Villa News

The Importance Of Helping Set Up An Aston Villa Former Players Benevolent Fund. King Ken And Brian Little Speak Out.

|
Image for The Importance Of Helping Set Up An Aston Villa Former Players Benevolent Fund. King Ken And Brian Little Speak Out.

When King Ken McNaught speaks, it’s always worth a listen.

He’s talked to https://www.avfc.co.uk/ about the upcoming season and the fact the first two Fifty50 matchday draws is set to go straight to the ex-Aston Villa players benevolent fund.

So if you grab yourself some tickets for the wins (sorry, spoiler alert) against Wigan and Brentford you will be contributing to the setting up of a benevolent fund for the Aston Villa Former Players Club. As this official site say, this is with the aim of helping anyone who’s worn the famous claret and blue to cope with the physical, mental and financial sides of life after football.

In this day and age, we think all the players are rich, well, the modern day players are. Our former legends are not. I’ve spoken with a fair few over the years who have fallen on hard times, are suffering from ill health, or are plagued with injuries picked up during their time playing for us.

Former Players Club Liaison and Fundraising Officer and a member of Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning side, Ken McNaught, said: “Hopefully the ex-players have given the fans numerous occasions of joy, and it’s an opportunity for the fans to help out with what some of the ex-players are going through.”

And with a nod to the fact not all is rosy in the garden for fans as well, he adds, “I’m well aware that the fans have their problems too but every penny counts, and we’d thank every fan individually if we could.”

And I am sure we can all understand this part, “It’s a complete and utter shock when you come to the end of your career and that’s why I think it’s important that every football club has a benevolent fund put aside.”

Oh, you are in a draw to win half of the proceeds of the match day draw by the way, it’s quite often a nice couple of thousand or so.

He who walks on water, Brian Little is also quoted.

“A lot of lads go through a lot of pain and hardship away from football, and I think from our club’s point of view it’s massively important that we know where they are, what’s happening to them and if we can help them.”

And a lovely thing to hear from him: “I don’t know of many footballers who’ve played here and don’t think of this as being their favourite football club – that just tells you what it means to players.”

“If we can support people a lot more through the benevolent fund then that will be fantastic.”

Fifty50 ticket sellers will be located around Villa Park at every game during the season, and tickets cost just £2 each.

Share this article

Walking Where Angels Fear To Tread