Villa On the Rise

So I've been an Aston Villa fan since I was about 14 years-old. I was sitting in my cousin's basement in 2004 or '05 playing the latest FIFA game and beginning a "Manager" mode, but I didn't know which team to pick. I chose Aston Villa. There wasn't really any rhyme or reason to it at all. Maybe I thought they sounded vaguely familiar and very "English." Whatever the case, it was destiny, and I've enjoyed being an Aston Villa fan ever since.

It turns out it was the perfect time to be an Aston Villa fan, because only a few short years later they were fighting late in the season for a spot in the top four of the Barclays Premier League and a trip to the Champions League. Martin O'Neill was leading them as manager and they were filled with young talent like Ashley Young, James Milner, and Gabby Agbonlahor. They were fun to watch. I especially remember the game against Everton in 2008. We were ahead 2-1 around the 90th minute when Everton tied it up. It was one of those daggers that you get as a soccer fan when your team is so close to getting a win and three points, but they can't quite hold off their opponents for long enough to secure them. Then the most exciting play I've ever watched in my life as a soccer fan happened. Right off the restart, Ashley Young took the ball from the left wing, slashed through the defense and, one-on-one with the keeper, bent it into the goal from the top of the box to give Aston Villa a last-second 3-2 win. I was beyond excited. I was jumping around, fist-pumping, yelling and screaming in my church clothes (it was a Sunday morning). My mom came out to the upstairs balcony that overlooks the living room to see why my dad and I were so excited. It was definitely my favorite day as a Villa fan. 

Then in the summer of 2009 I left to Romania for 2 years of service as a missionary. I didn't have much opportunity to follow the BPL. I returned in 2011 to find out that Manchester had stolen almost all of my favorite players. Young was now at United and Milner and Gareth Barry both went to City. Martin O'Neill had also left for Sunderland. I was so bummed, and the next few years would include nothing close to the success that the team enjoyed before I left. At least the speedy Gabby Agbonlahor remained with the club and, in fact, is still there.

Today, four games into the season, I got to see the Villa move into 2nd place in the table with a solid 1-0 team win against Liverpool. Gabby Agbonlahor got a goal early and the defense held strong despite a late onslaught which so nearly produced an equalizer when Philippe Coutinho's shot was tipped just enough to force it against the post and away. It's refreshing to see the Villa doing well again after a couple of seasons of fighting off relegation. I'm a happy fan and excited for the rest of the season. Here's to Villa on the rise again.

And here's another fan who really enjoyed that game in 2008 (and an Everton fan who didn't so much). It's not long, worth the watch.

I kept my shirt on when Young scored, but I was no less excited.

"The Ginger Ninja!!!" Classic.