Ian Rose

What is your name?
Ian Rose

How old are you?
24

What is your gender?
Male

What do you do for a living?
Medical Scientist

What is your level of education?
Postgraduate Degree

Do you hold any religious beliefs?
None

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

What Stand do you sit in?
Trinity Road Stand Upper

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

Can you describe some of your favourite goals?
My favourite goal I have witnessed in the flesh is the goal Luc Nilis scored on his debut against Chelsea. I love the way he made one of the best defenders in the world at the time look completely lost when he chipped the ball up before sticking it in the top corner. Gary Cahill's overhead kick against the enemy in the derby a few years back has to get a mention as the atmosphere down the Villa hadn't been like that for years. Another favourite is Collymore's goal against Athletic Madrid in the UEFA cup. His touch created so much time and space before curling a sublime shot into the top corner. The atmosphere that night was the best I have experienced at Villa Park and that goal doubled what was already a very tense and passionate evening.

Can you tell us about your favourite players?
My favourite player I got to see on a regular basis was Ian Taylor. He was the one who got to 'live the dream' as they say. His energy and all-round contribution to the team whether it was goals or tackles was immense. A true work-horse who would die for the team.

What are your favourite Villa-related moments?
My favourite moment has to be seeing Villa win a trophy in my first season as a proper supporter (3-0 against Leeds United). A special moment has to to be the buzz I felt when I saw Martin O'Neill get out of his car and was mobbed by Claret and Blue, I felt that something big was going to happen to us and if we keep up the good work this season we might we qualify for Europe for the first time in years and look like to build on it in the future. My first match also deserves a mention as it was the first time I'd been inside Villa park and I sat in the Holte End Upper for Paul McGrath's testimonial against the Blues. I was about 11 years old and was so excited all week and couldn't sleep. The 2-0 score nicely topped off my debut at Villa Park.

What would be your best-ever eleven players (plus 5 subs) and why?
1. Nigel Spink- wasn't expecting to make an appearance in the biggest match in the clubs history, but found himself between the sticks not long into the match. Had an amazing game keeping a clean sheet despite constant pressure form Bayern Munich. Gave the club over 18 years of service.
2. Allan Evans – A goal scoring defender who played a key role in the 1981 League Championship campaign and the European cup win the following season.
3. Gareth Southgate – The best defender I have regularly seen play for the Villa.
4. Charlie Aitkin- Villa record appearance holder with 561 games. Part of a Villa team which won promotion and also the league cup in 1975. He must have been pretty good to of made that many appearances for the Villa
5. Paul McGrath- Arguably one of the best best defenders of his generation and one of the best players in the clubs history. Unfortunately had to many problems off the pitch and problems with his fitness.
6. Ian Taylor- The most passionate player I have ever seen in a Villa shirt. Loved the club and the fans knew he would do anything for us.
7. Gareth Barry – Villa's current captain and a solid midfielder. Youngest player to reach 300 Premier League appearances and all for one club.
8. Dennis Mortimer- Played a part in Villa's 1977 League Cup Success, before Captaining Villa to the League Championship in 1980-81, and the European Cup in 1982.
9. Billy Walker- Villa's all-time top score with 244 goals in 531 appearances. Involved in Villa's record breaking season in 1930-31 where Villa score a record 128 league goals.
10. Dwight Yorke – The most graceful footballer I have ever seen play for Villa. Turned defenders inside out during every game and scored some memorable goals including one in the 1996 League Cup final against Leeds.
11. Gordon Cowans- Won the League Cup, League Championship, European Cup and European Super Cup with Villa. Scored often and contributed heavily to the teams success.
12. Olof Mellberg – A loyal servant to Villa who gave his best years to us. A player who in his prime I feel could of played at far bigger and competitive clubs than Villa were at the time.
13. Jimmy Rimmer- Played a crucial part in both our League Championship win and our European cup win. Fantastic Penalty save against Dynamo Berlin on the way to the European Cup final.
14. Tony Morley – A flying winger who score many fantastic goals for the Villa. Provided the cross from which Peter Withe scored in the European Cup final.
15. Peter Withe – Scorer of the most important goal in the history of the club in the European Cup final, as well as many goals which took us to the League title.
16. Brian Little- Only ever played for Villa as his career was cut short by injury at the age of 26. Regarded as one of the most naturally gifted players to of played for Villa.

Why are you a Villa fan?
My best friend at school was a Villa fan so I started to follow them because he did.

Can you tell us about some important moments in your Villa supporting life and where they were?
The earliest one I remember Villa beat Leeds in the League Cup final in 1996. I was 12 at the time and was watching it on the telly at my grandparents. I nearly went through the ceiling when Savo scored as I jumped of the sofa.

What has been your worst ever Villa-related moment?
It has to be the 0-2 defeat against Birmingham City at Villa Park when Gudjohnson and Dublin were sent off. That night made me realise how low we had sunk and how bad things really were at the time.

Why do you continue to support the club?
I love the club and it has been a big part in my life to date. I told my partner that if she were to ever treat me as bad as Villa has then I'd of got rid of her in a shot.

What changes would you make to any aspect of Aston Villa in order to improve the experience?
The introduction of safe standing I feel would be a great boost to the match day atmosphere. I would like to see the club do more for youngsters to encourage them to support us. Things such as the open training day at Villa Park or cheap tours for schools so they can see the European Cup and our other achievements.

Is there a defining moment in your life as a Villa fan?

What memorable moments can you tell us about?

Are there any family influences? My fathers family have traced Villa in the family back over 80 years. I only found out after my fathers death that he was actually a Bluenose despite his parents and siblings all being Villa fans. I always thought he wasn't interested in football.

Where did you grow up/do you live and has that influenced you?
After I was born in 1983 my mother moved to Endicott Road off Trinity Road in Aston. We only lived their for a few years and I have no memories of it but stories my mother tells me about meeting players as a baby make me feel very proud. I currently live in Selly Oak in South Birmingham. I believe that there are more Villa fans than any other club here.

What have been the influence of clubs/fans (if any) in those areas?
I have a lot of friend who support Villa and some who support Birmingham. We outnumber them so I think we try to do the influencing.

How and why did you come to support Aston Villa?
Because I started collecting the Premier League Sticker Book and many of my friends were Villa fans which set me on the way.

What is your first memory of the club?
My first proper memory as a supporter was signing Gary Charles and Tommy Johnson from Derby County and also beating Wimbledon 7-1.

What would you do to improve the overall Villa Park experience?
Law permitting, I'd like to see standing back in UK top division standing. After visiting numerous stadiums across Europe I really do believe that it could only be a good thing to improve the atmosphere at Villa Park.

Do you have a Villa-related claim to fame?
When living in Aston as a baby during the early-mid eighties, players used to do a lot more in the community than they do now. My mother said that she used to regularly have players coming to say hello to me. She said that one day Des Bremner and Ian Rush went into a corner shop on Trinity Road to buy me some Jelly Tots .

How do you see the club progressing? Well as I see it now we look like we are going to Qualify for Europe and I hope we can maintain that in the future. The team is hungry and I feel that a cup final will be waiting for us in the next 2 seasons.

How long have you supported Aston Villa?
14 years

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?
I enjoy participating an a number of sporting activities including 5-a-side football, swimming and badminton. I also enjoy reading and learning about the history of football and football stadiums .

Do you go Home, Away, both or are you an armchair/pub supporter? Why?
I had a season ticket from 1996 up until 1999 but had to give it up due to the expense. I then went to between 3 to 7 games a season up until this season where I brought a season ticket again. I have travelled to two away league matches this season to Wigan and Fulham, and Bolton away last season. I also followed the Villa to Toronto in the summer of 2007 for our pre season tour.

Is there an established family history following the Villa and what does the future hold?
I'm not too aware of any deep family history but I have been told by my fathers family that they had traced Rose family support of the villa back over 80 years. As for the future I have 2 young nephews who I'll be working on along with my brother to claim them as ours!! :)

Have you ever been ‘inside’ the ground and if so, what impressed you the most?
Every time I enter Villa Park I love to stand at the front and look up at the Holte End. Its exactly as Billy Walker once said, 'About Villa Park itself hung an aura that seems almost to be visible. Most certainly it is there to be felt and I know of no other ground that has the same effect on one. Almost it seems to be peopled by ghosts – amiable ghosts whose job it is to breathe the great Villa spirit into generation after generation of ambitious youngsters who pass through the great gates to achieve a life's ambition; to wear the famous claret and blue of the great club'. As for inside the ground, I feel the same as even though the stadium is relatively new you can still feel the history oozing out of the walls. Everything from the photos of the trophy winning sides, portraits of William McGregor, photos of past legend and even the story of Tommy Ball who was murdered by his neighbour all hand on the walls of the new Trinity Road stand.

What are your views on the past, present and future of Aston Villa?
Without my Claret and Blue glasses on I still fell that our History is up there with the best of them. From playing a key role in the foundation of the worlds oldest football league, from our trophy successes and many records the club holds its difficult for supports of other clubs to deny that we are one of the most successful and important clubs in the country. As for the present, things really couldn't of be any better after the last few years we've had. To be in the chase for a European place, to have a squad of young England internationals and international hopefuls so soon after nearly being relegated and losing all hope of being a great club again.

Do you possess any memorabilia that is particularly special to you and could you explain its meaning?
I don't really have any memorabilia but I would like to collect images of Villa Park from over the years. I recently bought the cover of Football League magazine which has the price of 5p on cover and on the inside it has a picture of 'Soccer Homes' with a picture of the Holte End taken from the Trinity Road Stand, with an inset picture of former captain Ian Ross.

Do you have any special emotional attachment to a part of the club?
I feel very passionately about Aston Villa and have a great attachment to the club. But I would be heart broken if we were to ever leave Villa Park.

What are the views of your friends and family to your supporting Aston Villa?
My partner is used to me being a passionate fan and very opinionated about my club and also opinionated about her club (The Blose). We get on well as long as we don't talk football. My brother is very similar to me and is very passionate about Villa. My grandparents don't really understand why I get so upset at times about football but realise it is something very important in my life. As for my friends, most don't really care about football but admire my dedication and enthusiasm for my team.

Has supporting Aston Villa affected your lifestyle? If so, how?
Well it means that I have to plan my weekend and evening around Villa and especially recently have to drop arrangements due to fixture changes.

Have you ever supported/followed another club? If so, what made you change your allegiance?
Never.

Do you feel that away games are for the fan or the family?
I think it depends on the opposition. Going away to Fulham and Wigan was a good day out even with a child. However I wouldn't take them to the derby or to certain clubs which I won't mention.

What changes have you seen that are for the better/worse (prices, atmosphere, obscenities, TV, fans etc.)?
Even when I gave up my child season ticket in 1999 because my parents couldn't afford it, the prices weren't as ridiculous as they are now and I feel that this has been an influential factor to the declining attendances over the last few years as well as poor performances on the pitch. The TV money has led to an increase in player greed where players are happier to go to a club who will pay them more rather than a club where they could achieve something as a player, this is something I feel seems to play on MON's mind when looking at players.

If you use a pseudonym on the internet, what is the meaning/reason behind the name choice?
I use the name itbrvilla which is just my initials followed by Villa.

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