Bearwood Owl1

I don't think that they've entirely missed out on the money. The Randy Lerner/Martin O'Neill years saw them spend millions and finish seventh in the premier league every season. Since relegation they've spaffed gazillions of parachute cash - Abrahams and Kodjia up front don't come for cheap for example. Bad management not lack of cash for me.

I work very near to Villa Park. Looking forward to Monday now #braggingrights :) Their fans are OK, fed up with Bruce - probably understandably given the money he's spaffed and the fact they are still poor.

Aaron Jameson, couple of first team appearances then dropped into non league. Now pretty much retired and working in the builders merchant trade with my brother :)

Blondeau

Hinchcliffe played 80+ games in four years.

Suppose I set that up for the punch line :) The kids genuinely loved it though so maybe a win-win for everyone.

I've been there a couple of times. It's small but a good start. One time David Jones was in with the kids playing football which I thought was a great touch.

I remember at one of the Steering group Group meetings it being said that our allocations had been cut at various grounds due to poor behaviour of our fans. I think Forest and Birmingham were the examples. If that's true it's a real shame.

I haven't an ounce of sympathy for Birmingham. They allowed 'Arry Redknapp to splash away an absolute fortune last summer on players he hadn't even seen play (I hear). The team he ex pensively assembled failed miserably only just avoiding relegation. They then ignore the so called soft embargo this summer and buy in a £2m player. The Owls seem to have followed the EFLs guidance. Birmingham haven't

A few years back the 1000th player to appear for the Owls made his debut. He was on loan from somewhere (Cardiff maybe?). Anyhow, I remember thinking at the time that I'd forget him cause he was rubbish. Twist in the tale is - yep I've forgotten him.

Recently Wallace banged one in from distance at Fulham and even further out after a hashed clearance from the keeper against Norwich. Mcgoogs was even further back vs Preston I think. I suspect that took a tiny deflection though :)

Thanks. Good report. If you're not already in - there's a West midlands Owls group for fans down here (I'm Solihull). https://m.facebook.com/groups/456418561061945?ref=bookmarks

I'll PM later, good idea :)

I'll PM you later. :)

And me, I work right by Villa Park so have to get out of inner city Brum, down the 'expressway', through spaghetti and then begin heading north. It's pants on a Friday.

I entirely agree. I'm a ST holder based in the West Midlands and Friday night games are a right pain in the hole.

The lad wanted a hot-dog on Saturday. Found a place in the fanzone - selling them for £4.00. It looked lovely. Trouble was when he started eating it, it was spicy pork. Too spicy for a nine year old. So I ate it and very nice it was too. (I am aware that is the dullest story ever told...)

Didn't they have some FFP issues though?

Absolutely agree. How many teams run that way have won promotion to the Premier League? Southampton... anyone else?

Fantastic interview. On the FF point it seemed to me that the psychology worked. FF looked well up for it after coming on in both the Millwall and Ipswich games.

There are plenty of evening games before Xmas. If you can't make those then it means that you now need to go to (I think) all the Saturday games. Too limited choice. I believe though at the steering group they talked about another deal after Xmas - maybe 4 or 6 games. Hopefully they will iron out the issues.

6 for 6:30

https://www.bcfc.com/tickets-membership/ticket/ticket-incentive-scheme/ Not quite this - but on those lines for the kids tickets.

Probably two or three similar/ related ideas living about. Mine are: 1) Cheap seats on the lower West available several times a season at £15/20 a pop 2) Kids groups (with parents/leaders) to be given heavily discounted/free tickets on the grandstand with the belief that the standard of the facilities up there would encourage them to come back Not saying I'm right, and as the meeting has already started I'm a bit late now anyhow :)

I don't think kids should be unaccompanied wherever they go!