Despite his well-publicized support for the Villani, the Duke of Cambridge said he would not push his children to follow in his footsteps
Prince William explained how he ended up supporting Aston Villa.
The Prince’s loyalty to football has long been a source of curiosity for some fans, given the lack of an obvious local or family relationship with the club.
He tweeted his support after Villa avoided relegation from the Premier League on Sunday, joking that survival was never “in doubt”.
Speaking with the BBC That podcast by Peter Crouch Prince William said: “Only in recent years have I really had a hold on Villa as a team. I look at them a lot. I get the statistics and watch them every week.
“It was the first FA Cup game I went to. It was a game of Villa vs Bolton and I remember sitting in the stands with a cap on.
“I must have been around 12 or 11 and went with a load of companions. I sat there among all Villa fans and loved it. I thought the atmosphere and ethics of the team were fantastic.
“At the time, I didn’t want to desperately support Man Utd or Chelsea like everyone else in school.
“I liked the idea that Villa had a true story, winning European cups and things like that. I felt a real bond with the club, more than I happened to watch some of the others. Villa felt like a Midlands club really proud and I felt very special. “
Never in doubt ???? #UpTheVilla W https://t.co/mrmIMKbjRG
– The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal), July 26, 2020
William also claimed to have led his children, George and Charlotte, to Villa’s 5-1 win against Norwich earlier in the season – but he wasn’t pushing George to follow in his footsteps.
The article continues below
“I’m trying not to convince him to be a fan of Villa, I’m letting him choose his path. It’s about finding what’s right for him, “he said.” Previously I was a little worried about his support for Chelsea, but now Frank [Lampard] has arrived, I feel that the culture at Chelsea is a bit different and I would be fine.
“I like the values and ethics of the club. I want them to take care of the players and set a good example for young fans. I want our children, when they go to the game, to go away loving what they have seen, have fun and see their models behave in a way that we all want. “
That Peter Crouch podcast is available on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live
.
