As you may or may not know, I've been an avid fan of Aston Villa F.C. for many years. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional football club based in Birmingham. I am proud to be a member of the Claret & Blue Army! Aston Villa competes in the Premier League, the top tier of the English football (soccer) league system.
As a child, I stubbornly choose to cheer for the Lions of Aston Villa, instead of the Premier League's more internationally renowned clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Even though they were horrendous at the time, I did this not only to be different than the rest of my friends and family, who joined the bandwagons of the most successful soccer teams 'across the pond', but because I love Aston Villa's uniforms.
Aston Villa's striking claret (wine) and light blue team colors are some of the most beautiful in the world. And being a lover of British sports cars, Aston Villa seemed related to Aston Martin, so it was a team I felt compelled to wholeheartedly back.
Although they were relegated to England's second tier soccer league (called the English Football League Championship) from 2016 to 2019, it hasn't always been doom and gloom for Aston Villa.
Aston Villa were founding members of the English Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992. They are one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in England, having won the First Division Championship seven times and the FA Cup seven times. In 1982, the club became one of only five English clubs to win the European Cup.
And in 2020, in spite of the COVID-19 crisis, they are performing spectacularly! Aston Villa are currently undefeated in the Premier League, after beating the 2019 champion Liverpool 7-2. During the thrashing of the Reds, our fantastic forward Ollie Watkins delivered a hat trick, meaning he scored three goals.
Look out for more updates about the Lions, and best of luck to Aston Villa this season!
