World of Chig   

23.4.02

Baggies' delight


I know it’s customary, and expected, for us Villa fans to be sneering and condescending to that Baggies lot across the city, especially as we slide down the table ourselves, but I am genuinely thrilled by West Brom’s promotion to the Premiership on Sunday. They deserve it, and I can’t wait for the return of the local derbies after sixteen years. It should keep Adrian Chiles and Frank Skinner happy for the foreseeable future as well. Why, WBA have almost as many celebrity fans as our own eclectic Villa faithful (Prince William, Nigel ‘please don’t use my first name’ Kennedy, the drummer with Napalm Death and the drummer with Dum Dums, at the last count. You couldn’t make this up.)

My hope for the Division One play-offs? Wolves and Birmingham to win their semis so they meet in the final. (I bet the police forces from the West Midlands to Cardiff are really hoping this DOESN’T happen.) Then, at the Millennium Stadium, for Wolves and Blues to play out a thrillingly close draw in the final, only for Birmingham to lose, heart-breakingly, on sudden death penalties. If only so that Villa fans can remind them of this match for years to come. See, I’m not that neighbourly really.

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