Back the Bid!
Spirits are high in Birmingham at the moment with all of the talk about the possibility of being a host city for the 2018 World Cup. Birmingham should be the obvious choice given its history within English football. Two of Aston Villa’s treasures, Barry, Heskey and Milner are key weapons on the England squad and this is not the first time that some of Villa’s best players have been prominent forces on the field.
Over 100 years ago Howard Vaughton led the England team to victory and pioneered the ever increasing standards of football which exist today. Not only was Vaughton Aston Villa’s first senior international England player, but what some people may not know is that Vaughton was actually the creator behind the second draft of the FA cup after the first was stolen in Birmingham City. Vaughton’s memory still lives on every time that cup is lifted to victory but on Livery Street his silver works still stands in impeccable original condition. The only difference now is that it is one of Birmingham’s football supporters’ hubs! Hatters have renovated the silver works and while keeping the main fixtures the same, the inside is now a home away from home for many of the supporters visiting Villa Park and St. Andrews.
Villa supporters are landing in their droves to get the FA Cup experience and seeking the memorabilia which now hangs on the walls throughout the Hatters building. Hatters specialize in budget accommodation with hostel beds and plush private rooms which are on par with some of Europe’s trendiest hotels.
John Quinn, manager of Hatters explained “there is always a great buzz when a match is on in the city, we see supporters coming from all over the world to see their teams, not everyone knows the history associated with Hatters but we make a point to tell them, we are happy to keep the Vaughton story alive”.
Hatters looks forward to playing it’s part in backing the bid along with all other businesses and supporters in Birmingham.
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