Aston Villa Football Club - California Supporters: May 2010

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Chairman's Weekend - Finale

George L. acknowledges the crowd of 700 following the Chairman's game

AVFC California member George L. represented AVFC California at the Aston Villa Chairman's Weekend. It sounded like George had a great time - especially playing in the Overseas Supporters v UK Supporters game played at Villa Park (right after the last Premier League game of the season versus Blackburn). I, as the chairman of AVFC California, hope to have the opportunity next year. I am so glad that George represented North America at Villa Park!

Outside the Trinity Road Stand

American GK Brad Friedel signing after the Blackburn game

Trinity Road

William McGregor Statue outside Villa Park

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Guadiana Cup 2010

Pre-season Tournament – First Team

Aston Villa has now confirmed its entry into the Guadiana Cup which is to be played over 3 days: 30th ,31st July and 1st August.

There are 3 teams in the tournament and the schedule is as follows:

30th July Benfica v Feyenoord
31st July: Aston Villa v Feyenoord
1st August: Benfica v Aston Villa

All matches will kick-off at 9.15 pm and will be played in the 11,000-seater Vila Real de San Antonio Stadium.

The tournament is played in the town of Vila Real de San Antonio in the Eastern Algarve which is right on the border with Spain and about 30 minutes from Faro Airport.

Ticket details will be released on our website shortly.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

More Photos from the Chairmen's match played at Villa Park on 9 May 2010

http://www.avfclionsclubs.co.uk/index.php/events/lions-match-gallery

This is a link to a photo gallery at the Lions Club Network website. In the Overseas SG Team photo, George is in the first row - furthest to you right.

Three Lions Announce 30-man Roster

Three Villa players make the roster: Warnock, Milner, and Heskey.

Squad list

Goalkeepers
Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green

Defenders
Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, STEPHEN WARNOCK

Midfielders
Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, JAMES MILNER, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips

Forwards
Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, EMILE HESKEY, Wayne Rooney

Monday, May 10, 2010

2010/2011 Fixtures

The fixtures for the 2010/2011 season will be announced on 17 June 2010!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Season ends on a low note

Blackburn defeated Villa today at Villa Park 1-nil to end the Premiership season. Villa ends the season on 6th place in the table - a great season. Villa supporters around the world are celebrating the great season the lads have had (League Cup Final. FA Cup Semifinal, Peace Cup champion, 6th place finish in the Premiership).

Aston Villa vs Blackburn

	0 - 1
Date: 09/05/2010		Venue: Villa Park
Attendance: 41,799		Referee: Steve Bennett

Aston Villa

Blackburn

Goals :

Possession :

52%

48%

Shots On Target :

Shots Off Target :

Corners :

Fouls :

Most Fouls :

Carew (3)

Pedersen (3)

Yellow Cards :

Red Cards :

Scorers :

Dunne 84 (og)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

First Set of Photos from Birmingham

George has sent us some photos from his Saturday at Villa Park. He said that he will send us some narrative later tonight. Way to go George!!

The North Stand

The Holte End "The 12th Man"

George @ Steven Warnock's locker

Villa Dressing Room

At the top of of the tunnel above the dressing rooms

Visiting Team & Match Officials Dressing Rooms

Villa Dressing Room

The Interview Room

Voted the Best Pitch in the Premiership by the Players

On the pitch in front of the Holte End

The North End (from the parking lot)

Outside the Holte Tavern

The Holte Tavern

the Holte Tavern

George & the AVFC California Flag

AVFC California!!

the Holte End from the Exec boxes

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Villa Park - George's Journey

AVFC California member George L. will be representing us at the end-of-the-season UK vs Overseas Supporter Club match that will be played on the hallowed pitch at Villa Park following the Villa V. Blackburn match on Sunday. It is a great opportunity - to actually play football on the Villa Park turf and to also enjoy a weekend of Villa Park tours, supporter gatherings, and the supporters club awards party.

I am hoping that we can get some brief updates and journal notes from George as he travels and prepares for Sunday's match. If George is able to provide these updates, I will share them here with you all. (Maybe even a photo of our AVFC California flag hanging at the Holte End during the Blackburn game.)

___________________________________________________________________________

Thoughts on this inaugural season of AVFC California:

It has been an amazing ride so far. Our club is only 8 months old, but we have added members from all over California + individaul members from Nevada and Hawaii! Having Villa in common really draws us together. I look forward to more game viewings, adding more members, and getting the chance to better know each of the members. Geographically we are very spread out, but we all stand as one for Villa!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

FA Cup Semifinal Viewing - 4/10/10

Finally getting this group photo posted from our Kezar Pub gathering to view the FA Cup semifinal vs. Chel$ea.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Great Season Villa! Possibilities for next week

Scenario #1
Tottenham beats Man City
Villa beats Blackburn
Liverpool beats Hull

4. Tottenham 70
5. Aston Villa 67
6. Man City 66
7. Liverpool 65

Scenario #2
Man City beats Tottenhan
Villa beats Blackburn
Liverpool beats Hull

4. Man City 69
5. Tottenham 67
6. Aston Villa 67
7. Liverpool 65

Scenario #3
Man City/Tottenham draw
Villa beats Blackburn
Liverpool beats Hull

4. Tottenham 67
5. Man City 67
6. Villa 67
7. Liverpool 65

(These are the 3 most likely scenarios since Villa WILL win the final game of the season!)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Heartbreaking

Our Villa lads fought their hearts out, but it wasn't enough as Man City beat Villa 3-1 today.

Manchester City vs Aston Villa

3 - 1

Date:

01/05/2010 Venue:

City of Mcr. Stadium

Attendance:

47,102 Referee:

Mark Clattenburg

Manchester City Aston Villa

Goals : 3 1

Possession : 51% 49%

Shots On Target : 13 6

Shots Off Target : 4 4

Corners : 13 5

Fouls : 6 9

Most Fouls : Vieira (3) Carew (3)

Yellow Cards : 1 2

Red Cards : 0 0

Scorers : Tevez 41 (pen)

Adebayor 43

Bellamy 89

How Did You Become a Villa Supporter?

"I wonder how many fans are actually originally from Birmingham or surrounding area. I am and I'm always interested if someone isn't from near Villa Park, why did they pick Villa as the team to follow." .............................................................................................. "I like Rick's story, he picked Villa as they were 'sponsored' by Acorns Children's Hospice at the time, a cause close to Rick's heart."..................................................................................................................... "I was born in Solihull (12 miles south of Villa Park) and my older bro turned me into a Villa supporter"................................................................................................................ "I am originally from Vauxhall (Birmingham B7) and have followed the Villa since my dad took me to see a game at Villa Park on my 4th birthday. I was a season ticket holder at VP from 1968 until I moved over here twelve years ago."........................................................................................................................"I am from Halesowen which is right next to the black country. Which is tesco carrier bag territory. However my dad is from the city and he always took me and my brother to villa games. I was a season ticket holder in the holte untill 2007 when I moved out here."......................................................................................................................."So why do I support Villa if I've never been to Birmingham? That's a very good question that I've asked myself many times over the years. When I started following the league almost everyone was a Liverpool fan for the same reason almost everyone now is a United, City, or Chelsea fan. Not being someone who follows the crowd I wanted to support a team that was unique and different. When I was a kid, Andy Gray was one of my favorite players and I used to read his columns in Shoot magazine about playing for Villa and thought a lot of the things about the team were unique: the team name, colors, and specially the history."..................................................................................................................."Born just a couple of miles from Villa park, with my father, mother, grandparents and more than half of my extended family with claret and blue blood (you can work out who the rest of that motley crew supported SOTC) it was written in the stars that I was going to be Villa through and through."...................................................................................................................I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Played the game for 30 some odd years and have been a Villa fan all my life. I have seen 2 live games(both losses, but a great atmosphere none the less). My grandfather was a steward at Villa Park for many years. My father and brother are members of the Canadian Villa fan club in Toronto. I'm here in the central valley, and know of couple of villa fans here in Fresno................................................................................................................