The "R" Word

After facing relegation battles the past several years, this year has been the worst.  The only win to date has been the opening match vs Bournemouth way back in AUGUST.  Most of us are bracing for what looks likely as a drop to the Championship.  Absent a miraculous turn-around, we in the U.S. will be needing to find ways to catch Villa matches in another way.

Here is the dress code for the remainder of this season.

San Diego Meet-Up

The opening weekend of the 2015-16 Premier League season kicked off with the 2015 North America Meet-up in sunny San Diego California.  We had people representing 10 U.S. states, ENG, and IRE!  It was a fantastic weekend hosted by Simon Tissington and the San Diego Lions.  

Friday 7 Aug:  this was arrival day for many and we gathered at the Shakespeare Pub for a rousing night of drinking and singing to get us warmed up for the Sat morning match vs Bournemouth.

Saturday 8 August:  6am bright and early!   Great win, awesome company, and amazing singing at the Bluefoot Bar in San Diego!  We also raised over $3,300 for Acorns Children's Hospice!

Footy SF

Footy SF maintains a webpage that connects people of a variety of football supporter groups in the Bay Area.  AVFC California is happy to be included on this list.

Flags!

Just a sample from Lions Club branches in North America!

 
 

 

 

New AVFC California logo

Ups and Downs: 2015 FA Cup Final

THE DOWNS: All of the excitement leading up to Villa's first FA Cup Final appearance since 2000 was drowned by the result of the game and the awful behavior by some Villa supporters during and after the game.

THE UPS:  Fantastic turnout across North America as photos from meet-ups in Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, Denver, Vancouver, San Diego, and many more were posted on Facebook.  In San Francisco, we had a great turnout at The Mad Dog in the Fog where we outnumbered the Gooners easily 10-1.  We had a great time with our "regulars", new people to the club, and Villa supporters visiting California from the UK.

UTV!

North American Lions - 2015 FA Cup Final!

Sherwood, FA Cup

Tim Sherwood has infused energy into the team and has helped maintain a glimmer of hope for avoiding relegation and taken us through to the FA Cup Final.  This will be another season where we will be sweating until we secure a place in the Premiership next season, but Sherwood has brought life back to the Villa faithful!

FA Cup Final
Aston Villa vs Gooners
9:30 a.m. Kickoff (Pacific)

• The Mad Dog in the Fog (San Francisco)
• Brittania Arms (Monterey)
• The Olde Ship (Santa Ana)
• The Bluefoot (San Diego)

Staying Up and FA Cup Semi Final

Another roller coaster year for our club - but "Villa til I die" is the cry for all Villa supporters.  Tim Sherwood has infused a bit more enthusiasm into the squad and I am hoping that it will be just enough to keep us in the prem (again).

FA Cup semi's are coming up on April 18th - it's been life-giving to have this cup run happening during such a dismal season.  Hope to see some of you out at the Mad Dog for this one.