Marka Ragnos Posted January 17, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) Topic is what it says on the tin -- however you interpret that. I think I'll always be an outsider supporter because it just isn't possible for me to get to Villa Park very often, living overseas. That always strikes me as something "real Villa fans" would consider a starting place for any self-respecting Villa supporter. But I may be wrong about that. But what would be five things that, for you, distinguish the real Villa fan from not? Some kinds of things I envision but could be utter nonsense: Achieve a certain number of visits to Villa Park? Be born Villa to a Villa family? Get a Villa tattoo? Own the home kit? Buy a season ticketer? Go to such and such a pub? Wrestle a Bluenose? Learn at least four Villa songs by heart? Be on Villa Talk at least 10 years. etc etc I know we don't get as many plastics as some clubs, so I reckon your lists of five things would be very different from other clubs or maybe alike in some ways, but what do I know? I want read about your notions, not mine. Edited January 17, 2023 by Marka Ragnos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CanuckVillan Posted January 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 As a fellow overseas supporter who has made about ten trips to VP, I'd put attending a derby match at the top of your list. I was able to take my youngest and my now-deceased father to the 4-2 win over the unmentionables in November 2018 - the match with the that Hutton goal - and it may be my fondest memory. It was my father's first experience of the sport and he spoke often of the atmosphere and the entire experience. 12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitvilla Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Yeah ... I am not an absolutely passionate Villa supporter. I think the answer is, be infected with the Villa meme. Only four Villa games for me. 1st October1960 was the day I was infected. Effectively have lived 43 years abroad now to minimize symptoms. Currently in YCG for the last thirty-five. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MNVillan Posted January 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 27 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said: Topic is what it says on the tin -- however you interpret that. I think I'll always be an outsider supporter because it just isn't possible for me to get to Villa Park very often, living overseas. That always strikes me as something "real Villa fans" would consider a starting place for any self-respecting Villa supporter. But I may be wrong about that. But what would be five things that, for you, distinguish the real Villa fan from not? Some kinds of things I envision but could be utter nonsense: Achieve a certain number of visits to Villa Park? Be born Villa to a Villa family? Get a Villa tattoo? Own the home kit? Buy a season ticketer? Go to such and such a pub? Wrestle a Bluenose? Learn at least four Villa songs by heart? Be on Villa Talk at least 10 years. etc etc I know we don't get as many plastics as some clubs, so I reckon your lists of five things would be very different from other clubs or maybe alike in some ways, but what do I know? I want read about your notions, not mine. My bucket list item was getting to VP. I hesitate to say real Villa fans “have to” get there, because many may not have the means to do so. I will say that if you have the opportunity and financial ability to get to Villa Park, I highly, highly recommend doing so. It’s made my support of Villa feel so much more real. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 47 minutes ago, MNVillan said: My bucket list item was getting to VP. I hesitate to say real Villa fans “have to” get there, because many may not have the means to do so. I will say that if you have the opportunity and financial ability to get to Villa Park, I highly, highly recommend doing so. It’s made my support of Villa feel so much more real. Getting to Villa Park was very high on my bucket list, and I managed to achieve that in 2019. Being so antipodean it wasn't easy, but well well worth it. It was a bit of a bummer that we lost 4 - 1 to Leicester though, but I was just very happy to be there. I truly envy the "purebloods" that get to see Villa every week. I think the difference between plastics and fans like us is that a plastic will choose their club. For fans like you, me, and alot of others, Villa chose us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post nick76 Posted January 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 Being a Villa fan is something different to everybody, it just needs to be a part of you. The big no no for me is supporting multiple PL teams. I know a lot of fans have second local teams like Walsall or Solihull Moors which I think is fine for several reasons but two or three teams in our league, established teams then that doesn’t work, I can’t take them seriously. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MNVillan Posted January 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 36 minutes ago, AJ said: Getting to Villa Park was very high on my bucket list, and I managed to achieve that in 2019. Being so antipodean it wasn't easy, but well well worth it. It was a bit of a bummer that we lost 4 - 1 to Leicester though, but I was just very happy to be there. I truly envy the "purebloods" that get to see Villa every week. I think the difference between plastics and fans like us is that a plastic will choose their club. For fans like you, me, and alot of others, Villa chose us. My favorite quote about our club is “they say you don’t choose Aston Villa, it chooses you.” I don’t even really know how to describe it, but I get it. I feel like Villa chose me. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pongo's Socks Posted January 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 1. Be in a curry house at 3am, after nightclubbing, knowing your coach/train to an away game leaves at half 7. 2. Explain to someone (who doesn't like football, let alone the Villa) how we won the league using only 8 outfield players in a whole season, on pitches resembling cow fields, when 'tackles was tackles'. Make sure you're drunk, these stories are much better when you tell them drunk. 3. Resist the urge to mate with family members. Leave that to them Small Heath weirdos. 4. Take a leak in the grounds of Aston Hall whilst staring in wonder at the beautiful Jacobean stately home, vowing to visit one day, but never actually making it inside. 5. Witness our heroes grab a defeat from the jaws of certain victory. Only a true Villa fan can still be nervous at 80 minutes, 3-0 up, because you know deep down there's a strong possibility they'll f@*k it up. UTV 2 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Criticise in game management Demand all signings are over 6 foot tall Find a scapegoat Hound out a manager Be terrified our best players will leave on the back of a good performance Bonus: always remember to complain that every other team has more elite players than us 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picicata Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Threesome 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadlyDirk Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Understand and respect the importance of "Delphino Wednesdays" when the transfer window is open. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyvilla Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Walking out into the stand and instantly feeling at home 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytenjobs Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) 1) experience the fear of knowing your best players will br poached by a Manchester club for much less money that you would need to replace their impact. 2) never say things like...."he deserves a chance to win something." Or "we had good times while he was here but he was always going to go eventually." When number 1 happens. 3) loath anyone who says something like number 2, when number 1 happens. 4) fail to get a pint at half time despite leaving your seat 10mins before half time. 5) know deep in your bones that 2.0 up with 10mons to go is a fragole lead. 6) travel with optimism despite all the above Home and away because you have for the last 30 years. Its the hope that kills you. 7) travel to Wembley for intermittent, long spread out appearances knowing that man City or whatever sky6 club you happen to be playing will turn you over. Jowevrr badly they play, whilst also thinking 6. stand in awe everytime you first catch the view of the back of the hole as you walk to the ground. Everytime. Despite going for 30 years. Everytime. Edited January 17, 2023 by tommytenjobs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Enda Posted January 17, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 1. Miss the start of the second half because the queue for a pint. 2. Slightly fear your death waiting on the platform in Witton. 3. Never see a FA Cup Fourth Round match in your lifetime. 4. Get reprimanded by a mod on VT for quoting too much/not enough of an article. 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pongo's Socks Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 4 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said: Topic is what it says on the tin -- however you interpret that. I think I'll always be an outsider supporter because it just isn't possible for me to get to Villa Park very often, living overseas. That always strikes me as something "real Villa fans" would consider a starting place for any self-respecting Villa supporter. But I may be wrong about that. But what would be five things that, for you, distinguish the real Villa fan from not? Some kinds of things I envision but could be utter nonsense: Achieve a certain number of visits to Villa Park? Be born Villa to a Villa family? Get a Villa tattoo? Own the home kit? Buy a season ticketer? Go to such and such a pub? Wrestle a Bluenose? Learn at least four Villa songs by heart? Be on Villa Talk at least 10 years. etc etc I know we don't get as many plastics as some clubs, so I reckon your lists of five things would be very different from other clubs or maybe alike in some ways, but what do I know? I want read about your notions, not mine. And by the way, never, EVER, wrestle a bluenose. Their short, dumpy, rotund physique (particularly the females) makes throwing manoeuvres impossible. Their extra digits gives them the advantage in the grapple. If you get into an altercation with one, just wave a bottle of shower gel around, they react like a vampire would to garlic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Platt Posted January 17, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted January 17, 2023 For me there are various things but wearing the colours when in a foreign land or different city and spreading the gospel is my favourite. Been all over the world sometimes on my own and wearing a Villa top is always a conversation starter. The colours the name it draws people. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Stevo985 Posted January 17, 2023 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2023 I think the only thing on a Villa fan's bucket list should be to see us play at Villa Park. Being a fan is different for everyone so there's no "must do" thing. And someone who has never been to VP is no less of a fan than anyone else. I just think fans of any sports club should dream of seeing their team play at their home ground. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Albrighton Posted January 17, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted January 17, 2023 5 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said: Be born Villa to a Villa family? This is an unusual suggestion for a “things to do before you die” list. You don’t have any control of it from the outset, so achieving it before you die is neither here nor there. You either accomplish that at birth or you don’t. Baby comes out immediately thinking “Right, I reckon if we pushed McGinn into a more forward role…” then the baby opens it’s eyes and sees the dad with a “KRO” tattoo and thinks “Ah bollocks, I definitely can’t tick that one off Ragnos’ list…” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 (edited) As someone who has had the pleasure of going to Villa Park since the 60's, I have already been rather spoilt. I've seen us win almost everything and felt the delight of numerous wins, along with the pain of too many defeats. Despite having seen so many games at home and away, like Oliver Twist, I still want more. More wins, more cups, more European ventures and more good times. Of Marka's list, the only thing I haven't done and have no plans to do, is to get a tattoo. I have had some great times following the club with my family and friends. I hope those of you that are not as long in the tooth, have as many, if not more, before in the fullness of time, we all become HEITS. There is something about being a Villa fan, standing or sitting in that stadium, where so many have stood before us and cheering on our current team, in the same way that so many past teams have been supported. All of us that follow the club at home or further afield, are as MNVillan has said, "chosen to do so" and whatever our respective bucket lists, may or may not include, it will be a claret & blue bucket! Edited January 17, 2023 by John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest av1 Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Have a pint in town. Mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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