64 probably going on 18 or 21 at a push
1 Grew up in Aston and left Birmingham on 1st January 1975 aged 20 years old to start a new life in Bournemouth and before my dangerous lifestyle would have probably eventually claimed my life in Brum.
In 1996 I had a short story published in a series of books called "Brummies All Write 6" and this tells you all you need to know how and why Aston Villa is part of my life since my birth.
Please remember it was written in 1996, however, nothing changes with the Villa because once they get into the heart that's it for life"
"CLOSE ENCOUNTERS" By Derek.
" What chance did I have? I was born on the 17th April 1954 at 3.00 p.m. (kick-off time) within a stone's throw of Villa Park. On that particular Saturday, the Villa were playing at Charlton, with Derek Pace, the scorer for Villa, in a 1-1 draw. It was decided, from that day onwards, I was to be called Derek.
Fifty-seven years to the day before I was born, Villa Park staged its first game on 17th April 1897. Aston Villa were victorious that day and ran out 3-0 winners. On my eleventh birthday, 17th April 1965, my father took me to my first game at Villa Park, where victory was ours with a 2-1 win against Sheffield United. We lived on Little Oaks Road and, I can remember the thrill of waking up on a match day, getting ready, shutting the front door, turning right and seeing the floodlights of the ground, where some of my life's greatest and worst moments were to be played out.
In 1967 the team was going through a traumatic period and I recall reading an article in the Evening Mail about how the ghosts of the great players, from successful teams in the past, must now be walking around the great old Trinity Road stand, their poor souls tormented by the 'mess' the club was now in. This newspaper article, to the imagination of a thirteen year-old boy, showed a situation that had to be redressed and an opportunity not to be missed.
On a May night in 1967, I set out at the 'witching hour' in the direction of the lavish Trinity Road stand, a construction opened on 26th January 1924 by the Duke of York, later King George VI. My mission was to meet, talk to, and reassure, those legends from the past that their, and my, beloved club would return to winning ways and the silverware, once again, would be displayed in the trophy cabinet, also within the Trinity Road stand. Most of the kids who played in Aston Park, opposite the ground, knew of a loose hoarding above a turnstile, so this was my means of entry. In complete darkness I proceeded to walk around the stand searching every nook and cranny for 'ghosts of the great players'. I was completely without fear (as only a youngster of that age can be) as I called out to the 'ghosts', trying to remember the names of those great men of the past that I had read about. I had just one wish, which was to allay their fears so they could rest in peace. Alas, they did not appear.
I moved from Aston to Bournemouth some twenty years ago, but still the compulsion to return to Villa Park takes me over about ten times every season. When I enter the ground and take my seat, my mind returns to that night and I smile to myself, knowing that due to the success of recent years these great men of the past are now at peace, and long may they be." 46