2010-2011 Kits Revealed

They are great looking... but I miss having Acrons on it.  Maybe it can be added in the future - back collar, under team crest...somewhere.

Home (r) and Away (l)

How Do Americans View Football Now?

I know - referring to the Beautiful game as "football" just confuses Americans. The U.S. had a very good showing this year in South Africa - comebacks, excitement, "never give up" attitude. Has this year's World Cup had any positive impact on how Americans see football? I certainly hope so, but any change will be glacial. Where does the U.S. fan turn to after the World Cup (especially new fans)? MLS? Maybe - but quite a step down in terms of standard of play and energy at the stadium. I hope that some Americans do pickup on the MLS and give it a try. What I believe is the most important step for Americans to make is to start following international club football. Fans new to football during the World Cup will see familiar names in European club football and these fans may even begin to support a particular team (Recommendation: Aston Villa FC!!).

Only time will tell. Up the Villa!

Why Americans Don't Appreciate Football (Soccer)

Players Begin Training

Villa players are back and starting to practice.  Here is a shot of the new training kit:

...I miss seeing "Acorns" already...

2010-2011 Fixtures Announced

Villa will kick off the 2010-11 Barclays Premier League campaign with a home game against West Ham United.

New Hammers boss Avram Grant will bring his side to Villa Park for the opening day clash on Saturday August 14.

A week later, Martin O'Neill's men travel to Newcastle United for the Magpies' first game at St James' Park since their return to the top-flight.

There are a host of mou-watering West Midlands derbies to look forward to, starting with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday September 25.

Villa will then host Second City rivals Birmingham City on Saturday October 30, followed by newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion on Saturday December 11.

The return clash against Blues at St Andrews is scheduled for Saturday January 15, before the claret and blues welcome Wolves to Villa Park on Saturday March 19 and then head for the Hawthorns to face West Brom on Saturday April 30.An exciting festive period is also in prospect for Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur are the visitors to Villa Park on Boxing Day and, in the same week, Villa face trips to Manchester City (December 28) and Chelsea (January 1).

The season will be rounded off in style against two of the top-flight's big guns - Arsenal away on (Saturday May 14), followed by Liverpool at home (Saturday May 22).

Click here for the full 2010-11 fixture list

Fx Pro Announced as New Shirt Sponsor

AVFC has announced that FXPro, a foreign exchange company, will be entering a 3-year shirt sponsor deal with the Club.  Acorns will remain in relationship with AVFC as the Club's official charity.

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/ClubNewsDetail/0,,10265~2068264,00.html

Soccer Aid - Charity Game at Old Trafford

dom 06 jun 2010 18:47 EDT
Woody Harrelson, penalty kick master

By Brooks Peck

No, there isn't a gas leak in your house causing you to hallucinate. That really is actor Woody Harrelson hoisting a trophy while surrounded by the likes of Henrik Larsson, Mike Myers, and Zinedine Zidane (bald head behind Wayne Campbell) after scoring a match-winning penalty in front of more than 65,000 at Old Trafford in Manchester. Unless writing this post is all part of a fever dream of my own, that actually did happen.

Harrelson, who says he didn't take up the sport until he was 40, was the 11th penalty taker for manager Kenny Dalglish's Rest of the World team that took on Harry Redknapp's England side as part of this year's Soccer Aid match, benefiting UNICEF. Both sides were comprised of a number of celebrities and retired footballers (full rosters here) under captains Robbie Williams (England) and Michael Sheen (RotW).


All even at 2-2 after 90 minutes (goals from Jamie Redknapp and Teddy Sheringham for England and Joe Calzaghe and Sami Hyypia for the imposingly named Rest of the World), the match then went to a never-ending, celebrities-only shootout. After misses from Gordon Ramsay and The Mentalist, and makes from Sheen, Ricky Hatton and Mike Myers, Harrelson stepped up to the spot and somehow drove home the winner.

(click this link to see photos from the match: http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Woody-Harrelson-penalty-kick-master?urn=sow,246022 )

England and U.S. World Cup Rosters

England

NUM NAME POSITION HT WT DOB


- Robert Green Goalkeeper 6'2" 205 lbs January 18, 1980

- Joe Hart Goalkeeper 6'3" 176 lbs April 19, 1987

- David James Goalkeeper 6'5" 194 lbs August 1, 1970

- Jamie Carragher Defender 6'1" 168 lbs January 28, 1978

- Ashley Cole Defender 5'8" 139 lbs December 20, 1980

- Rio Ferdinand Defender 6'2" 181 lbs November 7, 1978

- Glen Johnson Defender 5'10" 154 lbs August 23, 1984

- Ledley King Defender 6'3" 181 lbs October 12, 1980

- John Terry Defender 6'2" 168 lbs December 7, 1980

- Matthew Upson Defender 6'1" 159 lbs April 18, 1979

- Stephen Warnock Defender 5'8" 165 lbs December 12, 1981

- Gareth Barry Midfielder 6'0" 172 lbs February 23, 1981

- Michael Carrick Midfielder 6'0" 163 lbs July 28, 1981

- Joe Cole Midfielder 5'9" 139 lbs November 8, 1981

- Steven Gerrard Midfielder 6'1" 183 lbs May 30, 1980

- Frank Lampard Midfielder 6'0" 168 lbs June 20, 1978

- Aaron Lennon Midfielder 5'5" 139 lbs April 16, 1987

- James Milner Midfielder 6'1" 170 lbs January 4, 1986

- Shaun Wright-Phillips Midfielder 5'6" 141 lbs October 25, 1981

- Peter Crouch Forward 6'6" 165 lbs January 30, 1981

- Jermain Defoe Forward 5'7" 143 lbs October 7, 1982

- Emile Heskey Forward 6'1" 181 lbs January 11, 1978

- Wayne Rooney Forward 5'10" 172 lbs October 24, 1985

 
 

United States
 
NUM NAME POSITION HT WT DOB


- Brad Guzan Goalkeeper 6'4" 207 lbs September 9, 1984

- Marcus Hahnemann Goalkeeper 6'3" 227 lbs June 15, 1972

- Tim Howard Goalkeeper 6'3" 194 lbs March 6, 1979

- Carlos Bocanegra Defender 6'0" 172 lbs May 25, 1979

- Jonathan Bornstein Defender 5'9" 146 lbs November 7, 1984

- Steve Cherundolo Defender 5'6" 146 lbs February 19, 1979

- Jay Demerit Defender 5'11" 181 lbs January 25, 1980

- Clarence Goodson Defender 6'4" 170 lbs May 17, 1982

- Oguchi Onyewu Defender 6'5" 201 lbs May 13, 1982

- Jonathan Spector Defender 5'11" 168 lbs March 1, 1986

- DaMarcus Beasley Midfielder 5'7" 137 lbs May 24, 1982

- Michael Bradley Midfielder 5'11" 174 lbs July 31, 1987

- Ricardo Clark Midfielder 5'10" 161 lbs February 10, 1983

- Clint Dempsey Midfielder 5'11" 170 lbs March 9, 1983

- Maurice Edu Midfielder 6'0" 165 lbs April 18, 1986

- Benny Feilhaber Midfielder 5'7" 165 lbs January 19, 1985

- Stuart Holden Midfielder 5'10" 161 lbs August 1, 1985

- José Francisco Torres Midfielder 5'5" 135 lbs October 29, 1987

- Jozy Altidore Forward 5'11" 159 lbs November 6, 1989

- Edson Buddle Forward 6'1" 170 lbs May 21, 1981

- Landon Donovan Forward 5'8" 158 lbs March 4, 1982

- Robbie Findley Forward 5'9" 165 lbs August 4, 1985

- Herculez Gomez Forward 5'10" 165 lbs April 6, 1982