquitous everywhere I looked and there was one guy on the street had this training jacket that was claret and blue with Aston Villa on it and I recognised something about it probably from seeing David Platts face appearing regularly on the sports section of the news when I did my homework. Oh and half the Irish national team played for them which didn’t hurt. I’d love to see you do some videos about your favourite ever games. Seeing the Ken McNaught poster made me think of him shadow boxing the Barcelona defender in the 82 super cup and kids like you absolutely lapping it up 😂

[@scottbabb5891]

Very quickly becoming one of my favourite villa podcasts this. Quality content and hosting. Loving the subbuteo ground too. Subbed 👍🏻

[@garylambert2112]

💜💙🌟 UTV great story! Love the photo of you in the Henson kit 👌🏻

[@carlbrinton4639]

Love the enthusiasm, love the Villa.

[@richardbull3865]

Great videos Pete, keep it up, I live in Denver, CO now but born in Lichfield, Staffordshire and grew up watching Villa in the 80's & 90's, great years, UTV

[@johnnybaseful]

What a Great vid. Greatings from sweden. UTV/Jon

[@nathanjgtaylor1985]

Been a Villa fan since I was 7/8 years old. My father went to the final and I have his Villa shirt from that day. My grandfather and great grandfather stood in the stands of our historic home. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. UTV!

[@derekhollis197]

A great story Pete. I became a Villa fan later than I should (i was about 6 years old i think), back when we were in the 3rd Division, but it was through my parents both being Villa fans, particularly my Dad, may he rest in peace...with tales of the 1957 FA Cup Final, and the great teams we had

[@poppamaboya2004]

Love this guy...honour to have you as part of the Villa family.....No unique story I'm afraid Brummie through and through...proud our club is worldwide

[@harryjohnson8371]

Fantastic

[@Shola475]

Enjoyed your video I have supported villa since 1974 when I was a boy thru my 2 older brothers it was our local team, your knowledge is excellent!

[@stevenreilly3963]

Grandmother > Father > Me. It was the name and the colours as well. That the team is local was a bonus as I grew up in a town 20 miles away. First game was in 1991 against Southampton, won 2-1. When I was a kid the biggest teams in my town in terms of support were Man United, Liverpool, Coventry City and Villa. When we played football I felt so much pride wearing a claret & blue shirt against all those reds! UTV

[@keithgodfrey2023]

Well done mate ,best show on villa ,to many drols shows on villa ,u are one of are own,we do need that big centerfarward ,woods would do a peter wihit

[@Brummieguy64]

Just Subscribed really enjoyed the video.

[@grahambiggs9822]

Lovely story and whilst my dad got me into Aston Villa, I have always been struct by how our colours as so unique and prominent. We have a classic name and no one out there is a "Villa" like us. I was also Subbuteo mad as a kid, but not to the point where I built a Villa Park !! UTV !!

[@coreylee7523]

fellow Canadian Villan here. Great vids and loved to hear and see your Villa origin story. Just found your channel and had to sub away after the first video i saw. I've binged them all!!

[@nickmcmahon623]

This. THIS is the video I’ve searched for. Love it Pete, what a story. UTFV

[@juniorbennett8219]

Beautiful story

[@darrenwoolley8433]

That's a fantastic story Pete. UTV

[@brianstreet9068]

You are a nut case !! So funny!! I was just born a villa fan - your story is so much better than mine - my sons are third generation villains!!

[@tonyphillips863]

Another great video fella

[@kenmccreight4444]

Wow, great to hear. My story is similar. Born and raised (a Glasgow Rangers fan)in Toronto to Scottish parents. In 79 my team Guildwood SC (Toronto Ontario) toured London and Middlesbrough visiting Chelsea, Palace and Boro. I liked a few teams like Liverpool (Dalglish) Forest, Ipswich... And yes Villas name and colors interested me but no absolute favorite club. Back home I think it was the first game of the season 1980 watching Villa v Everton. Villa were amazing! I remember yelling out " That team is gonna win everything this year!! From now on they're my team. And sure enough they went on and won Everything! I've been Villa through and through since then during the good and not so good times. I also had a Subbuteo stadium lol but not as great as yours. Unfortunately I still have not managed to get to a live game yet. (Except Philadelphia last year)Can't seem to find a safe way to get tickets without becoming a club member. Any suggestions? 10:27

[@johndeehan1209]

You have a new fan, here! Love the video and I absolutely love your Villa room! I became a Villa fan in 1975/76 as someone told me there was a player with my name playing for them! I was go gutted when he left for West Brom but I wasn't going to go with him! Keep up the great work!

[@eddiemoohan5539]

Hilarious when you went over blue and white teams UTV

[@Dubliners39]

Villa colours are from the tiles from the Barton's Arms pub in Aston I would sit on the step as a little boy with my pop and crisp.its still a pub today UTV💪 Great show

[@TheGreenVillain18]

You have a great story, much more interesting that ‘I was born there!!’ A very interesting and funny watch thank you.

[@theholytrinityshow]

Thanks Seb! I appreciate you watching.

[@MrIanji]

I love your style bud!! I am three minutes in and you got me!

[@theholytrinityshow]

I’m hoping you can make it all the way through regularly. It’s even better with beer Mrlanji!

[@sebulreath7401]

Good video. History spot on. 👌Frederick rinder was the architect of the structure that became VILLA PARK.

[@theholytrinityshow]

Nice one Sebul! Archibald Leitch was the guy who designed and built the Trinity Road Stand and so many others at the time.

[@romh7261]

From the Kootenays. Grew up in Brum. On 1st October 1960, a neighbour who was with the St John's Ambulance (Brits will understand) was volunteering at Villa Park and took me along. Anyway got to watch the match almost literally from the sideline. It was different back then. That day Villa lost 3:1 to Leicester (a blue).Through the eyes of a six year old the teams seemed pretty even. Leicester's goalie won the game. It turns out the goalie was the legendary Gordon Banks. But being at Villa Park the pitch seemed the brightest green, the claret and the blues the most vivid. The atmosphere was electric. Even got to stand on the edge of the pitch. Villa after that.

[@R3TRO82]

Hi there mate, great video and thanks for sharing! I’ve subscribed and will be following your journey! Keep spreading the love for Villa and Hopefully one day bring a Canadian/American Army to Villa Park. You will be More than Welcome! UTV 💜💙 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇸🇨🇦⚽️

[@simonread8713]

What a story. UTV!

[@Justin_Talks_Villa]

Absolutely brilliant !!!!!

[@theholytrinityshow]

Thanks for watching Justin!

[@cureit9161]

I was 17 Pete, we have travelled the same journey. Cheers🍻

[@Subbuteo_Passion]

Hi Pete. Great video which I’ve watched many times. Currently watching them all back to back. My becoming a Villa fan story coming up. It was 29 April 1972. I saw Brian Little’s goal against Torquay on TV. A game Villa won 5-1. I decided I liked it. I had no idea Villa Park was only 15 miles away, that was pure coincidence. I had 4 cousins who were all fans of the other Birmingham Club, best known here as Small Heath. They all wanted me to become a blue nose so they took me to my first game. August 1972 Birmingham v Coventry. It was November 1973 that I was taken to my first Villa game. A 1-1 draw against Hull City. I was hooked. It was the special noise of Villa, Villa, Villa that rang out all the way around the ground that did it and the sheer size of the Holte End. Just in time for a magical 9 year ride to European Champions. A great time to become a Villa fan. Anyway a great show. Keep it up. Love both your Villa Parks and your Villa Parlour.

[@mickducati1947]

Great vid m8 up the mighty Villa 😜👍

[@RenewedRS]

I've lived just a mile or so away from Villa Park all my life but I only really became a fan in the last couple of seasons. It's strange hearing some history about it from a Canadian haha

[@brendanmcgivern531]

Great vid mate, love it and let's hope you can join us all at villa park one day very soon 👍👍, stay safe and I look forward to more of your vids UTV

[@theholytrinityshow]

I hope so too Brendan...the pilgrimage will be a special thing, and I most certainly document all of it and do a show from there!

[@regaltip8A]

I also loved the claret and blue but even as a 12 year old I knew I couldn't choose West Ham. Still have beautiful memories of waking up at 330 am for that magical night in Rotterdam. 53 now and travelled from Sydney to watch Villa play in 2002. 24 hours on a plane.

[@garrettoconnell5410]

This was awesome! looking forward to the next one!

[@theholytrinityshow]

Thanks for your support Garrett! I hope to meet up very soon!

[@boondockfaint426]

My man! This is exactly what Ive been looking for since I started following Villa! REALLY like what you’re doing here!

[@RobertMcPhillips]

Not really an origin story...but...I was shocked a few years back to learn my dad has not always been a Villa Fan!! Started of with Palace, then Nottingham Forest...granted it was where he was living at the time and well before Sky Sports and such But still...hit hard lol Supported the Villa all my life, 34 now - best strip being the Muller from early 1990s Weirdly, becoming a bigger fan during Lockdown - being able to watch every game, albeit not in the Trinity road Stand, with my dad

[@unconditioned_ride]

Great story Pete, mine is a more obvious follow, based on my grandfather and my father were Brummies and supported Villa, so from about the age of 8 years old, my father would take me up to Villa matches from further south, Reading. I was hooked in the days of Tony Hateley, the most accomplished no 9 header of the ball in the league, around the mid 1960's. Then later and having independence, seeing them with my best friend and when Andy Gray was leading the line, happy days. Harder to see the nowadays with ticket buying and membership, visits to VP are rarer, the last one being probably 2018/19 when we beat Wolves 4-1.....

[@gmansid3576]

Just discovered this channel. Just when I thought the ‘Trailer Park Boys’ was the best thing to come out of Canada haha! Instantly subscribed and really looking forward to future episodes from Pete’s Unique Villa Subbuteo parlour. UTV!

[@theholytrinityshow]

That’s funny! Maybe I’ll drink rum and cokes instead!

[@leecollison8795]

ur gr8 villa got me in 82 watching em in europe on tv

[@PaulSmith-nd7dj]

I've just come across your channl and I love it. My first match at BP was against Bournemouth, old Third division, the year we started to return to greatness. I've never thought about why I became a villa fan, other than it was a family tradition, I one for which I am eternally grateful. I love hearing about other fans from around the UK and abroad. Its easy to be a glory hunter and follow the teams I can't bring myself to name. But those of us chosen by villa are fortunate indeed UTV

[@hjjlai]

I live in Singapore - one of a handful of 15-20 Aston Villa fans. Supported the Villa for the last 24 years since I was 14. In a world filled with Liverpool, United, Arsenal and Chelsea fans, Villa were the only team for me - everything else was booooring and pales in comparison. Hard to explain, but I was inexplicably drawn to Villa with their English core at the time - Ehiogu, Southgate, Tayls, Dublin, Merson.... Like you, I love the claret and blue. Favourite Villa player ever has to be Dion Dublin - good old fashioned number 9 capable of taking on an entire back 4 at times!

[@Askravinther]

Great. I became a fan and a follower of AV in 1982. Some friends made fun of me because I was illiterate in football. That took me to educate myself about the sport. During this journey of discovery the club chose me. The letter AV is in my name.

[@DubRod]

As a fellow Canadian of Portuguese origins, Villa definitely chose me, some 20+ years ago, with very similar reasons. Also Love the faces I get when answering “Villa till I die” to the infamous Portuguese question: so…Benfica, Porto or Porting? Haha Love the show! UTV!

[@charlieCarter7734]

You should make a video about transfers since the seasons over, love the vids UTV

[@theholytrinityshow]

You bet Charlie! Next show we’ll talk about the positional needs with a long time Villa loving colleague of mine!

[@derekhollis197]

Love your story about you became a Villa fan 💜💙

[@mattfoxall1554]

Love it! Great to see villa fans across the pond! Up the villa

[@creativitycell]

That Villa Park stadium you built is awesome mate! I thought you'd bought it from the actual club somehow as a limited piece! 😳🙏😎

[@eldictator1]

My granny Lived in a small village called Aston, not Birmingham but Cheshire 😄 As a 4 year old deciding what team to support in the late 80s Villa being near the top with Liverpool, the colours and my Grans home village

[@iainankcorn1683]

Loving the content!

[@theholytrinityshow]

Thanks Iain!

[@DJFAmenHeavy]

Love this. Villa are a 1 hour drive away for me luckily. There are some clubs that grab my attention by their kit, colours, badge, stadium etc. Some of the clubs I like for their uniqueness are.. Aston Villa (ofcourse). Colours, stadium, city, support. Sheffield Wednesday. Lovely stadium from a nice city, the owl badge, blue & white stripes with black shorts looks nice. Bristol rovers. Nice city, unique pirate badge, blue and white quarters look very nice. Norwich City. That bright yellow & green kit QPR. Tidy stadium, nice name, blue & white hoops Wolves. Nice badge, black & gold kit. Blackburn rovers. Love the blue & white halves, nice stadium. Notts County. Oldest club in football, nice stadium & kit. Underdogs do city rivals.

[@adamellis4400]

Welcome to the villa family UTV

[@theholytrinityshow]

Thanks Adam! I’ve been here a while!

[@leevillers4642]

Love your videos, utv all the way from Birmingham

[@robjones7725]

Name, Colours and Brian Little! Why I became a Villan. Love your podcasts. You are such a real Villa fan you make me look like a blue nose!!! ;-0)

[@mrsmokestack1856]

Have you ever listened to “ the sun never sets on Aston Villa “ by the punk/new wave band SPIZZ ENERGIE ? A must listen for any Villa fan !! Great with a few beers down you almost brings you to tears 😂 first time at the Villa, European cup semi 1st leg against Anderlecht I was eleven , was awe struck at the top of the north stand just seeing my sticker book heroes in the flesh 😳 can still hear Jimmy Rimmer banging his boots against the goalpost to get the mud off !! For some reason apart from the goal it’s stuck in my memory 🤣🤣 had a five a side subbuteo game, called my keeper Rimmel Spink 🤣🤣🤣 funny team I was the striker 🤣 love the vlog UTV 👍

[@epawlik]

For me; born & raised in Perry Barr (top of Aston Lane), could see the old A-V floodlights from my bedroom. UTV

[@biplavgautam]

For me it was the name that hooked me. Thus a little annoyed when the new badge changed from Aston Villa to AVFC.

[@annemalheiro5768]

OK. We won league, won a few league cups. Won European Cup. Won FA Cup 7 times. Last time was 1957, against the Old Trafford scum, my dad went to final. But as I was born in 1959 it eludes me. I don't care if AVFC win in Premier or Europe. For every true football fan FA Cup is the Holy Grail. If I see Villa win FA Cup in my lifetime I will die happy. Paul McGrath is still God.