Following a discussion on Heroes & Villains, the fanzine received permission from the club to erect a plaque to those players, officials and supporters who served in wartime. This will be on public display somewhere around the ground.
After talking to a plaque manufacturer, they have come up with suitable wording, along the lines of
In grateful remembrance of those players,
officials and supporters of Aston Villa FC
who served their country in wartime,
and in particular
Bill Bowker, Arthur Dobson,
Alfred Edwards, Billy Gerrish
Walter Kimberley, Albert Rogers
and Dick Roose,
who played for our club
and were later killed on active service
during World War OneThose long uneven lines
Standing as patiently
As if they were stretched outside
The Oval or Villa Park,
The crowns of hats, the sun
On moustached archaic faces
Grinning as if it were all
An August Bank Holiday lark; From MCMXIV, by Phillip Larkin
The plaque will be English brass & bronze with deep embossed lettering. The metal itself is cast from a specified ingot brass/bronze. The raised text, borders and outside edges are hand polished and finished. The thickness of the plaque is approx 4 to 5 mm.
They need to raise £300 – Please use the Paypal button on the left navigation menu bar.
Note: as the target has nearly been reached via Paypal, the option to send a cheque has been withdrawn.
