LancsVillan Posted December 18, 2006 Moderator Share Posted December 18, 2006 by Paddy I'm not sure I've ever seen such a one sided loss in favour of the losing team in all my visits to see Villa, I also struggle to recall a better performance from a goalkeeper, no not Gabor "Pyjamas" Kiraly. But despite all this yesterday has to have been one of my most enjoyable experiences as a Villa fan, and certainly a day that made me so proud to be a fan of such a great club with a fantastic team running it. I wasn't expecting to be at yesterdays game, I recently went down with a serious illness and since the treatment has started my immune system is particularly weak and I'm at a high risk of infection, so no crowded places for me, no going to the pub over Christmas, and certainly no going to Villa Park... or so I thought. As a fan of almost any club in England I imagine I would have been restricted to watching my team on television, at least until February but probably for the majority of the rest of the season. As much as I didn't enjoy my trips to places like Doncaster last season, it's an addiction and I was gutted to think I'd be missing out just when things were starting to come right. But this isn't "any other club in England", this is Aston Villa, Randy Lerner's Aston Villa. And although him and his team are far too modest to say so, this is a club unlike any other. Through visiting this site some high up people at Villa found out about my condition and the fact that I was unable to attend games. A few emails and phone calls from former US Marines later and I was feeling better than any drugs could possibly have made me feel, despite all the things that need sorting at this great club of ours, they found time to contact me, find out about my condition, ask how they could help, and within a day had sorted for me to be a guest of the club in the Witton Lane stand, knowing I couldn't be around too many people and not out in the cold for too long they arranged for a private box so I could watch the game in comfort and at almost zero risk of infection. Having been welcomed by Russ Appleton, the new "Head of Infrastructure" at Villa Park, he showed us to the box where he presented me with my new prized possession, a shirt signed by the entire squad. Unsurprisingly I was absolutely lost for words. Here I am, a 20 year old Villa fan, one of so many, one who's been through so much as a Villa fan, being about as proud as I could ever feel to be part of this famous club. With everything that needs doing at this club, the fact that they could take so much time and effort to make me feel welcome was just incredible, and very humbling. I know they don't do it for publicity, and if I asked them whether to thank them publicly I'm sure they'd say no, because that's how they are, but I don't think a gesture like this should pass under the radar. So thanks to Randy, The General, Russ Appleton and everyone else at Villa Park who made my stay so enjoyable. Carlsberg don't run football clubs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmygreaves Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Fair play Villa, more good news. Get well soon Lancs. Actually I think I've got a bit of a cough coming on............ don't think I'll be able to manage the Man U game.... [edit] Sorry, got confused...... get well soon Paddy [/edit] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bully Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Nice one Paddy........... and to the General and all who made it possible, **** class fellas, you're pure **** class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant(aka_eddy) Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I'm emptying my sacks of Kudos all over this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bromsgrove_avfc Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I have to say, I've resisted joining in some of the brown nosing that's gone on so far in 'The Generals' thread as I'm finding it hard to believe it's all going to be as rosy as everybody thinks and whilst it is fantastic PR for the General to sign up to these forums I still believe they are businessmen and I needed to see more to jump on the bandwagon of belief. As they say talk is cheap I want to us(Villa) progressing before I really believed that the new owners are as fantastic as they are are selling themselves. I just read this post with a tear in my eye. Well done Randy/ The General and Aston Villa you've just gained a new believer. ( Now go out and spend a fortune in January and take us to Europe! ) Paddy I don't know you but I'm very glad you had a great day, all the best and thanks for letting us know about this fantastic gesture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villain Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Great story Paddy, sat here blubbing like a big baby it makes you feel proud to be a Villa supporter, so glad they looked after you and you had a good day, shame about the result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy178 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Top story mate, it signifies how different things are under Randy. It's annoyed me recently how in the stories about foreign owners buying football clubs, Randy has been placed in the same sentence as Glazer. Yeah they're both american, but Randy has done so much for this club. The fact he's foreign means jack shit. Oh and hope you get better soon mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straggler Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Outstanding, truly, truly outstanding. This is the sort of thing I was hoping for when Randy and co came in. I'm happy for Paddy, it sounds like a cracking day, and happy for me as I support the best team there is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3_Penny_Opera Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 **** ace! It's funny how I stumbled onto the Villa, the gods and goddesses have had to have a lot to do with it, for the way I support clubs here in the states there could be no other club more perfect for me to suffer and celebrate with. Thanks for the post, Paddy, get well...and thank you Villa for being a fantastic part of my life. I'll be at Villa Park someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSufferingVilla Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 That is just fantastic and the real beauty of it? If you hadn't of made the post nobody would have known it happened. This shows the pure class of our new ownership. Most other clubs and I'm sure our previous owner included would have made a big deal of it, having the press taking photo's announcing it in the match program and gererally stealing the persons dignity to boost their ego. But Randy and co are different I can see many fantastic gestures in the future which none of us will know anything about except for the person who their kindness has touched and that my friends isn't just class, it's pure magic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitey Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bromsgrove_avfc Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 That is just fantastic and the real beauty of it? If you hadn't of made the post nobody would have known it happened. Spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant(aka_eddy) Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Actually I've been mulling this one over. The General is new to England and running a football club. He gets contacted by/on belhalf of a man claiming to have a long term injury but who really wants to come to Villa Park. He digs a little and finds a picture. "**** me" thinks the General...."little Michael Owen is desperate to sign for the Villa"..... No wonder they were so generous in accomodating you Paddy. I hope you asked for 80 grand a week mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddy Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Actually I've been mulling this one over. The General is new to England and running a football club. He gets contacted by/on belhalf of a man claiming to have a long term injury but who really wants to come to Villa Park. He digs a little and finds a picture. "**** me" thinks the General...."little Michael Owen is desperate to sign for the Villa"..... No wonder they were so generous in accomodating you Paddy. I hope you asked for 80 grand a week mate Haven't seen Owen in a while so not sure how much I look like him anymore, lost about a stone in all this and look quite different now, steroids are making me pile it back on though. But yeah, 80k a week would be nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrobo1 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Paddy, will you be able to go to Man Ure ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marks61 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 bit of a lump in my throat reading this Paddy, good luck to you mate, glad you had a good time at VP and well done to our new owners and co :cry: (its a happy tear or two) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablopicasso Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 brilliant stuff... chuffed you had a great day paddy mate, and proud of the club... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa89 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Get well soon paddy, You'll need to be fully fit to go to the home game next season where we'll do bolton 8-0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daholteend Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 It's only taken 38 years but the REAL Aston Villa Club and Fan base is back! Aston Villa must have done something right in it's 132 year or so history to have attracted a billionaire owner who every day looks more like a philantrophist than a capitalist. Let there be no doubt that Randy Lerner has empowered some of the very best managers and executives to lead Aston Villa into the 21st century and back to the pride that our grandfathers had before us in the Real Aston Villa. Paddy, I am delighted that AVFC looked after you so well. Get well as soon as possible and keep that Villa Feelgood Factor strong. On another note I am very pleased that some of what we post on these message boards has been attended to. Like many I read the General's thread regularly and get a huge smile seeing the General get to work to make things happen. Have a good Christmas Paddy. Aston Villa has gone a long way to show that it cares about it's supporters. The contrast between this season so far and the previous 38 years is so vast it doesn't even stand further comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runetune Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Paddy, if anyone here deserves this, its you! Have a great Christmas...... delighted for you. And thank you to those who made this happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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