Popular Post Zatman Posted June 24, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted June 24, 2013 Two weeks ago, Michael Cappuccitti didn’t know which football club to follow. Now, not only is he a devoted Villa fan, but the 40-year-old Canadian has bought two season tickets and will regularly donate them to underprivileged kids in Birmingham. It all came about thanks to a novel come-and-get-me plea when Michael, describing himself as the Premier League’s first ‘free agent fan’, wrote to all the clubs in the English top flight asking who he should support. Disillusioned with following Barcelona, his wife’s home-town team, and American professional sports, the property developer contacted Villa and their rivals offering them his potential backing as a “huge football fan without a team to cheer for”. It was the claret and blues who reached out to him quickest with the most compelling case in an impassioned letter from supporters’ club liaison officer Alan Perrins, backed by chief executive Paul Faulkner. Despite living almost 3,500 miles away from Villa Park, Toronto-based Michael has already purchased two season tickets. The father-of-two intends to jet over for an annual pilgrimage to Villa Park at least once a year and, for the other home games, will arrange for many of those tickets to be given to young fans who cannot afford to attend, to ensure his seats are never empty on match days. Michael has purchased several Villa kits and other merchandise and also ordered his pickup truck’s new personalised number plate, AVFC2013. He has been charting his story on his Twitter page @AVFCLion2013 and explained how Villa made sure they were the only club for him, despite replies from West Brom, Fulham, Tottenham, Sunderland, Cardiff and Stoke City chief executive Tom Scholes. “Nothing at all could have prepared me for the overwhelming, lightning response from team officials and especially from the supporters,” said Michael. “Not only did the supporters’ liaison officer Alan Perrins offer a riveting account of why his team should be the one, there were also emails and tweets from numerous supporters as well. “Their historical significance in the Premier League, along with the amazing youth programme with homegrown players being developed, is so important and something Villa seems to have straight, and I love that. “The colours are majestic, the songs are memorable and the passion obvious. “Up the Villa, let’s get this party started. “Give me a little time and I’ll be sitting amongst you at least once a year in the Holte End!” Alan, who passionately spreads the Villa gospel through his role as fans’ liaison officer and his work with 174 Lions club branches worldwide, was delighted to recruit another new supporter from afar. In his letter to Michael, he explained about Villa’s rich heritage and also made reference to the landmark Acorns sponsorship deal, Villa Park’s record of hosting FA Cup semi-finals and how the club have provided more England internationals than any other. “Aston Villa was founded in 1874, a founder member of the Football League when our very own William McGregor famously tendered a suggestion to form a league where teams would compete and play each other. “You could say we created football as we know it today!” he wrote. “We are a club rich in history. One of the most successful English football clubs of all time who have reached the pinnacle of winning the European Cup (Champions League) and suffering the lows of being down in the old Third Division. “We have seen it all, won it all and also had our bad times. “But nonetheless Aston Villa, with its beautifully symmetrical name, outstanding colours and one big family army of fans worldwide sit head and shoulders above the rest for me.” Alan is delighted Michael chose to support Villa and is particularly touched by the new fan’s gesture in donating his season tickets when he is not using them. “When you become a Villa fan you do not choose you are chosen, you become part of the Villa family,” added Alan. “I cannot guarantee you will be following a team that will win everything, but I guarantee you will follow a team that will throw everything at it trying, and never giving up as we perform in front of our vociferous fans week in, week out. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/new-aston-villa-fan-michael-4703056 Interesting article 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 24, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 24, 2013 I did put this in the 'Why do YOU support Villa' thread but I suppose it can warrant its own thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Canadians are great.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Yay Canadian Villans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanO Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Well it's different, I thought they all just went for ManU lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted June 24, 2013 Administrator Share Posted June 24, 2013 So where is he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 24, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 24, 2013 For a complete story you'd have to read his twitter timeline. He explains exactly what he's going to do. It will involve annual trips across to matches and buying all the stuff that he can. He's going to go into it all head first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted June 24, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 24, 2013 Pah, the likes of Man United and Chelsea may be targeting entire continents we are building our global fan base fan by fan. We aren't even reaching out to them via marketing and social media, we are waiting for them to come to us and writing them letters I jest, a nice story but a little odd as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P3te Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Well it's different, I thought they all just went for ManU lol I've seen about the same amount of Villa and Man Utd jerseys in Canada in my 4 years here 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Reckon he's employed by us in some way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 24, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 24, 2013 Reckon he's employed by us in some way.Wow, I would hate to be that cynical He isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa-revolution Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 As if there really was any other choice! Welcome to the family of the `Chosen Few` Mr Cappuccitti. Hope when you visit our fabulous stadium that the ground is full to Cappuccitti 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 24, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 24, 2013 As if there really was any other choice! Welcome to the family of the `Chosen Few` Mr Cappuccitti. Hope when you visit our fabulous stadium that the ground is full to Cappuccitti Get out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa-revolution Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 As if there really was any other choice! Welcome to the family of the `Chosen Few` Mr Cappuccitti. Hope when you visit our fabulous stadium that the ground is full to Cappuccitti Get out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 24, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 24, 2013 That bit about him buying 2 season tickets and donating them to underprivileged kids is a new detail from the original story. Excellent stuff 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfisher Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Well done to him a very nice gesture, and well done to the staff at the club who made it happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyAnty Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Wait to he has to pay 45 quid for postage for a villa top. And when you say yeah its canada then why is it 16 quid to all parts of ireland north and south. Could nearly get a flight over from there to get one as cheap. We are trying to encourage fans all over the world not rip them off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoony Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Great story. I love these little things about our club more than anything. It just makes me see Villa as so much more than just a football club 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gompedyret Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Lovely story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmygreaves Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Doesn't sound like a real fan to me........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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