1 year ago
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PRINCE WILLIAM is an avid Aston Villa fan who goes crazy watching matches and regularly speaks to players.
The Prince of Wales revealed he chose to support the club when he was younger as they were a middle-of-the-table team who could offer him the rollercoaster of emotions he was looking for in football fandom.
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AFPWilliam recalled the start of his Villa journey, saying: “A long time ago at school I got into football big time. All my friends were Chelsea or Manchester United fans and I didn’t really want to follow the run-of-the-mill team.
“I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments. Aston Villa has always had a great history.”
Now he is a regular at Villa Park and at the training ground Bodymoor Heath, Warwickshire, where he casts an eye over Unai Emery’s side.
William was spotted alongside Tyrone Mings in his captain’s box at Villa Park for the Europa Conference League clash against Zrinjski Mostar in October, and he is believed to keep in regular contact with the centre-back.
Fellow Villa defender Matty Cash revealed the Prince is often seen mingling with players at the training – so much so he knows all of their nicknames.
Cash said: “We hear from him quite a bit. He comes to training sessions. He speaks to us like a normal guy and we treat him that way when he comes.
“He likes to be around the lads because he is a massive Villa fan. He knows all our names and our nicknames, everything.
“He is a proper supporter who loves coming here. He was in the dressing room before and after the Zrinjski game. He said that normally when he is at home he is shouting and screaming at the TV, whereas at Villa Park he is a bit more calm.
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“I’m sure he was going crazy when we scored at the end of Zrinjski game. Tyrone [Mings] speaks to him quite a bit, I think.”
William’s love for the Villans is now shared by wife Kate, with the Princess of Wales bonding with a young Villa fan during a visit to Riversley Park Children’s Centre in Nuneaton in June.
The couple and their children have attended Villa games in the past and Prince George used to a big fan – and was once spotted cheering on the Villans with the same passion and vigour as his father.
The trio attended a match against Norwich a few years ago along with Princess Charlotte, and George got so excited his dad had to tell him to calm down.
But George has turned to Chelsea as his club of choice, with a disappointed William revealing: “I said you can support anyone but Chelsea, so naturally he supports Chelsea.”
However William is not alone in being a famous supporter of Villa, with Hollywood A-list actor Tom Hanks a big fan as well as Ozzy Osbourne and former England cricketer Ian Bell.
Prince William is also President of the FA and has a big role on the club and international stage.
Football-loving Will has attended all but one FA Cup final since taking on the role in 2006.
He is also a big advocate of grassroots football and had the honour of opening up England’s St George’s Park training ground.
William’s passion for club football naturally transfers to the national team, and the future king met Gareth Southgate and his squad before the World Cup last year.
He shared a laugh with Jack Grealish and presented each player with their shirts before giving a speech in which he wished the team good luck in Qatar.
William also took a group photo with the squad and enjoyed a chat with captain Harry Kane – the pair also featured in a podcast together along with Arsenal star Declan Rice discussing all things football and mental health.
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