Premier League Status: Confirmed

Wigan won the F.A Cup on Sunday.  Last night they got beat 4-1 by Arsenal, which in turn meant they get relegated.  We've had good form for the past few months, and never looked like a team that should go down - and of course Sunderland were below us also.  But you just never know until you're mathematically safe.  I'm sure the neutrals are a bit disappointed, they would have wanted it to come to the last day of the season to throw up a Wigan v Villa showdown ... but I'm bloody glad it hasn't!

Holte-enders In The Sky

Playing a touch of catch-up here.  Largely cos my eyes seem determined to close at about 8pm and I've been in bed before 10pm in recent days - hence no blogging.

I've been a Aston Villa fan since I was 8, and a Holte End season ticket holder since I was 15.  You remember that "you'll never win anything with kids" comment by Alan Hansen after Villa beat Man United 3-1 ... well that was my first game in 'my' seat.  But now, close on 18 years later, it is my seat no more.

Our emigration to NZ means getting to Villa Park every other weekend might be a bit of a trek.

Massive thanks to my Dad who I've enjoyed some fantastic and memorable times with.  Trips to old Wembley, new Wembley and even Madrid.  Happy days.  But all good things must come to an end.

We lost 2-1 to Chelsea but recent good results have put us in a better position than what might have occurred.  Wigan play Arsenal tomorrow night.  If they draw or lose then Villa will be looking forward to Premiership football again in 2014.  If Wigan win then it'll come down to that last game of the season on Sunday against Wigan themselves!

Black Cats Hit For Six

The games kicked off yet due to traffic I find myself jogging past the church towards the Holte End.  It's just started raining. An omen?  This is a must win game.  My season ticket clicks in the card reader and I pass through the turnstiles.  A quick glance at the screen in the foyer shows only a few minutes have passed, but I pause briefly to watch a corner be claimed by their keeper.  A two hour journey means a quick pause at the gents is required before I take my seat.  As I stand at the urinal I feel the adrenaline pumping through me, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I swear I can hear it echoing off the tiled walls.  Did I mention this was a must win game?  To those who don't 'get it', it's moments like this why us football fans just can't walk away.

I remember games like this when I was younger, just wanting games to end and points to be bagged.  A much older, wiser, and less superstitious me can enjoy the moment much much more.  And tonight was just amazing.   Properly 'did that really happen' amazing.  Sunderland took a beating and somehow we repaired our goal difference to climb above Newcastle to 16th.

The Highs And Lows Of A Footy Fan - In 60 Seconds

Oddly enough when I was playing with the Duc on Friday night I had 5Live on the radio which was previewing the weekends football.  And they focused on League 1 as it was the last fixtures of the season.  Brentford were due to play Doncaster.  After 45 games they were only 2 points apart, Donny on 81 in second and Brentford on 79 in third.  With only two getting promotion automatically it had basically come down to a one game shoot-out.  If Brentford could beat Doncaster they would steal that last promotion place away from their opponents.

And so with Tash out Saturday afternoon I was focused on the radio.  Every time they went to Griffin Park it was stalemate.  Doncaster seeming happy to play the game out for the point they needed.

The 90 minutes had passed.  Doncaster's army of away fans must have been preying for the final whistle.  This this happens.  Thankfully 5live clicked across to the game just in time.  Best end to a football season ever?  Quite possibly!  Click here to listen for yourselves.

Thankfully, in the Premier League, Spurs grabbed a last minute equaliser against Wigan, and it looks more and more like it will be a shoot-out against Villa and Wigan for the final relegation spot ... and we happen to play them last game of the season too!  We play Sunderland tonight which really has become a must win game for us as it would mean we could open up a 5 point gap on Wigan.  I think every Villa fan is preying we have more than a 3 point gap on Wigan come the last day of the season!

The One About The Lego, The Football And The Kiwi Situation

Today could/should have been all about football.  My mind ended up being occupied by other things though.

Villa were home against Fulham, we drew 1-1 which leaves us on 34 points and still in a spot of bother.  They say you need 37 to stay up, and with a home game against Sunderland coming up in a few weeks hopefully we can seal our safety then.  Token photo from Villa Park is of the mural in the Holte End, a massive painting celebrating the 1981 European Cup victory.

Before heading off my Dad delivered my old Lego for Alfie.  He already regards it as 'his' lego and I imagine it to keep him occupied for quite some time!

On the way up to Birmingham I got a text from Tash saying she had an email from Immigration New Zealand.  On the plus side it means we now clearly have a case officer and so our application is being dealt with.  Sadly they have come back with queries about her work experience and degree.  We have been invited to submit further evidence to support our application so I have asked on the immigration forum what we can best do to support our case.  Fingers crossed, I am preying we can tell them what they want to hear!