Can’t really agree with the sentiment I’m afraid, I’m not from Birmingham, I have lived in London since the age of 10, started supporting (following) the Villa when I was 13/14 ‘cos I was expected to follow a football team, I lived in West London at the time, QPR, Brentford, Fulham and Chelsea were all local, I had classmates from East London too but why did I choose the Villa well because they had a few Irish players in the squad, I could have chosen Aresnal, Man U or Liverpool at the time (Historically strong Irish following/connections) I guess but wanted something different. Then the Villa had 6/7 Irish players in the squad and obvs GOD. Interest wained a bit in football several years later (my early 20’s), resurfaced again after several more years but at no point when I started following footy again did I think I would just shun that team. I couldn’t find myself supporting anyone other that the Villa. Likewise ( to bring it back OT)I follow/support Green Bay, why? I don’t know, again early/mid 90’s NFL was something to talk about in the playground, I’m not from that area I’m not from America, no Internet access back then so no real reaserch but that team called out to me, maybe it was the uniforms (ooh err, colour scheme maybe - green and yellow flashes of white reminded me of the Irish Flag, I dunno) but again interest wained, and access to coverage once Channel 4 stopped showing highlights (didn’t have Sky or whatever it was called back then) but when I got back into it I couldn’t think of another team I would feel comfortable to support other than the first team I picked all those years ago...
But maybe that is just me I remain Loyal in the decisions I have made in life, regardless how utterly shit they have been i.e. following Villa and watching the decline over the years and all those London based Liverpool/Manchester supporters, who like me have no affilication to the respective cities giving it the big un, when I could have easily chosen someone else and been a glory hunter, like so many others....