
'My brother threw my Birmingham City hat into a hedge'
Geoff: I was about 10 years old when on the way home from school my brother threw my Birmingham City hat into a hedge and I couldn't get it back. It was the best thing to ever happen to me, as from then on I vowed to support Aston Villa. Our house was split with three Villa fans and two Blues fans and I decided to follow my Dad's team. I often think, if my brother had not done that, what would life had been like? My first match was at Villa Park against Torquay United. We won 5-1, I think, and I was hooked. Later that season, I was there for the top of the table clash against Bournemouth. What a game! I was allowed to stay up and watch on Match of the Day - unusual for a Division Three game. Since then it's certainly been a rollercoaster. The obvious highlight being the European cup win.Every season I believe this will be the one. I imagine that's what it is like for 99% of football fans - and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Send your pictures and stories here
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
5 minutes ago
- Reuters
Broncos Ring of Fame WR Lionel Taylor dies at 89
August 14 - By Field Level Media Lionel Taylor, a member of the Denver Broncos' Ring of Honor and the first pro receiver to make 100 receptions in a season, died on Aug. 6 at age 89, the team announced on Wednesday. Taylor also was the first Black man to hold a coordinator job in the NFL, according to NFL Films, when he served as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator in 1980 and '81. Taylor made eight appearances for the Chicago Bears in 1959 before jumping to the new American Football League in 1960 with the Broncos. He played seven years in Denver, winning first-team All-Pro honors four times and making the Pro Bowl three times. In 1960, he had an AFL-high 92 catches for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games, then followed up by logging 100 receptions for 1,176 yards and four scores in 14 games the next year. Taylor topped the AFL in receptions five times during his stint with the Broncos. He concluded his playing career by playing for the Houston Oilers in 1967 and '68. In nine AFL seasons and 113 games, Taylor amassed 567 catches for 7,195 yards and 45 touchdowns. He still ranks among the Broncos' all-time top five in each of those categories as he totaled 543 catches for 6,872 yards and 44 scores for Denver. Taylor was the Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receivers coach for two Super Bowl championships in the 1970s before heading up the Rams' offense. The Broncos inducted Taylor into their Ring of Fame as part of the inaugural group in 1984.


BBC News
5 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newport must hit high standards at Grimsby
Newport County cannot let their standards drop when they travel to Grimsby Town in League Two, says boss David Exiles have made a promising start to life under Hughes by taking four points from two league games, drawing with Notts County and winning at Crawley also beat Barnet on penalties in the Carabao Cup before putting in a spirited performance when knocked out 1-0 by Championship Millwall on who left his role as Manchester United Under-21s coach for the job this summer, is encouraged by what he has seen in advance of Saturday's fixture at Blundell Park (15:00 BST)."The reaction from the supporters was really positive around the levels of intent and purpose in our play, that's really important that the crowd are with us," said the manager after the Millwall game."That's the benchmark for us, we need to know when we start a game what the expectations are and the standards that underpin the performance."Newport made eight changes to their XI to face Millwall and were also boosted by the return from injury of defender or midfielder Ciaran Brennan and winger Michael Spellman off the have made an unbeaten start to the season with an opening day 3-0 win over Crawley, 3-3 draw at Harrogate and 3-1 cup win against Shrewsbury on Tuesday.


Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Pregnant Pixie Lott showcases her blossoming baby bump in a plunging red gown as she steps out in London - just weeks before her due date
Pixie Lott proudly displayed her baby bump as she stepped out in London on Wednesday - just weeks before her due date. The 34-year-old singer, who recently announced she is expecting her second child with husband Oliver Cheshire, turned heads in a plunging red gown. She completed the ethereal look with red velvet heels and delicate jewellery. Pixie was spotted gently cradling her blossoming bump as she walked through large metal gates on her way to her next destination. Her outing comes after the singer, who is already a mother to son Bertie, 23 months, revealed exactly when she is set to welcome baby number two. Speaking to The Sun earlier this month, the Essex-born beauty revealed that she is just four weeks away from welcoming her newborn, with her last gig being Friday's Flackstock. She said: 'I think the last gig [Flackstock] is going to be four weeks before the due date. So yeah, I think it's going to be fine... 'I did it last time and I've checked with the doc and he said that it's fine to keep doing it as long as you feel good. So hopefully, I mean that last show, four weeks, I don't know how long... Woo!' Pixie also discussed how she feels while being pregnant, working and looking after an under two-year-old all in one go. She divulged: 'It's more tiring being pregnant, waking up early and running around after him than the shows, because with the shows I get like an adrenaline that takes over so I don't even think about it... 'The tiring bit is the running around after the toilet fight.' Last month, Pixie announced live on stage that she was expecting her second child at London's Mighty Hoopla. After revealing her pregnancy, Pixie cradled her blossoming bump and she flashed a radiant smile for the cheering crowd. Her very public announcement came in contrast to her first pregnancy, which she kept a secret until she was 31 weeks along. Pixie was spotted gently cradling her blossoming bump as she walked through large metal gates on her way to her next destination The pop star took to Instagram to break the joyous news in June 2023, showing off her bump in a black sports bra and leggings, while Oliver planted a kiss on her stomach. While the hitmaker has previously revealed her desire to have a 'big family', telling The Sun in 2021: 'I'm a big family girl, a very big family girl. 'It is everything to me so I would love to have my own when I can find the time. It's such an amazing thing to have.' Pixie and Oliver met for the first time at a Select Model catwalk show back in 2010 and quickly struck up a romance. The model then popped the question in November 2016 on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in London. The couple finally tied the knot in June 2022 at Ely Cathedral after they were forced to cancel their wedding several times due to the Covid pandemic.