I reckon Aston Villa fans are as proud of our famous supporters as we are of our players! 

From genius violinists to the future king of England, from accomplished authors and actors to prime ministers who mistake us for West Ham!

And an authentic voice of our beloved city. A poet, who over 5 decades has become a household name for his poetry and music.

It’s the one and only Benjamin Zephaniah, also a patron of our Supporters’ Trust, who gave me such a generous amount of time in this wide-ranging discussion about Villa memories, growing up in the area, how it’s changed and we touched on his philosophies and views too.

It’s just a fiver to join the Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust. Join today at www.villatrust.org.uk and follow us on Twitter at @villa_trust.

Benjamin Zephaniah: Poet, Revolutionary and proud Aston Villa fan!

Welcome to Jonny Gould’s sports channel featuring interviews and reports.

Sports

￼This is a wonderful conversation between two Aston Villa fans, who have supported the club through thick and thin for the last 58 years.

Million selling author Lee Child, famous for the Jack Reacher thriller series and Simon Inglis, who’s written authoritative accounts of football stadium across the world.

The conversation covers so much social and football history and is in aid of the Aston and Nechells food bank, which does such a vital job for the community around Birmingham six.

To donate to the valuable work of the food bank, follow this link.￼￼

https://astonnechells.foodbank.org.uk

Lee Child and Simon Inglis: “From 8-3 to 7-2”, 58 years supporting Aston Villa

Covid has turned the Premier League on its head. The FFP regulations have hampered some of the rich and powerful and brought some of the lesser lights in midtable back into a powerplay.

Where do Aston Villa fit into this new disruption?

There's really only one person to ask: it's Yorkshire AVFC, the one and only FFP professor, Dave Jordan.

⚽️ Dave knows:

▫️How much wiggle room Villa has in the transfer market
▫️Why Arsenal seemed overkeen to sell Emi Martinez, despite being so highly rated
▫️if we can afford Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash and whoever else is coming 
▫️how other clubs in the Premier League are fairing 
▫️and you might be surprised who's short of working capital and who isn't!

DOWNLOAD now for a great summary of the financial fortunes of Aston Villa as we embark on the 20/21 season.

JOIN The Villa Trust today for as little as a fiver at www.villatrust.org.uk.

FFP Professor Dave Jordan is back with his analysis of our financial fortunes. Dave knows!

This is the first podcast since our AGM with CEO Christian Purslow and legendary winger Tony Daley - and with lockdown since then, there's a lot to catch up on.

We have a very special guest as Nick Timothy, Theresa May's joint chief of staff at Downing Street and Villa season ticket holder joins me to talk about growing up in Tile Hill and going to school in Aston.

Villa's membership of the Premier League hangs on a knife edge. As the chances of Project Restart rescind and as the FA insist promotion and relegation must be honoured, what will happen? 

We have written to CEO Christian Purslow about playing our remaining games at neutral venues - and Mr Purslow agrees that it'd be a huge decision for anyone running Villa to take home advantage away from our difficult first season back.

Jonny's point is we have a game in hand! We can't be relegated on the basis that we might have won three points with it!

We also update you on what we've been doing as a Trust since lockdown and I'm delighted to talk to Nick Timothy about his life as a Villa fan.

Nick Timothy: Project Restart and what the Trust has been doing since lockdown?

Don’t you just hate those flippant questions from non-Villa fans? I gave it short shrift to sports Johnny on Nicky Campbell’s Breakfast Show.

Benjamin Zephaniah: Poet, Revolutionary and proud Aston Villa fan!

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