lost in the music

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the lion roars tonight

 

 

The 'Toon Army' are back in town for Villa's first home fixture of the 2021/2022 season. Neither side impressed on opening day - we lost to Watford, Newcastle to West Ham. So the stakes are high.

 

The first half drifts by with precious little excitement until the dying moments. A Matty Cash long throw, a flick-on header from Tyrone Mings and now it's Danny Ings bicycling the ball into the back of the net. What a stunner!! Villa go in one up.

 

Our lead doubles in the second half. Newcastle's captain reaches out an arm to block a goal-bound Mings header. After a lengthy VAR review the penalty's awarded and up steps Anwar El Ghazi who slots the kick away coolly.

 

In truth, Villa's performance leaves much to be desired but tonight there are three points in the bag to savour. And the smell of greasy fast-food. And the joy of seeing friends missed for so long. And the roar of the lions as we rise to our feet in unison to greet our team and the first few tender shoots of a more normal world.

 

it was only a training session

 

 

 

It was only a training session. A last minute change for a pre-season friendly cancelled for Covid-19 , but how good did it feel to be back amongst our Villa family!

 

So many lives have been lost to this horrible virus. We mourn for those bereft. We salute the workers of the NHS for their enduring courage, compassion and dedication. We salute those who kept our country running in the worst health crisis in living memory - the shop-workers, the tradesmen, the taxi-drivers, the bin-men and so many more. And we salute the brilliant scientists who have delivered in record time the vaccine that provides us all with a life-line.

 

And now, for one brief moment we come together. It was only a training session. But we embraced life and the hope of normality to come.