Gill Sochon

What is your name?
Gill Sochon

How old are you?
49

What is your gender?
Female

What do you do for a living?
Project Officer

What is your level of education?
Degree

Do you hold any religious beliefs?
Church of England

Do you wish for your entry to be anonymous or under a pseudonym?
No

What Stand do you sit in?
North Stand

How long have you been going to Villa Park?
41 years

Can you describe some of your favourite goals?
Andy Gray running off the subs bench and scoring with his first touch. Dalian Atkinson against Wimbledon.

Can you tell us about your favourite players?
Willie Anderson, first of a tendency towards "unsung" players. Also David Geddes and Ian Taylor.

What are your favourite Villa-related moments?
European Cup Final
Tranmere Semi-Final
League Championship

What would be your best-ever eleven players (plus 5 subs) and why?
Jimmy Rimmer
John Gidman
Steve Staunton
Alun Evans
Paul McGrath
Dennis Mortimer
Des Bremner
Gary Shaw
Andy Gray
Gordon Cowans
Tony Morley

Brian Little
Mark Bosnich
Dwight Yorke
David Platt
Bruce Rioch

Why are you a Villa fan?
It's my upbringing.

Can you tell us about some important moments in your Villa supporting life and where they were?
Winning the Championship despite losing at Highbury.

What incidents have you been present at (on/off field)?
All sorts. In particular the parachutist suffering terrible injuries at the Villa v Arsenal match.

Can you tell us any interesting/little known fact about yourself in connection with Aston Villa?
For the 1975 League Cup Final duplicate tickets had been sold. We arrived very late and were taken into the stands via the tunnel and pitch.

What has been your worst ever Villa-related moment?
A few violent incidents, eg the visit of Glasgow Rangers in the late '70s, Birmingham City matches and visits to Wembley.

Why do you continue to support the club?
It's in the blood.

What changes would you make to any aspect of Aston Villa in order to improve the experience?

Is there a defining moment in your life as a Villa fan?
Not really.

What memorable moments can you tell us about?
See above.

Are there any family influences?
Both Grandads were Villa fans. Mom and Dad met at Villa away match. Read Dorothy Meacham's entry!

Where did you grow up/do you live and has that influenced you?
Villa area but it didn't particularly influence me.

What have been the influence of clubs (if any) in those areas?
Villa area but not particularly an influence.

How and why did you come to support Aston Villa?
Mom and Dad are Villa fans.

What is your first memory of the club?
Standing on the Witton End.

What would you do to improve the overall Villa Park experience?
Better toilet facilities for women.

Do you have a Villa-related claim to fame?

How do you see the club progressing?
Not sure they will in the current climate of the top 4 getting richer and the gulf setting in.

How long have you supported Aston Villa?
As long as I can remember.

Do you ‘follow’ any other clubs?
No.

What teams in other sports do you support?
None.

What hobbies and interests do you have outside of supporting Aston Villa?
Member of David Lloyd health club
Reading

Do you go Home, Away, both or are you an armchair/pub supporter? Why?
Home only now. Away in the past.

Is there an established family history following the Villa and what does the future hold?

What Villa-related pictures have meaning for you?
I have a painting of the League Cup Final against Man Utd.

Have you ever been ‘inside’ the ground and if so, what impressed you the most?
Yes. The trophies and historic pictures.

What are your views on the past, present and future of Aston Villa?
Great history. Think Randy Lerner is on the right road.

Do you possess any memorabilia that is particularly special to you and could you explain its meaning?
Rotterdam straw boater.

Do you have any special emotional attachment to a part of the club?
Paving stones for Grandad and Dad.

What are the views of your friends and family to your supporting Aston Villa?

Has supporting Aston Villa affected your lifestyle? If so, how?
It has made for extended family outings and gatherings eg we all go together for a meal and a drink after the match.

Have you ever supported/followed another club? If so, what made you change your allegiance?
No

Do you feel that away games are for the fan or the family?
Certain venues are suitable for the family but not all.

What changes have you seen that are for the better/worse (prices, atmosphere, obscenities, TV, fans etc)?
Certain venues are suitable for families but not all.

If you use a pseudonym on the internet, what is the meaning/reason behind the name choice?
N/A

Do you have anything else to add?

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