News
Famous Fans
We have turned detective to find out which celebrities are members of the claret and blue army.
It is an impressive list of famous fans, taken from the worlds of film, music, politics, TV and sport.
Read the story behind their support and feel free to email paul.brown@avfc.co.uk to add/update the list.
Tom Hanks
Yes, you read correctly - Hollywood megastar Tom Hanks is a member of the claret and blue army.
Villa may be competing in the UEFA Cup this season - but when it comes to celebrity fans, we are definitely Champions League.
Hanks well and truly demonstrated his love of all things claret and blue when he strode on to the red carpet with a 'Proud History, Bright Future' scarf at the premiere of his film, Charlie Wilson's War.
The Hollywood A-lister also met up with Villa's Player, Liaison and Welfare Officer Lorna McClelland at the event. Lorna chatted with the Big, Sleepless in Seattle, Green Mile and Philadelphia star in his own VIP lounge at Leicester Square's Empire Cinema.
The Forrest Gump star also appeared on BBC Radio 1 for a chat with Edith Bowman during the same week and was glowing in his support of the club.
His support was first revealed in 2001 when he admitted his allegiance on a Disney Channel interview.
He was subsequently sent a shirt with 'Hanks' on the back and a thank-you letter was sent back from the star supporter.
Tom's Top Villa Films
Zat Thing You Do
The Claret Mile
The Bouma Express
Road to Rotterdam
Big (John Carew)
Da Villa Code
Sleepless in Witton
A Premier League of their Own
Prince William
Prince William, second in line to the throne, is a Villa supporter.
The son of Prince Charles attended the 2000 FA Cup semi-final between Villa and Bolton and went into the dressing room to congratulate the players on reaching the showpiece event after the game.
Prince Charles also revealed, when he opened the Trinity Road Stand in 2001, that he was under orders to return to Buckingham Palace with a pair of Villa socks for William.
The club also sent him goodies to commemorate his 21st birthday.
William has never spoken of his decision to follow the claret and blue side but it is believed he began following the club in his early years at Eton.
Emma Willis
Emma Willis, formerly Griffiths, was a Holte End regular as a young girl.
Her family are from Sutton Coldfield and she went to Wylde Green Primary School and John Wilmott Secondary School.
She started modelling at a young age, travelled the globe and worked for Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, Gap, Chanel and Samsung to name but a few.
Her big break, however, came in 2002 when she successfully screen tested with MTV and joined their team of presenters.
She hasn't looked back since. Working on a variety of the network's shows, she's interviewed some of the hottest stars from the world of music and film.
Emma married ex-Busted star Matt Willis in Northamptonshire in 2008.
Guests included Faith Brown, James Bourne, David Gest, Holly Willoughby, Ant McPartlin, Mcfly, Myleene Klass and Heidi Range.
Emma B
Emma B is a Radio 1 DJ, who has also worked as a music correspondent on both TV and radio - on GMTV, Radio 2, Late Night Live and CBBC.
The Harborne-born star is a big Gary Shaw, Dion Dublin and Peter Withe fan.
She said: "I have been following the boys in claret and blue since I moved to Birmingham with my parents when I was 10-years-old.
"Our next door neighbour at the time was an avid fan and used to get us tickets for games at Villa Park. He nabbed us before anyone from the Baggies fraternity in the area did."
Jane Sixsmith
Former England and Great Britain hockey star Jane Sixsmith, who has appeared in four Olympic games, is a claret and blue fanatic, who rates Gordon Cowans as her favourite-ever player.
Sixsmith has won Olympic bronze, European Cup gold and Commonwealth silver during her tremendous career.
Her funniest moment following the Villa was in May 1999 when she was invited into the directors box for our game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Julian Joachim scored an equaliser and she jumped up to celebrate, before realising that no-one else had moved.
Ozzy Osbourne
The eccentric rock legend and star of his family's show on MTV was born in Lodge Road, Aston.
His son Jack revealed on Patrick Kielty's show on BBC1 that the former Black Sabbath frontman is a fan of the club and used to wash cars at Villa Park when he was a teenager.
Ritchie Neville
Lifelong Villa fan Ritchie Neville found fame with boyband FIVE.
The Brit award winners had a string of hits, including 'We Will Rock You' before disbanding in 2001.
And, as he reveals, that classic track holds a hope in his heart.
The Solihull-born star would love our pre-match music to include his version of the former Queen track.
Oliver Phelps
Oliver Phelps is a star of one of the biggest movie franchises ever.
The youngster plays George Weasley in all six of the Harry Potter films - the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of Fire, the Order of the Phoenix and the Half-Blood Prince.
He is a massive Villa fan while his brother James - also a star of the films - is a Birmingham City supporter.
Claret and blue discussion is a massive topic of interest on the set of the wizard masterpiece.
Mark Williams, who plays his dad in the films and who has appeared in Shakespeare in Love and The Fast Show, is a fan as well as David Bradley, who plays caretaker Argus Filch.
David Bradley
David Bradley plays one of the most popular characters in modern film - grumpy Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch.
He became an actor in 1971, first appearing on television that year in the successful comedy Nearest and Dearest.
He was awarded an Olivier Award in 1991 for his supporting actor role in King Lear at the Royal National Theatre.
He played fictional Labour MP Eddie Wells in the 1996 award-winning BBC Two serial Our Friends in the North.
Other television appearances include the 2004 musical drama serial Blackpool on BBC One, the 2005 BBC television drama Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle, playing the part of the morose coach driver taking an unruly party of pupils on a daytrip to Salisbury Cathedral and the 2006 BBC drama Sweeney Todd.
Also in 2006, he played a leading character, Tom, in an episode of Midsummer Murders.
Bradley appeared in Nicholas Nickleby in 2002 and had a small role in the 2007 comedy film Hot Fuzz.
On the claret and blue front, David's favourite players over the years include Gordon Cowans, Andy Gray, Dion Dublin, Lee Hendrie and Juan Pablo Angel.
Nigel Kennedy
One of Villa's most famous celebrity supporters, Nigel Kennedy is acknowledged as one of the world's leading violin virtuosos.
His virtuosic technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to the classical, contemporary and jazz repertoire.
His recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons is still the biggest-selling classical record of all time, but he now devotes only about three months of the year to the classical repertoire, such is his interest in jazz.
Kennedy is a massive Villa supporter and wowed fans in 2008 when he offered all season card holders free tickets for any date on his 'A Very Nice Album' tour.
He even once painted his car in the colours of claret and blue.
Pauline McLynn
Pauline McLynn is best known for her role as Mrs Doyle in Father Ted. But there are many strings to the Irish actress's bow.
She is a regular on Bremner, Bird & Fortune and has starred in film roles including Far and Away, When Brendan Met Trudy, An Everlasting Piece, Angela's Ashes and Heidi and Gypo.
She has written five novels and has contributed short stories to many charity collections including Moments (in aid of Tsunami victims) Magic (in aid of One Parent Families) and Girl's Night In (for Warchild).
She is a massive Villa fan and picks out Ray Houghton as her all-time favourite claret and blue star.
She admitted her addiction to Villa coincided with Irish stars like Houghton, Paul McGrath and Steve Staunton doing well for the club.
She said her finest moment was watching the League Cup final victory over Leeds in 1996 with Ardal O'Hanlon - who was supporting the opposition that day!
Ian Bell
Ian Bell is one of the best cricket stars around - a top-order batsman for both England and Warwickshire.
And importantly, he is a massive Villa fanatic, getting down to Villa Park as often as his busy schedule will allow him.
Coming from a family of Coventry City supporters, Bell disagreed with tradition and opted to follow Villa instead.
Once described by Dayle Hadlee as the best 16-year old he had ever seen, Bell is tenacious and technically sound and a top-order batsman very much in the mould of Michael Atherton.
And like Atherton, it is Bell's mental attitude to the game that has set him apart from his peers.
A former England under-19 captain, he made his Test debut against West Indies in August 2004, stroking 70 in his only innings, before returning the following summer to lift his career average to an unbelievable 297 with two unbeaten innings against Bangladesh, including his maiden Test century at Chester-le-Street.
He was named ICC's Emerging Player of the Year for 2006 as well as being awarded the MBE in 2005 for his part in England's Ashes success over Australia.
Mark Williams
Fast Show show Mark Williams followed the lead of his uncle Roger by becoming a Villa fan...which is nice.
The Shakespeare in Love actor said: "My dad was Baggies but uncle Roger was a big Villa supporter and I took it on from there."
Martin Shaw
The Birmingham-born film and TV star has supported Villa since the age of 14.
The star of The Professionals, Heartbeat, Sinbad, London's Burning and Judge John Deed used to sit in the Witton Lane stand when he was younger although he admitted that work commitments mean he doesn't get to see the team play as much nowadays.
His favourite ever player is Peter McParland who he describes as a 'top striker and a real hero.'
He also recalled meeting Vic Crowe.
He said: "I met him about 20 years ago and he said he was star-struck meeting me. When I told him I was the same meeting him, we both fell about laughing."
Ian Lavender
The Dad's Army star, who played the loveable but dopey Pike, is a Villa supporter.
Lavender used to wear a claret and blue scarf in his role as the blundering army officer under Captain Mainwaring so we checked whether the popular actor was a fan.
He said: "I am a supporter and have been for quite a while."
It's fine with us if you tell them who you support Pike!!
Kris Marshall
Actor Kris Marshall has revealed how a get well message from Aston Villa helped him recover from a near-death crash.
The star of My Family and the BT adverts was left in a coma after being run over earlier this year.
But he bounced back remarkably quickly from his spell in intensive care, thanks partly to a card from his favourite football club.
"I've never been an autograph hunter, I've never understood why people bother with that," said the 35-year-old. "But I was thrilled to get a card signed by manager Martin O'Neill and all the team. I was going 'look, there's Gareth Barry's signature!'
"Martin put 'look where you're going', which brought a smile to my face."
David Cameron
Conservative leader David Cameron flew the flag for Aston Villa during a live television debate.
The 42-year-old politician had been taking part in a discussion when he was asked who he thought would win the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Tory leader said it was of little consequence to him because as far as he was concerned there was only one team - the Villa.
Cameron told GMTV presenter Ben Shepherd: "The first game I ever went to was an Aston Villa game and so I am an Aston Villa fan. We have had a pretty good season ourselves.
"I don't really mind who wins the Champions League."
Cameron is the nephew of former Villa chairman Sir William Dugdale who took him to his first ever game as a 13-year-old.
Other Villa Fans
Mervyn King - bank supremo
Bob Monkhouse - former comedian
Lenny Godber - TV character
Geezer Butler - musician
Stephen Duffy - music producer
Jacqui Smith - politician
