Simi Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Council leader tells Aston Villa: Call yourself BirminghamNov 28 2008 by Paul Dale, Birmingham Mail ASTON Villa should include ‘Birmingham’ in the club’s name to boost international recognition of the city. That is the bizarre wish of city council leader Mike Whitby. He feels that the suburban-sounding Villa does not do justice to Britain’s second city. He is urging a name change, possibly to ‘Aston Villa Birmingham’, and plans to raise the matter with club chairman Randy Lerner. Councillor Whitby claimed the new identity would help fans to understand where Villa play football and better promote the global brand of Birmingham. But the move is bound to infuriate fans of both Villa and Birmingham City. Coun Whitby believes that while the team is famous across the world, it is difficult to tell from the name Aston Villa where the club is based. He’s contrasted the Villa “identity crisis” with Manchester United, where supporters are left in no doubt about the Manchester connection. Coun Whitby said: “Aston Villa is one of Birmingham’s great institutions and is an international brand that the city is proud of. “I think that a closer association between Aston Villa and the city of Birmingham could help boost Birmingham’s profile across the world. “It is great to see the football club using the slogan ‘Aston Villa - pride of Birmingham’ this season.” But the proposal was immediately kicked into touch by Villa bosses, who say they have no intention of changing the 134-year-old name. A Villa spokesman said: “The idea is utterly ridiculous and a complete non-starter.” It’s thought that fans would be outraged at any break in tradition and at the risk of being associated with deadly rivals Birmingham City. While Coun Whitby is yet to put the idea formally to Mr Lerner, he has spoken enthusiastically to friends about reasons for the name change. Since becoming council leader in 2004, Coun Whitby has worked to build Birmingham’s reputation as a “global city with a local heart”. A regular attender at top games, he has become frustrated by an apparent lack of association between Villa’s “brand” and the city of Birmingham. Villa, winners of the FA Cup seven times, the European Cup in 1982 and the former First Division seven times since being formed in 1874, counts Prince William and Tory leader David Cameron among their celebrity supporters. And American film star Tom Hanks famously said: “I’m big on Aston Villa because the name is just so sweet. It sounds like a lovely spa.” What a complete ****ing carp. :laugh: Keep your ridiculous ideas to yourself then go and bury your head in a hole. Twat.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Some nice "outraged of Tunbridge Wells" journalism but a direct supporting quote would have been a saving grace.
Guest Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Bloody Nora! The guy just ain't got a clue has he? Would he still be suggesting this if Villa weren't doing so well?
Zingari Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 i agree , all the teams in london should change their names too
Koke Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Arsenal London FC Chelsea London FC Tottenham London FC Fulham London FC And even the smaller clubs, Leyton Orient London FC, Queens Park London FC, Millwall London FC Sounds pretty good eh? Everton should change their name as well to something that has the name Liverpool in it.
Asha Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Surely the 'Aston' part relates to the part of Birmingham anyway? You'd have to pretty stupid to not know where Aston Villa played.
Matt Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Surely the 'Aston' part relates to the part of Birmingham anyway?You'd have to pretty stupid to not know where Aston Villa played. For English or even British people yes, but for people from other countries I wouldn't really brand anyone stupid. However these comments from the council leader are absolutely pathetic.
Koke Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Surely the 'Aston' part relates to the part of Birmingham anyway?You'd have to pretty stupid to not know where Aston Villa played. We know Aston is an area of Birmingham. But people outside England don't know where Aston is. When I go to the Middle East, people actually think Aston Villa is a London club, believe it or not. And they are people with decent football knowledge, allegedly.
Asha Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Fair enough then, I wasn't really thinking about the more widespread area. Still a stupid idea though.
hairy Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 I agree with him totally. Aston Villa makes me think of holidays in the sun a million miles away from Birmingham. They should call themselves Birmingham Suburb Terrace and be done with it.
Koke Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 I agree with him totally. Aston Villa makes me think of holidays in the sun a million miles away from Birmingham. They should call themselves Birmingham Suburb Terrace and be done with it. Aston Villa is a pretty fancy name. Then again Birmingham City should revert back to their old name, Small Heath. Aston, despite being a dump, is miles better than being in Small Heath.
Tomassi Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 They should be called Witton Villa as Witton is the area the stadium is in
Corky Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Maybe they should name it after the chairman- Randy Villa?
Katy Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 I think I want to go and why don't people like this just fook off and do some proper work?
Corky Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 I think I want to go and why don't people like this just fook off and do some proper work? Calm down dear, it's just a suggestion
Katy Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Calm down dear, it's just a suggestion It's the tip of the iceberg Corks.
Corky Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 It's the tip of the iceberg Corks. I agree with you, it is a ludicrous suggestion. Aston Villa have been around for 120+ years, why change their name? He should stick to being a councillor.
The Stig Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Hinkley Leicester United. Stupid man. They've been Aston Villa for 100+ years let them stay as they are. In the words of one of my freinds I hate people.
Fosse Boy Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Oh dear! Didn't a similar sort of suggestion lead to East Midlands Airport changing its name to Get Shottingham Airport though? Thankfully they've changed it back...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.