BOF Posted April 13, 2017 Moderator Share Posted April 13, 2017 Local church Quote Aston Villa vs Reading: The reason the game kicks off 24 hours later than every other Championship fixture Aston Villa will start the Easter weekend schedule a day later than their Championship rivals after putting the local community ahead of their promotion push. The claret and blues’ clash with Reading kicks off at 3pm on Saturday as club officials agreed to leave Good Friday free of a Villa Park fixture following requests from the nearby church. Aston Parish are hosting an Easter service between 12noon and 3pm this Friday and the congregation have experienced problems around the festive period in the past with football fans disrupting the day. As a goodwill gesture, Villa agreed to play their fixture with the Royals on Saturday instead of moving it back to allow for a longer rest-period ahead of Monday’s trip to Fulham. Initially, all second-tier fixtures were scheduled to take place on April 15 but eleven of the twelve host clubs decided to take up the option of moving the game back a day or two to allow for extra recovery time. Whether Villa will be disadvantaged when they travel to Craven Cottage early next week for their penultimate road trip of the season, remains to be seen. The church, meanwhile, is pleased to have the most important weekend on the Christian calender free of disruption. They argue that fixtures on religious days make it a misery for visitors to the church because of the road closures and the arrival of thousands of fans, coaches and street traders in the area. Back in 1999, the then vicar, Rev Keith Sinclair, rang church bells throughout a match with Chelsea on Easter Sunday in protest. And in 2013 church-goers held a ‘generous’protest outside the ground before the game with Liverpool. On that day they handed out leaflets and hot-cross buns to make fans aware of their presence in the community This year’s Good Friday service starts with the Aston Walk of Witness trail at Mount Zion Church. A prayer trail around Aston Parish Church takes place between 12-3pm and at nearby Aston St James’ Church there is a Three Hours at the Cross service. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OutByEaster? Posted April 13, 2017 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted April 13, 2017 Jesus. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer1 Posted April 13, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 13, 2017 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 I'm sure the 4 people who attend mass that day will be happy . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted April 13, 2017 Author Moderator Share Posted April 13, 2017 I was always taught that God is everywhere any way. I tell you something, he's seen some sights in his time if he is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted April 13, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 13, 2017 Fair play. I'm happy anyway as I don't get Good Friday off so I'd have missed the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 Promotion push? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Grasshopper Posted April 13, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 13, 2017 Well I'm of no religion so it would/could be easy for me to say f*** em. However, as I believe everyone has their own individual right to believe in whatever they wish, I respect their wish to "do what they do" on their designated day. Regardless of church goers being a minority compared to game goers, I can only applaud the club for their consideration. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjvilla Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 It's not a problem when they are stood outside the church trying to sell their religion to the thousands of football fans walking past with flyers. The churchgoers manage to park and get to the church then! Moan for the sake of moaning if you ask me. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 1 hour ago, Grasshopper said: Well I'm of no religion so it would/could be easy for me to say f*** em. However, as I believe everyone has their own individual right to believe in whatever they wish, I respect their wish to "do what they do" on their designated day. Regardless of church goers being a minority compared to game goers, I can only applaud the club for their consideration. A decision we wouldn't have made if we had anything to play for . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, BOF said: I was always taught that God is everywhere any way. I tell you something, he's seen some sights in his time if he is I sometimes "feel" him when I'm sh@gging or is that just me? Edited April 13, 2017 by Grasshopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 1 minute ago, Brumerican said: A decision we wouldn't have made if we had anything to play for . The world doesnt stop for football. Maybe for Rock 'n Roll or Golf....... I'll get me robe.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 Just now, Grasshopper said: The world doesnt stop for football. Maybe for Rock 'n Roll or Golf....... I'll get me robe.... Easter would have taken a back seat if we were in the play off hunt. This gesture is the club basically admitting our season is over . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 1 minute ago, Brumerican said: Easter would have taken a back seat if we were in the play off hunt. This gesture is the club basically admitting our season is over . and I'm admitting I'm joking 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 What is Easter anyway? As a kid it meant a week off school and loads of Cadbury's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 2 minutes ago, Grasshopper said: and I'm admitting I'm joking God's only son was tortured in public and then killed on a cross. It's not a time for jokes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 The club was founded by the local church at the time #justsaying 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted April 13, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 13, 2017 1 hour ago, Grasshopper said: Well I'm of no religion so it would/could be easy for me to say f*** em. However, as I believe everyone has their own individual right to believe in whatever they wish, I respect their wish to "do what they do" on their designated day. Regardless of church goers being a minority compared to game goers, I can only applaud the club for their consideration. It's not a religion issue for me, it's a local community issue. The club haven't moved the game because of religion, they've moved it because the church have asked them to. I wouldn't applaud them for considering religion, but I do applaud them for considering the locals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post blandy Posted April 13, 2017 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted April 13, 2017 18 minutes ago, Brumerican said: God's only son was tortured in public and then killed on a cross. It's not a time for jokes. What about resurrecting old ones? Surely that's OK. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumerican Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 In the circumstances it's a good move as we'll get a bigger crowd on a Saturday IMO . You'd have to think we'll make huge changes to the lineup for Monday which is probably a good thing too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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